Responses to the Lawrence Journal-World Election Guide Questionnaire
Responses to the Lawrence Times Election Guide Questionnaire
Responses to the Lawrence Times Election Guide Questionnaire
Separating fact from campaign rhetoric
I've always believed voters deserve facts, context, and transparency. The information on this page comes from public Douglas County budgets, Commission records, and other official documents. Resources are linked below.
I've always believed voters deserve facts, context, and transparency. The information on this page comes from public Douglas County budgets, Commission records, and other official documents. Resources are linked below.
Why is comparing County budgets more complicated than it seems?
Not all budget growth is the same. Some reflects community investments, some pays for one-time capital projects, some comes from restricted grants, and some supports day-to-day County operations.
Not all budget growth is the same. Some reflects community investments, some pays for one-time capital projects, some comes from restricted grants, and some supports day-to-day County operations.
- The total budget includes voter-approved behavioral health investments, one-time capital projects, dedicated sales tax funds, federal and state grants, and day-to-day County operations.
- The County's total budget increased from about $112 million in the first budget I helped adopt (2020) to the proposed $199 million budget for 2027.
- Nearly 45% of the increase ($39 million) came from the voter-approved Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund and the dedicated 1% County Sales Tax Fund, not from property tax.
- Operating costs also increased over time to support County services, employee compensation, and inflation, but those costs represent only one part of the overall budget growth.
- Many of these funds are legally restricted and cannot be used for general County operations.
- During this same period, the Douglas County mill levy portion of tax bills has been reduced by 6.144 mills.
How was the Judicial Law Enforcement Center (JLE) approved?
The project was approved through the same public process used for other major County facilities, with multiple public meetings and votes over several years.
The project was approved through the same public process used for other major County facilities, with multiple public meetings and votes over several years.
- The Judicial & Law Enforcement Center was approved through multiple public County Commission meetings over several years.
- Every budget, land acquisition, design, and construction decision was debated and voted on in open meetings.
- Kansas law does not require a public referendum for county facilities such as courthouses, jails, or public safety buildings.
- The County used approximately $25 million in cash, reducing the amount taxpayers needed to finance.
- Using available reserves instead of borrowing the entire project is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars in future interest costs.
Why has the County payroll increased?
County payroll reflects the employees needed to provide County services, competitive compensation to recruit and retain qualified staff, and inflation over time.
County payroll reflects the employees needed to provide County services, competitive compensation to recruit and retain qualified staff, and inflation over time.
- County payroll includes more than employee wages. It reflects staffing levels needed to provide County services, market-based compensation, and the cost of retaining qualified employees.
- Like employers across Kansas, Douglas County responded to a competitive labor market and inflation by adjusting employee compensation.
- County payroll should not be confused with commissioner salaries, which are set separately through the annual budget process.
How has County Commissioner compensation changed?
Commissioner compensation is approved through the public budget process each year.
Commissioner compensation is approved through the public budget process each year.
- According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Wage Growth Tracker, median nominal wages increased by roughly one-third between the end of 2019 and mid-2026. That represents approximately 33% cumulative wage growth over the period.
- My compensation has increased by 23% over an 8-year period, not 40%.
- Douglas County commissioner compensation is comparable to that of other large Kansas counties (Johnson County approx. $58,300; Shawnee County approx. $69,000; Sedgwick County approx $107,000)
Why has the county maintained fund balances?
Fund balances allow the County to prepare for emergencies, manage cash flow, and use one-time resources for one-time investments without creating future budget problems.
Fund balances allow the County to prepare for emergencies, manage cash flow, and use one-time resources for one-time investments without creating future budget problems.
- Not all fund balances serve the same purpose. Some are legally restricted, some are committed to future projects, and some are maintained for emergencies and cash flow.
- One-time resources should be used for one-time investments. Using them for ongoing operating expenses can create future budget shortfalls and put pressure on future property tax rates.
- Douglas County used approximately $25 million in available funds to reduce borrowing for the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center and Public Safety Building, saving taxpayers future interest costs.
- The Commission regularly reviews fund balance policies to balance financial stability with taxpayer value.
How does the County measure the success of behavioral health and community service investments?
Douglas County invests in behavioral health, substance use treatment, crisis response, and supportive housing because these services improve lives and can reduce more costly emergency, hospital, and criminal justice interventions.
Douglas County invests in behavioral health, substance use treatment, crisis response, and supportive housing because these services improve lives and can reduce more costly emergency, hospital, and criminal justice interventions.
- County funding supports a range of services, including mental health, substance use treatment, crisis services, supportive housing, and homelessness prevention.
- The County has increasingly shifted from grants to community service agreements that require performance measures, reporting, and accountability.
- The Commission regularly reviews outcomes before renewing or expanding programs and has supported pilot projects when additional local data is needed.
- Douglas County's nationally recognized behavioral health crisis response system has helped divert thousands of people from emergency rooms and the criminal justice system, demonstrating the value of investing in treatment before a crisis becomes an emergency.
Where should commissioners explain their decisions?
Transparency begins with open public meetings where commissioners discuss issues, listen to different perspectives, explain their positions, and vote in front of the community.
Transparency begins with open public meetings where commissioners discuss issues, listen to different perspectives, explain their positions, and vote in front of the community.
- I believe public meetings should remain the primary place where commissioners explain their votes.
- I encourage people to hear my comments directly, whenever possible, rather than rely solely on someone else's summary or interpretation.
- I welcome questions from constituents before, during, and after Commission meetings because those conversations are an important part of representative government.
- Those conversations help people better understand my perspective, but they don't replace the Commission's public discussion or official record.
(RESOURCES
Douglas County Annual Budget Documents (look for Past Budgets in the Left-Hand Sidebar)
Douglas County Commission agendas, minutes, and meeting videos
Douglas County Capital Improvement Plan
A Place for Everyone - Dashboard
Good public policy begins with good information. I encourage every voter to review the public records, ask questions and make informed decisions.
Douglas County Annual Budget Documents (look for Past Budgets in the Left-Hand Sidebar)
Douglas County Commission agendas, minutes, and meeting videos
Douglas County Capital Improvement Plan
A Place for Everyone - Dashboard
Good public policy begins with good information. I encourage every voter to review the public records, ask questions and make informed decisions.