Page 4 - Demo

COUNTY COMMENT %u2022 February 2025 4continuedOne of the core responsibilities of the Kansas Association of Counties is to provide educational programing that helps you do your job better. In that vein, we just finished a 1.5-day training for newly elected Kansas County Commissioners %u2013 called New Commissioners Orientation. As I listened to the various speakers, the themes of good leadership and open communication kept surfacing. The one session that caused the most concern and discussion was the one titled: Lincoln County v. Nielander Revisited: A discussion of the powers and obligations of elected county officials and how things %u201cought%u201d to work. If you are not familiar with the case, it is an interesting one as the need for good leadership and open communication are showcased. The case centers around an interpretation of how Kansas elected officials allocate and manage funds and goes like this: In this instance, the County Commissioners had approved a budget and allocated funds for the Sheriff%u2019s office use. The Sheriff, as an independently elected official, argued that once the funds were allocated, they had the authority to use them as they saw fit within the boundaries of the law. The County Commissioners contended that they should have control over how those funds were spent after allocation.The court ruled that the Sheriff, as an independently elected official, has the discretion to spend budgeted funds in a way that they determine best suits their office%u2019s needs, so long as the expenditures are By Bruce Chladny, KAC Executive DirectorCOMMUNICATING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF KANSAS COUNTY LEADERSlawful. The court emphasized the autonomy of independently elected officials in Kansas when it comes to managing the funds allocated to their offices, noting that the County Commissioners%u2019 role is to allocate the funds but not to control how they are used afterward.In summary, this ruling reinforces the principle of separation of powers among elected officials in Kansas, affirming that one body cannot micromanage another%u2019s spending decisions. It grants greater flexibility and decision-making authority to elected officials (in this case, the Sheriff), allowing them to manage their office%u2019s budget with more independence. However, the decision also highlights the importance of good communication between elected officials. While the Sheriff has the discretion to spend allocated funds, it remains crucial for elected bodies to communicate their needs and expectations with one another to ensure efficient and transparent governance. (From left to right) Riley County Commissioner John Ford, Barton County Commissioner Barb Esfeld, Atchison County Commissioner Casey Quinn, and Shawnee County Commissioner Aaron Mays address newly elected commissioners from across Kansas at the 2025 New Commissioners Orientation during the panel session: %u201cThe Commissioner%u2019s Job Through the Rear View Mirror: What We Wish We Had Known.%u201d