By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In April, Central Kansas Community Corrections Director Brooke Haulmark reported some bad news to the Barton County Commission: her department received approximately $10,000 less than it did the year before from the Kansas Department of Corrections. Tuesday morning, Haulmark was back to report some good news regarding an enhanced budget.
"Kansas Department of Corrections sent us a letter May 20, advising us of an overall increase to our budget of $136,693.21," Haulmark said. "They indicated, specifically, that the money had to go to certain places."
Nearly $51,000 of the additional funding must go to personnel. While it does not cover a full-time position with benefits included, Haulmark said it will allow for a part-time position to move to full-time. Nearly $86,000 of the new funding must go toward operations.
"For operations, this will allow us to do things such as the additional cost of our drug testing," Haulmark said. "That cost has doubled going to the oral swabs. It will support the increase of our insurance due to our vehicle replacement."
Haulmark said the operational costs will also include a new cognitive intervention that is planned for the upcoming fiscal year, and the purchase of cell phones officers can use on field visits. With the enhanced budget, CKCC will receive $806,469.86 from KDOC for fiscal year 2025.