Linn and Neosho County commissions virtually eliminated their financial support of the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center last week. Linn County commissioners voted to contribute $0 for both 2025 and 2026, while Neosho County commissioners revised their 2025 contribution to a single dollar.
They join Allen and Anderson counties, whose commissions have moved in the past weeks to contribute just $1 each for 2026. Anderson County’s commission also declined to release their 3rd and 4th quarter contributions for 2025.
The Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center serves a six-county area, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Linn, Neosho and Woodson counties.
Until recently, the six counties have collectively contributed about $550,000, around 1% of the center’s total budget. Those funds help pay for services for those who lack health insurance or are unable to pay.
That amount is set to be drastically reduced, with four of the counties – Allen, Anderson, Linn, and Neosho – now set to contribute a total of merely $3.
Woodson County’s 2026 budget includes $35,000 for SEKMHC, a decrease from this year’s contribution of $41,180.
Requests for information from the Bourbon County clerk were not returned by deadline.
IN THEIR July 28 commission meeting, Linn County commissioners discussed their relationship with SEKMHC and public concern regarding administrative salaries at the organization.
Jason Hightower, Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson, all Republicans, serve as its county commissioners. In 2024, Linn County contributed $68,000. They were scheduled to contribute $70,040 this year.
Johnson filled an empty seat on SEKMHC’s governing board in June. He began the discussion noting how other counties had reduced their financial support.
After some discussion, Hamilton suggested an openness to increased communication with SEKMHC.
“Why would we not expect them to take $70,000 and come in here and at least tell us what they’re doing to help in our community with mental health? Wouldn’t you want that $70,000 to go back into our community if that’s what you’re giving them?” asked Hamilton.
“Regardless of what you give them, I would just like to know what they’re doing to help us in our community with our citizens,” she continued. “We’re asking for things, we’ve heard concerns from citizens, and I think it’s a good opportunity to build a partnership with them, connect with them, see what they can help us with.”
Johnson, however, remained focused on the issue of administrative salaries, “We’ve given them a lot of money over the years and not gotten anything out of it,” he said. “You have people in management positions making over $400,000, over $600,000 of income, in southeast Kansas.”
In the end, Johnson proposed contributing just $1 for 2025.
“I don’t like $1. Why a dollar?” asked Hamilton.