Riley County commissioners on Nov. 13 voted to transfer $300,000 from the county general fund to the RCPD fund to prevent a projected negative cash balance.

Britney Phillips, the county budget and finance officer, told the commission that unanticipated expenses — including increased inmate medical costs, off‑site housing and pharmaceuticals — plus a late reconciliation showing roughly $76,000 in prior radio reserves have strained the RCPD fund. "If we do not do this transfer, we will have a negative cash balance in our CPD fund," Phillips said.

Commissioners pressed staff on how the radio reserve and other funds had been tracked. One commissioner asserted that some previously reserved radio money had been used for other services, saying, "they used it for patient services," and Phillips responded that the finance office is still uncovering where funds were recorded and whether prior accounting decisions caused the discrepancy.

After discussion about whether the expenditures were statutory or budgeted, the commission moved and approved the $300,000 transfer by voice vote. Phillips said the transfer is intended only to "give them a little bit of cushion" into the next budget year and that the county budget office had included higher contract and off‑site housing estimates in future budgets.

Next steps: finance staff will continue to trace historic entries into the RCPD fund, and the commission will consider the 2026 budgetary implications during upcoming budget sessions.