By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
Ellis County commissioners voted 3-0 today to provide $22,500 to ACCESS Transportation and agreed to pursue another $22,500 for the service’s 2028 grant funding year for a total of $45,000.
The approved payment will come from the county’s 2026 contingency fund and support ACCESS’ 2027 budget.
Commissioners said they would move forward with the additional $22,500, which would count toward the local match for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant application.
The second amount has not been formally appropriated. Commissioners said they still need to work out when and how to provide it.
Michael Berges, Ellis County commissioner, suggested approving the first payment and taking more time to determine how to fund the second.
“I think we just approve this, and we can essentially get two years to figure out the other $22,500,” Berges said. “If we want to do it this year, we can just do it at a later commission meeting and push it forward.”
Nathan Leiker, Ellis County commissioner, told the commission last week the city of Hays has agreed to match the amount and contribute $22,500 if the county provides an equal amount.
In addition, the DSNWK board also agreed to contribute $45,000 during the next two years, Leiker said today.
Together, the commitments would support ACCESS as it seeks grant funding and addresses costs the organization has been carrying.
The county’s decision follows months of discussion about ACCESS’ financial challenges.
In June, Hays city commissioners supported creating a task force to address a widening budget gap for the service, which is operated by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. Read more about the task force’s formation and the initial funding concerns.
ACCESS also ended Sunday rides beginning July 1 because of budget limitations. DSNWK reported an estimated $112,000 shortfall for the year, citing reduced state transportation funding and rising costs for fuel, insurance, maintenance and vehicles.
The task force brought its funding request to the county commission last week.
Leiker said the task force found that general public transportation had been underfunded by the city and county, leaving DSNWK to carry much of the burden.
He said ACCESS drivers earn $14 to $15 an hour, less than drivers employed by the city or county, and have not received a raise in about three years.
He also said general public transportation should be viewed as a community service and cautioned against letting the service deteriorate before trying to rebuild it.
“We're looking at some service changes coming forward,” Leiker said. “Some hours of service and dates of service, and that's all still coming forward in cost saving preparations, but still burning it to the ground and trying to rebuild it, isn't probably the answer either."
County and city officials are scheduled to meet jointly Nov. 19 to discuss the service’s future.