Shawnee Co. commissioners and district attorney butt heads over funding

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay butted heads with county commissioners over budget requests that Kagay says would have real-life consequences.

The Shawnee County District Attorney's Office is requesting a budget increase of $856,000, which Kagay argues will help his office offer competitive salaries to keep employees from moving to other departments and jurisdictions. Meanwhile, county commissioners are trying to cut spending to meet the county's maximum mill levy.

"Consistently we have delivered, and we have not just had a good year, we had a historic year," Kagay said. "If you are not able to fund this budget request, that will not be able to continue."

Commissioner Kevin Cook questioned Kagay on whether the consequences of cutting the proposed budget increase would necessarily impact the lives of county residents.

"I think thats what a lot of the focus has been on, is that large of an increase in one year and when you speak of 'there will be', I think what you mean to say is 'I hope that there is not, but there could be,' to say that you are going to lose staff I think is premature," Cook said.

"Commissioner Cook, with all due respect, you have your job to do, I have mine to do," Kagay responded. "You're not the DA. You can't tell me what's going to happen inside my office, because you don't know, I do."

Kagay said his department is behind neighboring jurisdictions in wages. He said the budget increase helps bridge the wage gap, but not close it. Additionally, he said his office could hit its ethical case load limit.

"If there are cases that we should not prosecute anymore because of funding, I would love to hear your ideas," Kagay said.

Cook called on all department heads on July 28 to attend the Aug. 4 commission meeting to help identify ways they can cut 2-5% of their budgets. At the meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, the departments and community partners presented a combined $4,337,183 in potential budget reductions.

27 News reached out to the District Attorney's Office for comment.

Our office exists to protect the community. That is our mission and our daily responsibility. We are tasked with seeking justice for victims, prosecuting violent crime, and upholding the rule of law on behalf of every resident in Shawnee County. And we do so with deep respect for the roles that every public servant plays in building a stronger, safer community.

Over the past year, our team has achieved a 100% conviction rate for murder, rape, aggravated robbery, aggravated criminal sodomy, drug distribution, human trafficking, and other serious felonies. These aren’t abstract statistics. They represent justice delivered for victims and dangerous offenders held accountable under the law. This kind of success and accountability does come with a cost. Over 90% of my budget is dedicated to personnel and over the past year, while we have been enjoying the success mentioned above, I have lost five more attorneys and even more support staff to “better opportunities elsewhere.” Every government office loses the financial arms race with the private sector. I also must compete with other government offices that allow remote work, relaxed dress codes, and other non-monetary benefits. Recruiting and retaining quality professionals continues to be my highest priority, and that task can only be accomplished with sufficient funding.

District Attorney Mike Kagay

A spokesman for the county said commissioners didn't want to speak on the matter until next Monday's meeting.

The commissioners voted to tentatively cut $562,300 from those amended budget requests on Aug. 4, leaving $192,517 left to cut to meet the county’s 49.326 maximum mill levy for 2026.

The next regular Board of County Commissioners meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 at the County Administrative Building at 707 Southeast Quincy Street.

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