Print edition: 
WICHITA — Sedgwick County still is in the red but not as much as projected, its deputy chief financial officer told commissioners Wednesday.
Troy Bruun, deputy chief financial officer, noted that at the commission’s retreat in February last year, the county estimated its deficit to be $13.4 million in 2011. Instead, the county used about half that much of its reserves, $7.25 million, last year.
“That’s a good report on different levels,” Chairman Tim Norton said. “It’s a good report, and it’s good news.”
The county had projected an ending balance of $17 million in the red in fiscal year 2016. Now, that ending balance is estimated at $42.5 million. That’s a $59.5 million improvement in a five-year financial plan realized in 10 months, Bruun said.
To trim the deficit, the county has reduced its work force from 3,074 at the beginning of last year to 2,864 at the beginning of this year. It also reduced funding to cultural organizations and community agencies, eliminated cold-mix paving in the public works budget and reduced the number of people in an adult residential corrections facility from 120 to 65.
Commissioners approved last spring cutting 23 positions from the corrections department’s adult residential program, which provides an alternative to prison for felons who meet certain criteria.
