Saline County to consider decreasing library millage and increasing bilingual pay, May 18th

The Saline County Quorum Court is scheduled to convene for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.. The session will be held in Courtroom #3 of the Saline County Courthouse. Read more below.

The meeting will be preceded by an HR Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m.. Doors to the courthouse will open to the public at 5:15 p.m. via the Main Street and ADA-accessible Market Street entrances.

The evening’s agenda features several significant ordinances reaching critical stages of the legislative process:

Library Millage Adjustment (Second Reading): The Court will hear the second reading of an ordinance to let voters decide whether to reduce the public library system’s maintenance and operation millage from 1.7 mills to 1.1 mills. Proponents argue the county’s population growth since 1998—from approximately 80,000 to over 131,000—has resulted in a tax surplus beyond what is necessary for operations. If passed through a third reading, the question will appear on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.

Bilingual Interpretation Compensation (Third Reading): Up for final approval is an amendment to the Salary Administration Policy. The ordinance seeks to establish a procedure for awarding a $1.00 per hour pay increase to employees who demonstrate fluency in a second language deemed beneficial to their department’s operations. Proficiency would be verified through objective testing by organizations such as Language Testing International.

Election Worker Stipends: A new ordinance is on the table to appropriate $450.00 in grant funds from the State Board of Election Commissioners. These funds are intended as supplemental stipends for the Election Coordinator and Election Registrar following their completion of required training and testing.

The upcoming meeting follows the April session where the Court addressed diverse community issues. Read the summary below.

County Flag Proposal: A resolution to adopt a formal county flag (Resolution 2026-1) failed to pass following a voice vote. While some officials initially supported the project, several Justices of the Peace reported significant negative feedback from their constituents regarding the initiative.

Public Safety and Recognition: The Court recognized the Bryant High School boys basketball team for their 6A state championship win. Additionally, the National Weather Service provided a presentation on the Code Red System and weather alert best practices.

Animal Control: Justice of the Peace Jim Whitley announced ongoing work with the County Attorney to strengthen the county’s animal control ordinance. County Judge Matt Brumley indicated plans to form a dedicated committee to address this issue.

The Quorum Court maintains a policy of allowing public comment for each individual agenda item. This allows citizens to provide input on topics before the court reaches a final decision.

See the full agenda document packet below: