Anderson County Commissioners are crying “foul” at recent revelations of salaries paid to directors of the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, and say they’re anticipating a multi-county meeting of commissioners from within the region to discuss the finances of the taxpayer-subsidized mental health services provider. They are why the organization needs county funding if it can afford salary and compensation packages for a director of more than a half million dollars. The health center provides various psychological therapies and counseling services within its member counties, and is set to receive some $94,000 in contributions from Anderson County taxpayers in 2025.
Member counties contributed a total of $4.8 million of the $37 million in 2023 revenues. The bulk of its expenses, – nearly $30 million – were salaries. The Executive Director had a salary of nearly $450,000, with nearly $200,000 in other compensation. Commissioner Les McGhee says he expects the issue to generate a possible joint meeting of the member counties in coming weeks. Those include Allen, Neosho, Woodson, Linn and Bourbon counties.
