One of the men at the center of the Anderson County Commission’s irritation with salaries at the South East Kansas Mental Health Center, addressed the board last week. CEO Nathan Fawson was given a salary of over $650,000 by SEK board members. He and others submitted the SEK budget for 2026 to the board, but Commissioner Les McGhee says they are unlikely to provide funding next year. Fawson says their $75 million budget is not enough to cover the mental health needs of the six county area. McGhee says they support the mission of the organization but, the county is struggling and if they can use the money elsewhere to meet the needs of the county citizens, they have to do it. Commissioner Tony Mersman agreed.
The six county cooperative contributes nearly $600,000 to the mental health center every year.
Budgeting for the other counties won’t happen until early August so funding line items for the agency won’t be know until that time.
