With the work of the 2016 Saline County Budget complete, 4th District representative Luci Larson joined in on the KSAL Morning News Monday with a look at what challenges lie ahead for the commission.

Larson tells KSAL News that one issue that continues to dominate discussion is the Saline County Jail, “That really is probably one of our most difficult thought processes,” Larson said.

“How are we going to remedy that, how are we going to save money there. We’re still shipping people out because we don’t have enough room in our jail.”

As of August 31, 2015 Saline County has paid over $1.7 million dollars to house inmates in neighboring counties because of space issues at the jail. The facility, which was completed in 1995 and built for 192 inmates, is currently contracting accommodations elsewhere for 77 inmates.

The former city commissioner and mayor was appointed to the Saline County Commission in December of 2014 by Governor Brownback after voters decided to expand the the panel from three to five members.

Larson says she is impressed with the level of professionalism from the support staffs of both entities that govern the city and county – and that getting ten people to agree on any issue is challenging, “It’s not that we don’t get along,” she said.

“It’s just that I think that everybody has different time lines for whatever project they want done.”