Board of County Commissioners 2025-26 Focus Areas
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners adopted its priorities for 2025-26 on March 27, 2025.
Housing
Safe, stable and attainable housing is a foundational element in an individual’s life and the overall health of a community. Current activities include planning for those experiencing homelessness, vulnerable populations, justice involved residents and supporting attainable housing projects across the continuum.
Initiatives:
- Increase attainable housing opportunities
- Implement improvements to the development process and polices that make it easier to develop a range of housing options
- Pursue initiatives and programs that create a variety of options
- Provide impactful and high-quality Housing Assistance program
- Evaluate programs and partnerships that provide short-term unsheltered assistance
- Investigate long-term unsheltered assistance options
- Implement and support programs and initiatives that preserve existing housing stock
- Develop strategic partnerships that support efforts across the housing continuum
Health and Safety
We continue to protect, promote, plan and construct a safe and healthy environment and create a sense of belonging/connection for all.
Initiatives:
- Provide high quality Emergency Medical Services that is safe, effective, patient centered, timely, and equitable
- Plan and support our natural environment and resources
- Promote a supportive and welcoming community
- Develop policies that promote energy efficiency and growth
- Continued leveraging of Opioid Settlement funds
- Identify and enhance partnerships with the Sheriff's Office
- Evaluate and implement infrastructure improvements that promote organized and sustainable development
Fiscal Health
As the steward of taxpayer dollars and adopted fiscal policies, we are forward-looking in developing financial plans that maintain stability and flexibility to capitalize on opportunities, and ensure the county can provide excellent services today and into the future.
Initiatives:
- Evaluate needs and expenditures (program and service level evaluation) while considering the impact on residents
- Explore revenue opportunities
- Continue implementing efficiencies/effectiveness (AI, workflow analysis, innovation, cost-sharing, partnerships, metric based evaluation processes)
- Evaluate Capital Project delay or deferment
- Fund on-going capital replacement with on-going revenue sources
- Analysis of State and Federal fiscal impacts (short and long term)
- Continue to provide high quality services considering inflationary pressures
Learn more on this web page.
World Cup
The World Cup places our county on the international stage as part of the largest sporting event in history. Intentional organizational planning, aligned with partners, is necessary to create a safe and engaging environment for our visitors, residents and workforce, and to create a legacy that will last long beyond the event.
Initiatives:
- Partner with KC2026 and help forward its vision to deliver Kansas City magic, rise on the world stage and leave a lasting legacy
- Implement public safety planning
- Create public transportation planning (to include aviation, transit, roads)
- Develop recreation and Library activities (to include sports tourism)
- Generate marketing materials to build awareness
- Foster partnerships throughout the region
- Maximize economic impact opportunities
Strategic Communications
Open, clear, pro-active, intentional and effective communication helps ensure residents are more informed, engaged and connected to the county.
Initiatives:
- Evaluate current programs and functions
- Prioritize pro-active communications
- Improve community outreach and engagement
- Inform the public on programs and processes
- Enhance branding
- Formalize constituent services
Previous Priorities
2023-24 Priorities
The board adopted its priorities for 2023-24 on April 20, 2023.
Housing
Convene stakeholders and other partners to improve housing options for the resident needs identified in the Johnson County Housing Continuum.
Impact statement: Safe, stable, and attainable housing is a foundational element in an individual’s life and the overall health of a community. Current activities include planning for those experiencing homelessness, vulnerable populations, and justice involved residents and supporting attainable housing projects across the continuum.
Infrastructure
Johnson County will remain focused on the pursuit of completing, updating, funding, and implementing strategic plans in support of our growing and expanding community/region while continuing to maintain our existing infrastructure.
Impact Statement: Identify needs and seek partnerships to deliver initiatives for the rapidly developing northwest portion of Johnson County, while creating an Area Development Plan that will include not only traditional land use but also transportation, transit, and broadband infrastructure.
Staff
Invest in and support a forward thinking, diverse and high performing workforce.
Impact Statement: A resilient workforce that maximizes the County’s ability to deliver exceptional services, contributing to a high quality of life for Johnson County residents.
Health and Safety
Johnson County strives to provide a high quality of life for all residents which includes a safe and healthy community.
Impact Statement: As we continue to make health and safety a priority, we will do so through the lens of sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion to promote a healthier environment and create a sense of belonging/connection throughout Johnson County. This will be accomplished by considering sustainability and inclusiveness when making funding and policy recommendations/decisions.