Hillsboro administrator takes Saline County job

By MICHAEL MARESH

Staff writer

After more than five years as city administrator in Hillsboro, Matt Stiles is leaving to become county administrator for Saline County.

Stiles will start working there April 13.

Stiles realizes there are differences between being a county administrator and a city administrator, but he thinks his 18 years as a city administrator will help.

Saline County has a population of slightly more than 50,000 compared to Hillsboro’s of just over 2,700 people. The city of Salina makes up 85% of the population.

Moving to an area more than four times the size of Marion County might not be easy, he said.

“I am a small town man,” he said. “I was not looking for a job. It came to me.”

Stiles’ salary will increase from his pay in Hillsboro, though he would not divulge specifics.

In January, 2024, the Saline administrator made $161,170. Stiles’ salary in Hillsboro is $128,585.60

What helped him decide to apply was talking to retiring county administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes about the job and responsibilities.

Even after moving to Saline County, Stiles and his family plan to remain active here.

He asked his wife and children for their thoughts about moving to Saline County.

“I think they are excited about the opportunity,” he said

“I am involved in a lot of projects, and I will be offering advice for them to be successful,” he said. “I have got a lot of things to finish out here.”

He also wants to work with his replacement to ensure a smooth transition.

Stiles has not officially resigned from Hillsboro yet. After Saline County commissioners meet Friday to officially hire him, he will submit his resignation letter.

Before moving to Hillsboro, he was the city administrator for South Hutchinson and assistant city manager in Bel Aire.

Stiles also was a program manager at the Public Policy and Management Center at Wichita State University.

He has a bachelor’s in political science and philosophy from Emporia State University and a master’s in public administration from Wichita State University,