<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597157710073.png" alt="The Ellis County Commission approved a $26.5 million budget at its meeting Monday night." />
 <figcaption>The Ellis County Commission approved a $26.5 million budget at its meeting Monday night.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission approved a $26.5 million budget Monday night with a flat tax rate.The county mill levy will remain at&nbsp; 36.91 mills.&nbsp;Darin Myers, who served as interim county administrator, said at the commission direction, the county did not increase expenditures.The county passed two sales tax questions earlier this year. One included a quarter-cent sales tax for EMS and the other was a quarter0cent sales tax to benefit the general fund. The sales taxes will go into effect Oct. 1."I'm glad we had the sales tax passed," Commission Chairman Butch Schlyer said. "It made our work here much easier."&nbsp;Commissioner Dustin Roths said, "I appreciate the community going to bat and appreciating the way that we spend money in Ellis County because that is their hard-earned cash we are putting to work for them."The rural fire district mill levy increased from 3.73 mills to 4.27 mills to compensate for the decline in oil and gas revenues. The county levied the maximum allowed without taking a vote on the tax increase, which will result in revenue of $569,140.This rural fire district does not include residents of Hays, Ellis, Victoria or Schoenchen.&nbsp;Myers said the county hopes to be able increase reserves. The county budgeted $2.08 million for the reserve fund this year. After 2021, the county hopes to have about $4 million in reserves. The county's goal is to have about 35 percent of budget in reserves or about $5.2 million.The commission will be making a decision in the next month on employee health insurance. The county is considering leaving the state system for a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan administered by Freedom Claims Management. The county estimates it could save as much as $300,000 next year by going to the new health plan.This is considering cost-sharing with employees, and some of those savings will be passed on to employees.<h2>Road and bridge bonds</h2>The commission also approved a bid for $5.4 million in bonds for road and bridge improvements. The bonds will be paid back at about $550,000 per year over 10 years.&nbsp;The county received an AA- rating for the bonds, which is very favorable, said financial advisor Larry Kleeman with Ranson Financial Group LLC. The low bid on the bonds was from Country Club Bank with an interest rate of .6467 percent, when you take into account a premium the bank will pay the county on the bonds.<h2>County signage</h2>The commission voted to replace an existing stop sign with a yield sign in the 2300 block of Saline River Road and add a yield sign at the opposite end of the road triangle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597157832394.png" alt="Bill Ring sign.png" />
 <figcaption>Bill Ring sign.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Bill Ring, director of public works, also discussed adding enforcement signs "Road Closed When Muddy/Wet" on 210th Road.Ring said the county has had numerous issues with vehicles becoming stuck on 210th between Old U.S. 40 and golf course road when conditions are wet. This has included ambulances and fire trucks, Ring said.Ring said the biggest problem has been with people traveling the road for recreational purposes.&nbsp;Tow trucks are refusing to go into the area to pull vehicles out, and vehicles have been left in the road for days, he said.&nbsp;The county needs the signs so law enforcement officials have the authority to ticket people who travel the road when conditions are unfavorable."I think there's danger to our economic drivers out there if we have recreational vehicles we can't pull out that are in the way even as it starts drying up through the middle of the day," Roths said. "I am happy to deter that some way or another."The commission will vote on the change at a later date.

Ellis County approves $26.5M budget, keeps taxes flat