By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission reviewed the second draft of the 2027 county budget and the first draft of the capital improvement plan during Tuesday’s meeting.
County Administrator Darin Myers said Ellis County’s projected valuation growth for 2027 is estimated at 0.2%, which would generate about $26,000 in additional revenue at the county’s current mill levy. Myers said that growth is significantly below the current estimated inflation rate of 5%.
The proposed budget includes a projected 7% increase in health insurance costs and a 10% increase in property, vehicle and liability insurance costs. Myers said the county is reviewing insurance options and expects additional information later this year.
The budget also includes the second year of previously approved salary adjustments for court-appointed attorneys through the 23rd Judicial District.
Myers said bond payments connected to county projects are not impacting property taxes. He said the first two years of payments will come from county reserves, followed by sales tax reserves, with future payments being offset as existing debt expires.
The proposed budget also accounts for a projected $300,000 decrease in investment revenue because of lower interest rates. Myers also said the county is losing access to about $425,000 in oil and gas depletion funds after the funds remained unused for several years.
The budget does not include additional staffing changes and cost-of-living adjustments that will be considered separately. The proposal includes the full requested amount from outside agencies, totaling more than $1.3 million.
Commissioners also approved revenue neutral rate notification letters for the general fund and fire department fund. The action notifies the Ellis County Clerk that commissioners intend to consider exceeding the revenue-neutral rate when setting the final mill levy for the 2027 budget.
Under state law, counties must notify the county clerk if they are considering a budget that exceeds the revenue-neutral rate. The approval does not set the final mill levy.
Myers said commissioners will continue budget discussions with department heads and elected officials during upcoming work sessions in the next couple of days.
XYBIX purchase
Commissioners approved a $5,970 increase to a purchase order for new Xybix dispatch desks after a configuration issue was identified during the ordering process.
911 Communications Director Jeff Ridgway said the original desk specifications called for space for four monitors on the lower tier, but the county's dispatch center requires five.
He said the desks could have been installed as originally ordered, but doing so would have voided the manufacturer's warranty because the equipment would have exceeded the intended width.
Ridgway said the additional cost covers larger desks, minor cabinetry modifications and the correct monitor cables. He told commissioners the project remains under the original budget estimate.
Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger told Ridgeway the county should also review surge protection at all facilities following recent storms.
Younger said lightning and electrical surges could damage more than a single piece of equipment.
In Other Business
- Commissioners heard from Mark Schaukowitch, who introduced himself as a candidate for the Kansas House District 110 seat. Schaukowitch, a Plainville native, is running for the seat held by Rep Ken Rahjes, R-Agra. Rahjes is running for lieutenant governor.
- During the meeting, Commissioner Nathan Leiker volunteered to join the Access Transportation Task Force.