By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis County commissioners heard a progress update on the 2015 budget from county administrator Greg Sund during the regular meeting Monday evening.

“We’re getting closer,” Sund told commissioners following a budget meeting earlier in the afternoon. “There are still adjustments that will have to be made to this to make it work out right.”

A budget gap of $76,811 remains, and that “required pretty substantial cuts to transfers,” Sund explained, “and I just can’t work in the (employee) pay adjustments. They aren’t in there.”

“That’s a miracle that we go to that,” said commission Chairwoman Barb Wasinger.  

Sund said he expects the commission will have another budget meeting next week. Commissioners are hoping to balance the budget without a tax increase.

In other business, Mike Graf, Ellis County Public Works director, presented an update to commissioners. Following a personal visit from Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Mike King last week, Graf said KDOT is receptive to partnering with Ellis County on road projects. King toured targeted improvements for 55th, 230th and Feedlot Roads.

Graf said KDOT is interested because of the “economic benefits that could come to expanding businesses” in those areas.