By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Ellis County residents will see a slight increase in taxes next year after the commission approves a mill levy increase in the 2016 budget.

Ken Beran from Adams Brown Beran and Ball has been working with the commission and county department heads to set the 2016 budget and erase a nearly $2 million shortfall for the past two months.

At Monday night’s meeting, Beran said, with the changes that have been made, the mill levy will increase 1.951 mills to 36.318.

The commission scheduled a public hearing for the 2016 budget for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17 the Administrative Center, 718 Main.

The county was left with the budget deficit because of the sharp decline in oil prices and lower-than-anticipated commercial and vehicle tax collections in 2014.

Beran said the county could be in a similar situation again next year because oil prices have remained relatively level for much 2014 and again this year. According to the National Cooperative Refinery Association, the average price of oil dropped from $88.28 at the beginning of January 2014 to $43 at the end of 2014. Monday’s price for Kansas Common was $35.

In other business, the commission changed the date and start time of the public building commission to 5 p.m. before every regular commission meeting – the first three Mondays of the month. The change will allow the commission to discuss and, if needed, approve changes more often to help speed up construction at the Courthouse/Law Enforcement Center and the Emergency Services Building.

Guy Windholz, a member of a group of Ellis County residents who are working to preserve a portion of the Ellis County Courthouse went before the commission to inform them the group is raising funds for the project. Windholz said the group has created a Facebook page to help with the fundraising efforts.

The commission also gave approval to Sheriff Ed Harbin to fill two open jailer positions.