By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission is projecting it will end the year under budget and approved a series of transfers of the unused funds Monday.
The county intends to keep $2.925 million in unencumbered cash in its general fund account. This is about 15 percent of the county’s expenditures less transfers, Phillip Smith-Hanes, county administrator, said.
Smith explained the county’s general fund is like the county’s checking account, and the unencumbered cash is extra money to help with the county’s cash flow and to use in case of emergencies.
The two departments that had the largest surpluses in 2018 were the Road and Bridge, and Sheriff’s departments. Road and Bridge saved money because the cost of diesel was less than budgeted. The department also spent less than expected on road commodities.
The jail had days this summer when its prisoner population was low. This meant the Sheriff’s Department didn’t have to spend as much money on housing prisoners in other counties.
By Dec. 31, the county will transfer $1.729 million back to departments’ capital funds for the purchase of equipment or building repairs. Up to another $900,000 will be transferred to departments if it is available after the county audit.
Although the county expects to come in under budget this year, it faces some difficult choices ahead, Smith-Hanes said.
Oil and gas tax revenues continue to decline. The county’s assessed valuation is the same as it was seven years ago, but the county’s costs continue to increase.
“I think long term the county has some challenges we’ve talked to about in terms of the future,” Smith-Hanes said, “but we are doing well right now and making responsible decisions and trying to forestall those future problems.
“If you look at our five-year outlook, the commission is going to face some decisions in the future on whether they adjust taxes rates or reduce services, because we have reached the end of our limits of what we can do with our reserve.”
In other business, the county commission:
• Approved a $5,000 grant for the Heartland Community Foundation.
• Approved a salary resolution for elected officials. This is done on an annual basis, and none of the salaries changed
• Approved a policy on purchase cards.
• Allowed EMS to distribute requests for proposals for two new ambulances.