Ellis County commissioners agreed at their meeting Monday night they are interested in pursuing a countywide sales tax to help make up shortfalls in the county’s budget.
However, the commissioners disagreed about what form that tax should take.
The county is facing a budget gap of about $467,000 for 2020 with escalating deficits during the next four years. County Administration Phillip Smith-Hanes said several variables still need to be calculated into the budget, including potential increases in health care expenses, changes in the assessed valuation, and the final allocations to outside agencies.
The county has already discussed decreasing the percentage it pays for employee health insurance and funding for outside agencies. The county sent letters to the four cities to determine if they would support a half-cent countywide sales tax. Ellis, Victoria and Schoenchen said they would be in favor of the tax, but wanted their share of the tax. The City of Hays did not respond.
(Read more: Hays Post)