Saline County Commissioners Tuesday morning approved their 2014 budget.

The $37.6 million budget includes a mil levy increase of 3 mils, and full funding of the Saline County Health Department.

The budget includes $2.6 million to fund the Saline County Health Department. Of the 3 mil increase, a little over 2 mils is attributed to health department funding.

A structure problem with the roof caused the health department to close back in May of 2012. Since that time, city and county commissioners have been trying to come up with a plan for a permanent facility and the best course of action for the future of the agency.

Over a month ago the city gave the county notice that they decided to terminate the joint agreement between the two organizations at the end of this year, meaning that the county would solely be responsible for the health department. City commissioners have indicated that they would like to negotiate a new interlocal agreement. The county commission, though, has proceeded with making the health department a county agency.

County Commission Chairman Randy Duncan said that the county commission has voted multiple times for a county health department, and that the vote Tuesday to fund it was “basically the final vote”.

City commissioners forwarded a proposal for a new interlocal agreement to the county Tuesday morning. County commissioners indicated that they did not have time to review it prior to the formal meeting at 11:00 Tuesday morning.