[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6553851,"mediaKeyId","5065408-3570b330a3161a0973d5c0c25cb8ff8e","parentId",5065408,"title","Ellis County budget presentation shows new asks exceed projected revenue; officials discuss COLA scenarios","audioSeconds",1190,"startMs",2194000,"endMs",3384000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065408-3570b330a3161a0973d5c0c25cb8ff8e&start=2194&end=3384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065408-3570b330a3161a0973d5c0c25cb8ff8e/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553851/Ellis-County/Texas/Ellis-County-budget-presentation-shows-new-asks-exceed-projected-revenue-officials-discuss-COLA-scenarios","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553851-92dc9f066aa68ad4fd29ebdff67e7d0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150839&Signature=IfcekuY5TC4ugZcdv6RqGeQjAfMi-zAFvK3zBYTegkFfPk1bh6s8UDnqSifPnK7LeHWdQJ7~Df6FCT5~AxYe9-7K8M~TCRxt0~9fOTohTlc~rggc0gu0QAdNfkU2A1CVOn7Ee~qisjLsoMnKEeUD~zNIoeixiqxvjauv15X9sC4gHg9CaT3tvxI8iwJaz5GSdpZmWWOv8JyBp91FX~hOyokvz5xmO2Wf2Dqf6H3kj0n4RJR1JNQkGAuwhvVPN2VLNYnSbc35Rn9TdVCeP8cR-JH9l707ns~2NfgYjymJHzt4Wh8kOmxqen4-9YWPv7BRLrav~D9mkny4aNnpy4I5fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ellis","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","Ellis County presented a working draft of the fiscal year 2026 general fund budget to the Commissioners Court, describing a set of department requests and assumptions that currently exceed the county's projected new revenue.

Ryan (staff presenter) told the court the packet showed a preliminary total of roughly $121,000,000 in general-fund requests as presented in the rack-and-stack, a figure he said would increase once outstanding items (auditor's office directive from district judges and juvenile board recommendations) are included. Staff highlighted new asks totaling about $15.7 million in the packet and estimated approximately $9.7 million in new revenue based on the appraisal district's latest values, with roughly $8.4 million available to the general fund if the tax rate remains flat.

The presentation detailed several major line items and assumptions: 36 requested new positions with a base-salary total of about $2.7 million and a fully burdened cost near $3.84 million; 24 requested new vehicles; an approximately $1 million increase to a non-departmental contingency earmarked for death-penalty cases (bringing that contingency to about $2 million); an interfund-transfer expectation that would add roughly $3 million to juvenile funding; and a bookkeeping entry proposing an additional $5.2 million to accelerate debt retirement so a bond could be paid off by August 2026.

On insurance and benefits, staff already factored the HR recommendation that the county absorb the FY2026 health-plan renewal — 3.7% for medical and 10% for dental — so employee premiums would not increase. Staff also proposed switching the county flexible spending account from HealthEquity to WEX to address employee-service complaints; that vendor change was approved separately on the agenda.

Staff discussed inflation and labor-market benchmarks as they relate to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Ryan cited Bureau of Labor Statistics and local wage data showing a year-over-year Dallas–Fort Worth area wage increase of 4.5% as of March 2025, while the local CPI reading for the area was 0.6% year-over-year. He offered three reference points for commissioners to consider when weighing COLA decisions: 0.6% (to preserve purchasing power per CPI), 2.5% (a midpoint), and 4.5% (to stay competitive with local labor-market wage growth).

No budget decisions were made at the meeting; staff said they will refine numbers and return periodic updates to the court as appraisal-district values are finalized and juvenile or district-court directives are received. Ryan said the county must file a proposed budget by Aug. 11 (the timeline discussed) and indicated he will present cost scenarios for different COLA choices at future updates.

Ending: Commissioners heard the presentation but took no formal action; staff and elected officials will continue to refine requests and revenue estimates ahead of formal budget filing and adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ellis - Commissioners Court - Jun 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff presented a draft FY2026 budget showing departmental requests outpacing estimated new revenue, prompting discussion of salary increases, reclassifications, vehicle requests, and contingency planning.","taxTitle","Ellis County, Texas","taxId",20431,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553856,"Commissioners approve multiple purchases, contracts and resolutions; several items tabled",2916,632000,3548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065408-3570b330a3161a0973d5c0c25cb8ff8e&start=632&end=3548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065408-3570b330a3161a0973d5c0c25cb8ff8e/thumbnail_632000.jpg","/articles/6553856/Ellis-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-multiple-purchases-contracts-and-resolutions-several-items-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553856-6eb363aae04529907d09a074bedf9e9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150839&Signature=NznU4uFx9cvKIGuCgqMc-iru043gXvlK9-IgUNjo~9oyWbcOpXOwsjAZF3UQ7zHKHVDU8EDstn~jM996ytPgHipmOLUBtn~RJsNNDIeXu5Fa-3tOY7hFd0W46OE9RFR~o43iWzkZ0EUf-~l6JkF27POyhrN3aFUvXOpnS8voyZj3qOhtNXIwh~HzOKk2GrvdjXIoCA9IzdykOLXRCObVly0bo1DTK3S2Siy5cXYZE4ssb-Mpo210xPIaEEDHrHOJnxVXxxkSkDUXgWmjv~kfJ6ixd8kNq-0BVP5gNkK9P8tYc2YSx5XXdGpBTFAkFarpav3v2Z4JfnAtHdU5~LsH3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ellis County Commissioners Court approved a package of routine purchases, contracts and administrative actions and passed a resolution to apply for federal election-security funds during a meeting that included a multi-hour budget presentation. Most items were approved by unanimous voice vote; one pending contract negotiation was tabled for later consideration.

The actions included: cancellation of a previously approved final plat for Jacobs Edition Tracts 1 and 2 and restoring the property to a single 26.022-acre tract; purchase of a 2025 Volvo PT125C pneumatic roller for Road & Bridge Precinct 1; advertising for bids on miscellaneous concrete work; purchase and installation of a larger LG ductless mini-split unit for the county central server room; a remediation and construction contract for Ellis County Central; declaration of 18 hail-damaged vehicles as surplus; several personnel- and administrative-level approvals including changing the county flexible spending account vendor and renewing county/retiree health insurance premiums; approval of the UT Southwestern mobile mammography service agreement; passage of a resolution to pursue a 2025 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) election-security subgrant of $52,000 with a required county match of $10,400; and approval to sell county-owned property at 701 I-35E in Waxahachie to the highest offeror for $753,000.

Staff recommended approval on most of the items presented and commissioners moved, seconded and approved them by voice vote. For procurement and contract items advertised through cooperative purchasing, the court noted BuyBoard and TIPS USA contract numbers on the agenda. One contract item — to negotiate a software-as-a-service agreement with Justice Solutions LLC for the constables — was moved into executive session and later tabled for future court action.

Quotes from presenters and staff were limited. HR director Sharon Mancilla characterized the county's health-plan renewal as favorable, saying the county had “our lowest renewal within the last five years,” and staff emphasized insurance reimbursement would cover most remediation costs at Ellis County Central subject to a $10,000 deductible.

Votes at a glance (key items):
- Agenda item 1.3: Cancellation of final plat for Jacobs Edition Tracts 1 & 2 (approx. 26.022 acres). Motion to approve from Commissioner Ponder; second from Commissioner Butler. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 2.1: Purchase and install Liebert IT unit for Ellis County Sheriff (American Mechanical Services of Texas, LLC; BuyBoard contracts). Motion to table. Mover: Commissioner Butler; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: tabled.
- Item 2.2: Purchase 2025 Volvo PT125C pneumatic roller (Romco Equipment Company; BuyBoard) for $96,320 for Road & Bridge Precinct 1. Mover: Commissioner Stinson; second: Commissioner Grayson. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 2.3: Advertise/solicit bids for miscellaneous concrete work (unit-cost multiple-award contract). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 2.4: Purchase LG ductless mini-split and install for MDF/server room (TIPS USA) for $23,006.85. Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 2.5: Authorize county judge to sign contract with Blackman Mooring BMS CAT (TIPS USA) for remediation and construction at Ellis County Central for $56,961.18 (insurance expected to reimburse the work less a $10,000 deductible). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 2.6: Declare listed vehicles surplus per Local Government Code Ch. 263 (hailstorm total-loss list; ~18 vehicles). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.1: Negotiate contract with Justice Solutions LLC for software-as-a-service for Ellis County constables. Court moved the matter to executive session and later tabled the negotiation. Mover to table: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Butler. Outcome: tabled.
- Item 3.2: Add one additional cash drawer to the county clerk ($50). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.3/3.4: Determine composition of salary grievance committee (Local Gov't Code §152.014) and randomly select three public members from the grand jury list under §152.015. Motion to retain the mix of elected officials plus three public members approved; random selection (Kristen Barber, Michael Ortega, Nicole Sweet) approved. Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Butler / Ponder (motions recorded as shown). Outcome: approved (voice votes).
- Item 3.5: Renew county and retiree health insurance coverage and premiums through the Texas Association of Counties Employee Benefits Pool for FY2025–26, with the county absorbing the 3.7% medical and 10% dental premium increases so employee premiums remain unchanged. Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.6: Change flexible spending account vendor from HealthEquity to WEX (TAC arrangement). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Butler. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.7: Authorize county judge to sign UT Southwestern Medical Center mobile mammography service agreement (scheduled Nov. 14). Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.8: Approve resolution to pursue a 2025 HAVA election-security subgrant of $52,000 with county match $10,400. Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 3.9: Approve contract to sell county-owned improved property at 701 I-35E in Waxahachie (former JP Precinct 2 subcourthouse) to the highest offeror for $753,000; authorize county judge to execute. Mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Ending: The court adjourned after a brief executive session; no further public action was taken on the other listed executive-session items. Several items were routine procurement or administrative approvals; one contract negotiation (Justice Solutions LLC) was tabled for later consideration.","Ellis County Commissioners Court on several routine agenda items including land-plat cancellation, equipment purchases, contracts and a grant resolution; most measures passed unanimously and one contract negotiation was tabled for later action.","actionData","errors"]

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Ellis County budget presentation shows new asks exceed projected revenue; officials discuss COLA scenarios

Commissioners approve multiple purchases, contracts and resolutions; several items tabled