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Ennis adopts $153 million FY2025 budget, holds property tax rate steady and returns $12 million to QUIP fund, shelving planned community services center
Summary
The Ennis City Commission unanimously adopted the FY2025 budget and kept the city's property tax rate effectively unchanged. Commissioners voted to transfer $12 million back into the Quality Incentive Payment (QUIP) fund rather than spend it on a new community services center, citing long-term operating costs and loan risk.
The Ennis City Commission on Sept. 9 adopted a budget for fiscal year 2025 that funds city operations and capital projects while keeping the city's property tax rate effectively the same as 2024.
Mayor Cameron Rayburn presided as Director Barnes presented the proposed FY2025 budget and the tax rate. Barnes said the proposed property tax rate is 0.664 (with a maintenance & operations portion of 0.415 and a debt service portion of 0.249) and estimated total FY2025 tax revenue of roughly $21,200,000. Barnes told commissioners the budget appropriates funds at the fund level, naming $31,000,000 to the general fund, $16,200,000 to the utility fund and $36,900,000 for general and water/sewer capital projects; total fund‑level appropriations were presented near $153,000,000.
After questions about fund balances and one‑time expenditures, the commission voted to adopt the budget. Commissioner Haney moved approval; Commissioner Watson seconded. Director Barnes explained the city had intentionally drawn down prior high fund balances to pay for one‑time capital projects, and the commission approved the ordinance by roll call (unanimous among those present).
In a linked decision, the commission approved a budget amendment transferring $12,000,000 from the general capital projects fund back to the Quality Incentive Payment (QUIP) program fund. Mayor Rayburn framed the move as fiscal stewardship: the commission had previously discussed building a community services center but concluded the city lacked a sustainable revenue stream to maintain and operate a new facility. "It was expected that the annual maintenance and operation of this facility was going to run between $1.2 and $1,500,000 per year," Rayburn said, adding that the city could not commit that recurring expense from its ongoing operating revenues.
Rayburn also described a related financing element: the city earlier authorized a roughly $17,000,000 loan tied to QUIP activity involving nursing homes for which the city holds operating licenses. That loan is repaid through performance metrics tied to the QUIP program; if the nursing homes do not meet metrics, the city would still be responsible for repaying the loan. For that reason, the commission voted to return the $12,000,000 to the QUIP fund rather than proceed with constructing the proposed multi‑service center.
The decision drew public comment earlier in the meeting. Charlene Rushing, a resident, urged the commission to "keep this item on the table" and said the planned multi‑service center was "personal for me," warning against dismissing funds intended for services for unhoused, uninsured and mentally ill residents.
The commission adopted the budget and related ordinances at the Sept. 9 meeting. Commissioners and staff said the city will post the meeting recording and follow up with project‑level allocations and communications about next steps.
