Ennis begins 2027 budget workshop; staff projects $33M revenue, urges 30% reserve

ENNIS, Texas — The Ennis City Commission opened its first budget workshop for the 2026–27 fiscal year on April 7, when staff presented early revenue projections, a conservative budgeting approach and planning guidance that would preserve financial flexibility.

The finance director, Stanley Muni, told commissioners staff is recommending conservative revenue estimates while the city waits for certified property values in July. “We better under project than over project and then have to make adjustments down the line,” Muni said, explaining the department’s cautious approach.

Staff presented a preliminary projection of roughly $33,000,000 in general-fund revenue for fiscal 2027, driven by stronger-than-expected sales-tax actuals through midyear. The presentation also noted about $1,000,000 of the city’s general-fund revenue is sequestered for long-term development incentives and obligations, which reduces immediately available funding.

Why it matters: staff said maintaining a 30% general-fund reserve would leave the city better positioned to respond to emergencies or revenue shocks, such as sudden drops in sales tax or spikes in fuel and material costs. City managers framed that reserve level as a best-practice target while they continue to monitor sales- and property-tax trends.

Muni walked the commission through the budget calendar: a departmental kickoff on April 16, department submissions through May 8, the city manager’s draft by May 29, a second commission workshop on June 9, receipt of certified tax rolls by July 25 and presentation of a proposed budget on August 18.

On personnel costs, staff said projected savings for 2027 could reach about $2.9 million as a result of several measures, including elimination of some positions and reductions in projected health-insurance costs. The budget officer (presenting the strategic framework) said an employee-evaluation process is being rolled out and could accommodate both cost-of-living adjustments and merit-based steps; commissioners repeatedly urged targeted pay actions to retain police, fire and utility staff.

“There are options that include on-site, no-cost training,” Muni said when describing priorities; he emphasized wages, step promotions for uniformed public-safety staff and training as first-order items to fund if revenue allows.

Debt and capital planning: staff discussed possible limited borrowing to stabilize the tax-rate impact of capital projects, reviewing instruments such as revenue bonds, certificates of obligation and voter-approved general obligation bonds. Muni noted existing debt-service obligations next year of about $11,500,000 (principal and interest) and said staff would propose limited borrowing to keep the tax rate steady if needed.

Staff also flagged a placeholder entry of $5,000,000 under general capital projects as an amount not yet earmarked; they said it could be reallocated to utility projects such as sewer stabilization once a systemwide sewer-capacity study identifies candidate projects.

Commission reaction: several commissioners pressed staff for a citywide salary survey and asked that any pay changes be equitable across departments. One commissioner questioned a purely across-the-board cost-of-living model and urged merit elements. Staff said a rollout of evaluation forms and targeted adjustments is underway.

What’s next: staff will complete revenue projections after receiving certified appraisal rolls in July and return with a consolidated manager’s draft in late May ahead of the June workshop and August proposed budget. The commission took no formal votes during the workshop.

Sources: Presentation and comments by the city’s budget officer and Stanley Muni, finance director, at the Ennis City Commission budget workshop on April 7, 2026.