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Ennis approves Chapter 380 package for expanding local employer, splitting sales‑tax rebate with EDC
Summary
The commission approved a Chapter 380 economic development agreement for an existing local company’s expansion ("Project Superman"): a 50% property‑tax rebate on new value for five years and a half‑cent sales‑tax rebate split evenly (0.25¢ city / 0.25¢ EDC); staff said the project would add about 57 jobs and a $12M capital investment.
The Ennis City Commission approved a Chapter 380 economic development agreement on Sept. 17 for an existing local employer identified in staff materials as "Project Superman," authorizing property‑tax and sales‑tax rebates tied to new investment and jobs.
Jim Wehmeyer, who briefed the commission on the proposal, said the company has roughly 138 employees in Ennis today and would add about 57 new jobs under the expansion, increasing annual payroll by just under $2.3 million. Staff presented an investment figure of about $12 million and said the company’s current assessed value would remain taxable; incentives would only apply to the new incremental value.
Under the agreement the commission approved, the Ennis Economic Development Corporation and the city will each provide a quarter‑cent local sales‑tax rebate (total 0.5¢) on sales above an established baseline and a 50% property‑tax rebate on new value for five years. The EDC board had recommended the split; commissioners debated whether the EDC or the EDC+city should fund the rebate before settling on a shared approach.
Commissioner Haney moved approval with the quarter‑cent split from both the city and the EDC; Commissioner Pierce seconded the motion. Following discussion about average wages and the city’s income statistics, the commission approved the motion by voice vote.
Mayor Cameron Rayburn noted that the median wages for the new positions were below the city’s current mean salary figures but said incentives and infrastructure investments aim to create broader economic opportunity. Staff said the agreement also includes performance targets and that the current baseline sales tax receipts for the company would remain unchanged; any rebate applies only to growth above that baseline.
The commission did not provide a roll‑call tally in the meeting minutes; the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff will finalize agreement language to reflect the split and return executed documents.
