Ennis adopts $153 million FY2025 budget, keeps tax rate steady and returns $12 million to QUIP fund

The Ennis City Commission on Sept. 9 adopted a $153 million budget for fiscal year 2025 and maintained the city's property tax rate, pledging to hold recurring costs while funding one‑time capital projects. Mayor Cameron Rayburn announced the roll call adoption after Director Barnes presented the budget and fund summaries.

The budget package appropriates funds at the fund level, including a $31,000,000 general fund appropriation and planned capital projects. Director Barnes told commissioners the proposed rate to support FY2025 is 0.664, with the maintenance and operations portion at 0.415 and debt service at 0.249; he said the proposed rate does not represent a tax‑rate increase for residents.

The commission also ratified a revenue increase driven by new property values added to tax rolls this year. Barnes said roughly $79,000,000 of new taxable value accounts for additional revenue; state law requires the commission to ratify that increase even when the rate itself is unchanged.

Public comment and commission discussion focused on a previously proposed community services center. Charlene Rushing, an Ennis resident, urged the commission to keep funding available for local social and mental‑health services and said, “Don't give my money back. It's $12,000,000.”

Mayor Rayburn explained the commission's decision to move the $12,000,000 back into the QUIP fund. He said the city had previously taken a $17,000,000 loan to support the QUIP program and that the program's payments are contingent on 24 nursing homes meeting state quality metrics. Rayburn warned the city could remain on the hook to repay the loan to Prosperity Bank if the state does not reimburse those funds, and he said operating a new community services center would likely require $1.2–$1.5 million per year in ongoing maintenance and staffing that the general fund cannot sustainably support.

Commissioners said the city historically held higher fund balances and that staff intentionally drew down reserves for one‑time projects. Director Barnes confirmed the city will continue to maintain a fund balance policy and that one‑time expenditures must be funded from reserves rather than recurring revenue. After discussion, the commission approved the budget, the tax‑rate ordinance and the transfer to return $12,000,000 to the QUIP fund by unanimous vote.

What happens next: The approved budget is effective for FY2025. Staff will post budget and tax notifications and bring back any required implementing ordinances or project appropriations for specific capital projects at future meetings.