Ellis County commission authorizes letters to exceed revenue-neutral rate while finalizing 2027 budget

The Ellis County Commission voted July 4 to approve revenue-neutral-rate letters that will permit the board to exceed the revenue-neutral rate as it finalizes the 2027 operating and capital budgets.

County Administrator Darren Myers presented the second draft of the 2027 budget and the commission's first look at the capital budget, noting that "the estimated county valuation for Ellis County based off the current estimates in June from the November 26 abstract only had increase in valuations of point 2%." Myers told commissioners the draft currently moves the mill levy from about 38.1 to 40.7 — a roughly 2.6 mill increase under the present assumptions — and described pressures from rising insurance and other costs.

Myers said the draft includes outside-agency funding requests totaling roughly $1.33 million and that bond payments have been structured to avoid immediate property-tax impacts. He also warned of lost revenue in investments and the auditor's recommendation limiting the use of oil-and-gas depletion reserves, saying that leaves "just over $425,000" in that fund.

Commissioner Nathan Liger moved to approve and sign the revenue-neutral-rate letters for submission to the Ellis County Clerk; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Myers recommended using the proposed rates in the letters (roughly 40.717 mills for the general fund and 4.398 mills for the fire fund) "and then we'll cut down from there over the next month and a half," giving staff flexibility to reduce the final increase during subsequent budget hearings.

Myers also noted that estimated revenue from a planned solar development (an estimated $1,100,000 annually when producing) is not included in the 2027 draft because that income would not be received until production begins — currently targeted as late as 2029.

The commission scheduled public budget hearings on July 15–16, with departments and elected officials set to present. The letters approved July 4 must be filed with the county clerk by July 20, a deadline that drove the timing of the vote.

What happens next: staff will continue budget work across multiple meetings and present revised mill and levy options to the commission at subsequent public hearings.