Ellis County to exceed revenue-neutral rate as draft 2027 budget shows shortfall

County Administrator Darren Myers told the Ellis County Commission the county’s draft 2027 budget reflects very small valuation growth (0.2%) while costs such as insurance and inflation are rising, producing a draft gap that could require nearly $1.5 million in cuts if the commission remains revenue neutral.

"Point 2% valuation growth, but you have 5% inflation, currently," Myers told the board, and he outlined choices the commission faces to balance the draft. He said voting to authorize exceeding the revenue-neutral rate does not lock the commission into a final tax increase, but preserves flexibility: "If you vote not to exceed it, you will be forced to cut that full 1,497,000. But if the commission does vote to exceed it, you can whittle all that way down to, let's just say, a $100,000 in additional taxes." Commissioners approved sending the attached revenue-neutral-rate letters to the county clerk to exceed the rate for the general and fire funds.

Myers also flagged timing complications: health-insurance renewal quotes arrive after budget deadlines, so staff may need to make conservative assumptions and adjust later. He noted an estimated 2.6‑mill potential change in the mill levy shown in the draft (from about 38.1 to 40.7) and warned that additional budget rounds and public hearings are scheduled before final adoption.