On Tuesday, the Commissioners’ Court—County Judge John Wray and Commissioners Randy Stinson, Lane Grayson, Louis Ponder, and Kyle Butler—voted to adopt the new budget. The move wraps up a two-year effort aimed at addressing salary concerns within the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Brad Norman praised the decision, calling it a “multi-year, conservative, fiscally responsible approach” that finally puts deputy pay in line with surrounding agencies. “Recruitment and retention are real issues for the great men and women who wear the badge at the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office,” Norman said in a statement. “Judge Wray & Commissioners, you are fixing a legacy issue within my agency, and I think the investment you made yesterday will pay dividends for years to come.” For years, Ellis Country Sheriff Department deputies have earned less than officers at nearby agencies, a gap that made it difficult to keep experienced staff. Norman said the raises are a major step forward in both recognizing deputies’ work and strengthening the Sheriff’s Office for the future.