Majority of residents who spoke during the Aug. 18 Commissioners Court meeting opposed the budget in its current form. Those speaking against the proposal included residents from across the community as well as local political figures, including Ellis County Republican Party Chairman Randy Bellomy. On taxes, the message was straightforward: residents want the county to take less. Multiple speakers invoked America’s founding-era resistance to taxation, arguing that keeping taxes in check is a basic principle of limited government. Much of the discussion focused on the proposed creation of a new County Administrator department and separate Budget Office. Several residents questioned not only whether Ellis County needs another administrative layer, but also why such a major structural change should happen just months before voters elect a new county judge. Their argument was simple: the next county judge will inherit the new structure, so that judge should have a meaningful role in deciding what the administration looks like. For many speakers, the bigger questions were how much county government should grow, how much taxpayers should be asked to fund and whether major changes should wait for the next county judge. Video of the public comments is available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/p_XgxY3txZo Ellis County Tax Assessor speaks about tax rate and budget: https://youtu.be/Zw-0p-RiyFw More photos from the meeting on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122178574694973267