Ellis County Auditor Says No $20 Million Is Missing
Ellis County Auditor Staci Parr says no county money is missing, responding to questions about $20 million that surfaced during discussions of the county’s upcoming budget.
Budget
Ellis County Residents Push Back on Proposed Budget
Ellis County residents turned out Tuesday to weigh in on the proposed FY2027 budget, and the dominant message from public speakers was opposition — particularly to the tax burden and proposed changes to county administration.
$20 Million in Tax Money May Have Been Collected. Where It Went Remains Unknown.
Ellis County Judge John Wray says he will seek an outside audit after a preliminary review found the county may have collected about $20 millions more in tax revenue than it budgeted to spend, raising questions about where the money went.
Ellis County Corrects $6.1M Tax Revenue Estimate — But Budget Fight Isn’t Over
Ellis County has amended its proposed 2027 budget after an incorrect FY2026 property tax revenue estimate made the projected increase appear substantially larger. The correction changes a major number in the debate, but questions over staffing, new administrative departments and county facilities remain.
"I Will Not Stand for It": Ellis County Commissioner Pushes Back on 12.68% Tax Revenue Increase
Ellis County is proposing no increase in its property tax rate for 2027, but the county still expects to collect nearly 13% more in property taxes. At least one county commissioner is already pushing back on the proposal.
Ellis County Elected Officials: Who's Getting a Raise in 2027?
Ellis County is proposing salary and allowance changes for elected officials in FY2027, with most offices receiving modest raises and several positions seeing larger adjustments.
Ellis County Budget Proposes Two New Departments and 37 More Positions
Ellis County’s proposed 2027 budget would increase authorized staffing from 707 to 744 positions while creating two new administrative departments. One of the most striking changes is in juvenile services, where staffing would jump from 36 to 54 positions — a 50% increase that suggests the county is preparing for significantly greater demand for juvenile probation and detention services.
Waxahachie Moves Ahead With Railyard Park Parking Lot Project
Waxahachie is moving forward with a nearly $928,000 Railyard Park project that will add parking, dedicated food truck spots and shaded seating near downtown.
Ennis Approves $2 Million for Water Plant Generators to Meet State Rules
The Ennis City Commission has approved a $2 million budget amendment to buy and install emergency generators at the city’s Water Treatment Plant — a move required under state law.
Ellis County Approves 2026 Budget With Pay Raises for Deputies
Ellis County deputies are getting long-awaited pay increases after county leaders approved the 2026 budget this week.