Aug 18, 2026 Commissioners Court

[OPENING COURT]

[00:00:11]

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP, SO WE'RE JUST SORTING THROUGH THAT AT THE MOMENT. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING COUS COURT. WE DO HAVE A COURT PRESENT. THE NOTICES OF THIS MEETING HAVE BEEN LEGALLY POSTED PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS FOUND AT THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551. UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJECTION, I WILL GO AHEAD AND DECLARE THE MEETING OPEN BEFORE I CALL UPON COMMISSIONER PONDER TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR COUNTY TREASURER, CHERYL CHAMBERS, HAD A PLANNED SURGERY FOR TODAY. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE KEEP HER AND HER FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS.

AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL ON COMMISSIONER PONDER TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE STAND. DEAR LORD, WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH HEAVY HEARTS. HELP US, LORD, TO FIND THE WAY TO HEAL THE DIVISION THAT'S BEING CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY. HELP US ALWAYS REMEMBER TO FOLLOW YOUR COMMANDMENTS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR HONOR. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND GUIDANCE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING GRACE. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE RETURN OF WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN CORPORAL WILLIAM IRVING BARRIER. WE ALSO PRAY, LORD, FOR THE HEALING OF MISS CHERYL CHAMBERS. IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR. ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU ALL AND WELCOME AGAIN. AND IF YOU'RE JOINING US ONLINE, WE ALSO WELCOME YOU. AND WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE OR LATER, I KNOW WE GOT A BIG CROWD, SO I'LL TRY TO KEEP THE MICROPHONE CLOSE TO MY MOUTH. HOWEVER, THE ACOUSTICS IN THE ROOM ARE SOMEWHAT BAD AT TIMES, SO IF YOU CAN'T HEAR, IF YOU'LL JUST SO INDICATE AND I'LL TRY TO, I'LL TRY TO SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER. OKAY? OKAY. THE FIRST THING FIRST BEFORE WE MOVE, MOVE INTO OUR AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FORM. A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE FOUND THAT FORM. IT'S OUTSIDE THE DOORS TO MY RIGHT. AND THAT WOULD BE TO YOUR LEFT. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FILL OUT THAT FORM BEFORE THE AGENDA ITEM IS CALLED AND DELIVER IT TO OUR COUNTY CLERK, CRYSTAL VALDES. WE WILL CALL UPON YOU WHEN THAT ITEM IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION. MOST OF THE ONES I THINK YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON ARE TOWARD THE END

[Proclamations, Recognitions, and Resolutions]

WHEREAS CORPORAL WILLIAM IRVING BARRIER, A TEXAN AND MEMBER OF THE 21ST PURSUIT SQUADRON 24TH PURSUIT GROUP, SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS DURING WORLD WAR TWO. AND WHEREAS, FOLLOWING THE JAPANESE INVASION AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN AND FILIPINO FORCES ON BATAAN. ON APRIL 9TH, 1942, CORPORAL BARRIER WAS CAPTURED AND ENDURED THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH.

BEFORE BEING AT CABANATUAN PRISON CAMP, WHERE HE SUFFERED STARVATION, DISEASE AND DEPRIVATION. AND WHEREAS CORPORAL BARRIER DIED AS A PRISONER OF WAR ON OCTOBER 24TH, 1942 AT THE AGE OF 22, AND WAS BURIED IN A COMMON IN COMMON GRAVE NUMBER 17 AT THE CABANATUAN CAMP CEMETERY. AND WHEREAS, FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS, CORPORAL BARRIER REMAINED UNACCOUNTED FOR, HIS NAME MEMORIALIZED ON THE WALLS OF THE MISSING AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL. APRIL 16TH, 2025. THE DEFENSE POW MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY IDENTIFIED HIS REMAINS THROUGH SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS AND AVAILABLE EVIDENCE, BRINGING CLOSURE TO HIS FAMILY AND THE NATION. AND WHEREAS, THE PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY HONOR THE COURAGE, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE TEXANS

[00:05:01]

THANK THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF YOUR

[CONSENT AGENDA]

COMMISSIONER, DID YOU DID YOU LOSE SOMETHING? NO. WON'T. COME ON. THE LIGHTS NOT ON. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY. I THINK JUST WORKING YOUR LIGHTS NOT WORKING. PERFECT. VERY GOOD.

[1.1 Discussion, consideration, and action on a variance request to Volume l, Section IV (A) regarding the minimum public road frontage requirements for Parcel ID No. 148148. This ± 7.46-acre site is located ± 595 feet northeast of the intersection of E India Road and FM 660, Ferris, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 1.]

REGARDING THE MINIMUM PUBLIC ROAD FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARCEL ID NUMBER 148148. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATELY 7.46 ACRE SITE THAT IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 595FT NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF EAST INDIA ROAD AND FM 660 FERRIS ROAD AND BRIDGE. PRECINCT NUMBER ONE, ALBERTO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING. HE WANTS TO PLAT THIS ONE SEVEN ACRE PROPERTY. IT DOES NOT HAVE THE DOES NOT MEET THE COUNTY'S MINIMUM ROAD FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S SPLIT BETWEEN EAST EAST INDIA AND WICKLIFFE. THE EAST INDIA SIDE HAS ABOUT 60FT OF ROAD FRONTAGE. THE WICKLIFFE SITE HAS ABOUT 30. SO THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING FOR A VARIANCE TO OUR 150 FOOT ROAD FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS. THE PLAT WAS ORIGINALLY. THIS LOT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO DEVELOP OUT ON THE INTERIOR, BUT IT WAS SOLD IN 99. WITHOUT THOSE PLANS EVER, EVER COME TO FRUITION. AS YOU CAN SEE, I THINK THE PLAN WAS TO ALWAYS CONNECT WITH WICKLIFFE AND EAST INDIA AND THEN HAVE LOTS OFF OF EACH OTHER, BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

SO STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS VARIANCE, SUBJECT TO THE THREE CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CAN YOU READ THE CONDITIONS? SURE. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER OR APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A PLAT APPLICATION IDENTICAL TO THE SURVEY EXHIBIT PROVIDED FOR THE PROPERTY. NUMBER TWO IS ANY FURTHER SUBDIVISION OF THIS PROPERTY SHALL REQUIRE A PLAT MEETING THOSE REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME APPLYING AND. NUMBER THREE, APPROVAL OF THIS VARIANCE REQUEST DOES NOT EXTEND TO MULTI-TENANT, MULTI-UNIT OR COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES OR BUSINESSES WITHOUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME. STANDARD WITH WHAT WE DO WITH THE SUBDIVISION THAT'S THAT OLD AND MET REQUIREMENTS BACK IN THE DAY. BUT THEN

[00:10:01]

[1.2 Discussion, consideration, and action on a variance request to Volume l, Section IV (A) regarding the minimum public road frontage requirements for Parcel ID 152036. This ± 3.19-acre site is located ± 75 feet northwest of the intersection of Landings Road and Hwy. 34, Avalon, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 2.]

THE ROADS AT ONE POINT DID MEET THE COUNTY ROAD REQUIREMENT TO THE STANDARDS, BUT THE PERSON IN MY POSITION BACK IN 1983 TOLD THE APPLICANT THAT THE ROADS WERE BECOMING DEFICIENT AND AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THEY DIDN'T RESPOND. SO THE COUNTY DID NOT ACCEPT THIS.

THESE ROADS BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 84. SINCE THEN, THE SUBDIVISION HAS LARGELY SET UNDEVELOPED. SO THEY ARE LOOKING TO JUST TO BUILD. THEY SEEK A PERMIT FOR THAT CORNER LOT THERE. THEY DO HAVE 105FT OFF OF STATE HIGHWAY 34. IT'S STILL SHORT 150FT. SO WE'RE ASKING APPROVAL FOR THIS VARIANCE REQUEST. THEY DID SUBMIT A PERMIT TO TXDOT TO SEE IF THEY COULD HAVE A DRIVE CUT OFF OF 34. TEX-DOT DID DENY THEM BECAUSE OF SPACING REQUIREMENTS. SO AT THIS POINT, THE VARIANCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO KIND OF DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY.

WE DID SEND OUT FIVE LETTERS AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THREE CONDITIONS.

THE. THE LAST TWO ARE THE STANDARD ONES. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT APPROPRIATE NUMBER ONE ADDRESS DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S THE APPLICATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED VARIANCE REQUEST EXHIBITS. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ALBERTO ON ITEM 1.2? IF NOT, I WOULD TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.2 FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STENSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I DOES ANYONE VOTE? NO HEARING, NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.2 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP

[1.3 Discussion, consideration, and action to release the maintenance bond and accept the infrastructure for Waterfall Ranch Phase One. The ± 145.266-acre site is located ± 600 feet north of the intersection of Rocky Falls Drive and FM 876, Waxahachie, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 3.]

YES, JUDGE. THIS IS A REQUEST TO RELEASE THE THE PERFORMANCE BOND. THAT PERFORMANCE BOND WAS THE EXCUSE ME, MAINTENANCE BOND. AND THAT WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.6 MILLION. THE COURT DID APPROVE THIS FINAL PLAT BACK ON JANUARY 9TH OF 2024 FOR 105 LOTS. THE COUNTY DID INSPECT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT MEETS ALL OF OUR REQUIREMENTS. SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL TO RELEASE THE MAINTENANCE BOND AND TO ACCEPT ABOUT 14,717 LINEAR FEET OF ROADS IN THE SUBDIVISION. THIS DOES INCLUDE A 1349 LINEAR FEET OF THE RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION FOR FM 876 COMMISSIONERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ALBERTO ON ITEM 1.3, ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. NO CONDITIONS. NOTHING. NO. CORRECT. OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1.3 FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.3 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP

[1.4 Discussion, consideration, and action on a variance request for Parcel ID No. 185315 to Volume l, Section IV (B) regarding four (4) existing structures encroaching into the proposed front building line setback and front drainage & utility easement. This ± 16.44-acre site is located at the intersection of Holder Road and Bud Run Road, Waxahachie, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 3.]

[00:15:02]

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS. WE HAVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.4 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP

[1.5 Discussion, consideration, and action on a replat of Champion Estates, Lots 8R-1 & 8R-2. The ± 2.759- acre site is located at the intersection of Champion Road and Longbranch Road, in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City of Midlothian, Road and Bridge Precinct No. 4.]

LOTS EIGHT R ONE AND EIGHT R TWO. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATELY 2.759 ACRE SITE THAT IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHAMPION ROAD AND LONG BRANCH ROAD IN THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN ROAD AND BRIDGE. PRECINCT NUMBER FOUR ALBERTO.

YES, THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO CREATE ONE ADDITIONAL LOT FROM AN EXISTING LOT. THE INITIAL PLOT WAS APPROVED BY A COURT BACK ON SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 1983. THEY ARE SHOWING THE RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION FOR CHAMPION AND LONG BRANCH. THIS WAS ADVERTISED IN THE WAXAHACHIE SUN ON JULY 22ND, 29TH AND AUGUST 5TH ON THE WEBSITE ON JULY 17TH AND ALSO CERTIFIED MAIL. WE SENT OUT FIVE NOTICES ON JULY 17TH. WE ONLY NOTIFIED IN THE PAPER BECAUSE THE STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE US TO NOTIFY A REPLY WHENEVER YOU'RE CREATING ADDITIONAL LOTS OKAY FROM AN EXISTING LOT. SO STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO SEVEN CONDITIONS. MOST OF THEM ARE STANDARD. THE ONE THAT KIND OF STICKS OUT IS THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE AN EXHIBIT TO SHOW THAT THE DISTANCE FROM THE EXISTING FIRE HYDRANTS ARE MET. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ALBERTO ON 1.5? I'M FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 1.5, ITEM 1.5 FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 1.5 PASSES

[2.1 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve a three-year renewal of the Civic Plus Contract for the County Website in the amount of $33,721.15 for Fiscal Year 2027.]

OKAY. SO YOU HAD A 14% ESCALATION IN THE COST YEAR OVER YEAR. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EJ RELATIVE TO THIS ITEM? NO. THIS IS ONGOING PROCESS. I MAKE A MOTION AND WE EJ WE USE THAT TO PUBLISH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND A LOT OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE REQUIRED TO PUBLISH ON OUR WEBSITE, CERTAIN STATUTES REQUIRE PUBLICATION ON THE ON THE WEBSITE. IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

AND THIS DOES INCLUDE SECURITY FOR THAT FOR OUR SECURE SOCKET LAYER. AND IT'S GOING UP 14% YEAR OVER YEAR. YES, SIR. OKAY. ANY OTHER BY THE STATE. CORRECT. AND IT IS IT IS MANDATED BY THE STATE. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS. NO. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.1? BUTLER DID. I'LL MAKE A SECOND. OH, I'M SORRY, I DID NOT HEAR THAT UP. SPEAKING OF SPEAKING OVER YOU, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.1 FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE

[00:20:02]

[2.2 Discussion, consideration, and possible action to accept the termination letter from Selrico Services for RFP-2025-007 Inmate Food Services effective August 31, 2026.]

OKAY. SO SO DUE TO CELL RICO BACKING OUT, WE'RE GOING TO INCUR ANOTHER $69,000 EXTRA.

YEAH. YES. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LEGAL TO DISCUSS GOING BACK SINCE THEY ARE TERMINATING THE CONTRACT TO SEE IF WE CAN COLLECT THAT FROM CELL RICO. OKAY. VERY GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD. WE'RE TRYING GETS US THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER. RIGHT. THAT'S THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

BUT FOR YOU HANDLING IT NOW. SO RICO'S HANDLING IT IN A MINUTE. BUT. RIGHT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COST US TOO. SO YOU CAN START FIGURING BEFORE WE START HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING US BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND WITH A NEW VENDOR, BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY DIDN'T GO DOWN. NO, IT DID NOT. AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 69,000 OVER THE YEAR, THAT'D BE DIVIDED BY 12. SO HOW MUCH DOES OUR CURRENT VENDOR COST US PER YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THAT PER YEAR. I'VE GOT EVERYTHING. I APOLOGIZE AND IT IS JUST SO. SO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC KNOW IT'S A UNIT COST. YOU KNOW, WE IT IT FLOATS BASED UPON THE JAIL POPULATION. WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 630. BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A BOTTOM LINE NUMBER. OF COURSE IT'S DUE TO IT BEING A UNIT COST. THAT'S WHAT THE WAY WE ASK FOR IT IS, IS PER MEAL. AND SO I, I SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT NUMBER AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. RIGHT. OKAY.

COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ALBERTO? ONE, I BELIEVE THIS IS ITEM 2.2. IF THERE'S ISN'T. ONE, I WOULD TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.2. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO.

OPPOSITION ITEM 2.2 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP ITEM 2.3, WHICH IS

[2.3 Discussion, consideration, and action to re-award RFP-2025-007 Inmate Food Services for the Ellis County Detention Center to Correctional Food Services and authorize County Judge to execute a contract upon final legal review.]

[00:25:04]

CORRECTIONAL FOOD SERVICES PROVIDED EXCELLENT PRIOR SERVICE AS A VENDOR BEFORE SELL.

RICO SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PURCHASING RECOMMEND AWARD TO CORRECTIONAL FOOD SERVICES.

OKAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK WE COVERED $141 A DAY FOR 700 INMATES, FOR 130, OR 630 FOR 638,000 A DAY. NO, NO. SOMEONE SAID NO, SORRY, I THINK 360. I THINK WE'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD FEELING FOR HOW MUCH THE COST IS GOING UP.

RIGHT. AND WE'LL, WE'LL WILL IT BE RELIT STARTING OCTOBER 1ST? I'M COMING UP WITH IF WE DO 365 DAYS, IT'S 89,302 AND A HALF. SO DIVIDED BY 12. WOULD BE ABOUT $7,441 IMPACT PER MONTH.

OKAY, OKAY. AND WILL IT BE REBID EJ IN OCTOBER? NO, THIS ACTUALLY IS SINCE THEY WERE THE SECOND AND THEY WERE WENT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS. THIS WILL BE AN AWARD FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM OR A THREE YEAR TERM. AND WE DID AUTHORIZE DOES IT HAVE AN INFLATION AND INFLATION ADJUSTER KICKER IN IT? YES, SIR. IT DOES. IT'S BASED ON CPI AND PPI, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT. SO IT CANNOT GO UP MORE THAN INFLATION. SO IT DOES THAT ANNUALLY. YES. AND DOES IT DO THE ANNIVERSARY DATE. DOES IT DO IT ON A CALENDAR BASIS OR ON. OR DOES IT MATCH OUR FISCAL YEAR. IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE ANNIVERSARY DATE OF THE CONTRACT. OKAY. VERY GOOD.

COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EJ ON ITEM 2.3. HOW MANY CONTRACTS DO WE HAVE THAT HAS THE INFLATION MARK IN THERE? WHAT WE DO IS WE PUT THAT IN ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS THAT ARE ONGOING FOR SERVICES. THAT WAY WE LIMIT THEM AS FAR AS WHAT THE INFLATION IS. WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM IN A BIND. PREVIOUS YEARS, IN THE OLD DAYS, I SAY THE OLD DAYS, THEY WOULD TRY TO GET COMPANIES TO HOLD FIRM FOR THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, BUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD TERMINATE THE CONTRACT SERVICES BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THAT INCREASE IF WE HAD AN OIL SPIKE OR IF WE HAD OTHER ISSUES THAT CAME UP. SO THAT IS OUR STANDARD LANGUAGE NOW. SO WE DO EVALUATE ALL THE CONTRACTS. WE DON'T THEY KNOW THEIR CONTRACTS.

WE DON'T LET THEM KNOW. SO UNLESS THEY BRING IT TO US, THEN THE DATA COMES AND PASSES OR WE WORK WITH THEM, RIGHT? PRETTY MUCH A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO HONOR THE INFLATION COST FOR THEM. OTHERWISE, WE COULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE COULDN'T MEET WHAT'S MANDATED BY US, MANDATED TO US BY THE STATE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT. WELL, I CAME FROM AN INDUSTRY WHERE WHEN YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT, YOU FULFILLED IT, OR IT'S CALLED BREACH. YEAH. WHEN I BREACHED AND THEY'D COME AFTER ME. BUT THE STATE DOESN'T CARE. LUCKILY, THAT NEVER HAPPENED. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY THAT GETS A PASS THAT CAN'T DO THE JOB THAT THEY PROPOSE TO DO FOR YOU. SO THE NEXT THING HAPPENS IS WE GET TO VOTE FOR AN INCREASE BECAUSE OF TAXES. AND THESE PEOPLE GET UPSET ABOUT IT BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW OUR COST IS MORE THAN IT WAS, EVEN WITH THE CONTRACT GOING TO A NEW CONTRACT. AND NEXT YEAR EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO HAMMER YOU AGAIN. BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING BANKRUPT. SO THERE AGAIN, THAT SORT OF EXITS OUT THAT ON THE FIRST COMPANY, BUT IT'S WITH EVERYTHING IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO. AND THAT'S BEEN HARD FOR ME TO GET TO GET USED TO IN TEN YEARS, TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE GET OUT OF CONTRACTS WITH NO RECOURSE TO THEM. I JUST I JUST THINK IT'S UNFAIR. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO WORK ON. AS FAR AS GIVING US MORE TEETH TO MAINTAIN A BUDGET AS TO WHAT WE APPROVE EACH YEAR. NOW, SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? I'M GOOD. YEAH. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.3? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO. OPPOSITION ITEM 2.3

[2.4 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve an Interlocal Agreement between The University of Texas and Ellis County in accordance with the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code.]

[00:30:01]

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 18 COUNTIES UTILIZING THE SERVICES AND ANOTHER 20 COUNTIES IN PROCESS OF APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY UNDER THIS NEW AGREEMENT, IT'LL REPLACE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO ELLIS UNDER ANOTHER COUNTY CONTRACT RIGHT NOW, AND IT WILL HAVE OVER A $30,000 PER YEAR SAVINGS. SO THIS WILL REPLACE 30 TO $35,000 THAT WERE THAT WERE OTHERWISE PAYING FOR TO THE IT BUDGET. YES. OKAY. WELL, YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT DEAL, I GUESS. SO, COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THIS IS A CYBER SECURITY RIGHT, FOR SPAM EMAILS. AND IS THAT WHAT THIS IS. COVERS ALL DIFFERENT DIFFERENT. YEAH. AREAS IS THIS ONE. YES. OKAY.

OKAY. COMMISSIONERS. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.4 MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ZAKK. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STENSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO.

[2.5 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve additional funding in the amount of $4,094.56 payable to American National Leasing for the increased cost associated with the 2026 Ford F-150 Responder for Constable Precinct 4. Funding previously approved under Minute Order No. 471.25.]

AND EJ, JUST WHEN YOU WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE UPFIT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RADIO, THE LIGHT BAR, THE ALL THOSE VARIOUS THINGS THAT GO ON A POLICE PURSUIT TYPE VEHICLE.

YES, CAMERAS, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THAT VEHICLE TO BE USED. AND IT, IT WENT UP BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE TO SEND TO THE OUTFITTERS. SO NOW THE OUTFITTERS COST HAS GONE UP. THAT'S CORRECT. SINCE WE ORDERED THE SPECIALIZED VEHICLE AND WE COULD NOT FIND ONE LOCALLY. DO YOU DO YOU GENERALLY FIND THAT THE COUNTY'S COST JUST INCREASE OVER TIME DUE TO INFLATION SINCE AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, SINCE THIS YEAR THEY HAVE HAD TARIFFS. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE CAUSED INCREASES NORMALLY. AND IT SAYS COMMISSIONER STINSON SAID IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE AND SIGN IT, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO A FIRM. BUT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE COMPANIES PRODUCING THE VEHICLES, IT WENT THROUGH PRODUCTION. SO WE GOT CAUGHT IN THAT INCREASE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF ITEM 2.6? WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE THROUGH WITH LEASES. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THIS ONE WAS ON A LEASE ATTEMPT BACK BEFORE WE DECIDED TO SHUT LEASES DOWN? YES. THIS WAS FOR CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR MART BOUNDS. AND THIS DID. YES. THIS WAS WAY BACK ON NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 25TH OF LAST YEAR.

[00:35:03]

WHEN THAT STARTED, LEASES WERE ACTUALLY INTEREST WAS WAY DOWN. IT WASN'T AS DAMAGING. NOW INTEREST IS UP. SO NATURALLY THE COST OF THE VEHICLE IS UP. AND THEN TO ME, WHEN YOU'RE LEASING, YOU'RE PAYING MORE OF A PREMIUM THAN WHAT I CAN DRIVE OVER HERE AT FIVE STAR OR WHOEVER I'M GOING TO GET QUOTES FROM AND NEGOTIATE AND BUY ONE OUT. I MEAN, AS LONG AS THEY'RE OWNED BY A BOARD. SO LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, I THINK WE NEED TO START BUYING OUR VEHICLES THAT WAY. YOU GOT REAL EXPENSE. YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOU CAN BUY IN A YEAR AND THE BUDGET YOU GOT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU DON'T KNOW THESE BIG LEASE PAYMENTS. THAT INTEREST CONTINUES TO RISE ON. SO THAT'S THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. IT'S GOT TO BE PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW ON VEHICLES FOR A WHILE THOUGH, RIGHT. I KNOW THE SHERIFF BE HE'LL BE LOOKING FOR SOME DIRECTLY PROBABLY. BUT YEAH, I THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERALLY HAS A ROLLING PROGRAM TO ORIGINALLY. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHAT IT STARTED FOR WAS SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND IT JUST ESCALATED INTO THEN IT GOT OUT OF CONTROL. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT. AS HE SAID, THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO REPLACE SO MANY TAHOES BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. SO AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A GOOD PROGRAM. BUT AS YOU SAID, NOW WE'RE DOWN TO ONLY REPLACE. BETTER TO GO BACK TO JUST OUTRIGHT PURCHASES. YEAH. WE HAD A ROLL OUT PROGRAM WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SO MANY PER YEAR. THEN COVID HIT. ALL OF A SUDDEN NONE CAME, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BACKED UP. AND WHEN IT CAME, YOU HAD A TON OF THEM HIT AT THE SAME TIME. SO INSTEAD OF ROLLING VEHICLES OUT IN A ROLLOUT PROCESS WHERE THE ONCE THEY GOT THE MILEAGE, YOU'RE NOT REPLACING 20 AT A TIME, RIGHT? REPLACING THE SHORT AMOUNT. AND ANYWAY, IT DIDN'T WORK. AND I'M FOR ONE, READY TO STOP IT. ALL RIGHT. WELL VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM 2.6? IF NOT, DOES SOMEONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION. GOOD POINT. FIVE. OH I'M SORRY, IT'S 2.5.

YES. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, YOU MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.5. AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO.

[2.6 Discussion, consideration and action to purchase one (1) 2026 Ford F250 4x4 crew cab from Platinum Ford in the amount of $59,004.50 for Road and Bridge PCT. 2.]

COMMISSIONER. SERGEANT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO. ABSOLUTELY. SINCE I TOOK OVER, WE'VE GOT AN AGING FLEET OF EQUIPMENT AND PICKUPS AND PRECINCT TWO. SO THIS IS HOW WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT IT LITTLE BY LITTLE. TRY TO BUY ONE HERE, ONE THERE. BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THAT BUDGET WE HAVE. ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND A DIESEL PICKUP NOWADAYS FOR UNDER $60,000, THAT IS A PRETTY DANG GOOD DEAL. YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT SOME USED OPTIONS, TRYING TO GET SOMETHING WITH 30,000 OR LESS MILES ON IT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU'RE STILL RUNNING IN THE 50S TO, YOU KNOW, LOW TO MID 50S. SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IS TO SPEND THE EXTRA 4 OR $5000 AND HAVE THE NEW VEHICLE. WE HAVE ONE DIESEL PICKUP THERE. IT'S A 2008 MODEL, I BELIEVE, AND THERE'S 277,000 MILES ON IT. AND THAT PICKUP COST US A LITTLE OVER $11,000 IN MAINTENANCE OVER THE LAST YEAR. SO IT'S TIME TO PUT HER OUT TO PASTURE AND GET A NEW ONE. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR EJ OR COMMISSIONERS? ANY COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WOULD TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM 2.6. MAKE A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 2.6 FROM COMMISSIONER ZIKE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I, I DOES ANYONE CARE TO VOTE? NO, NO. OKAY. WE HAVE FOUR EYES AND ONE NO. ON ITEM 2.6 THE ITEM OR THE THE MOTION DOES CARRY. OKAY. WE'LL

[P.1 Public hearing regarding the installation of a stop sign on Cody Road at the intersection of Old Telico Road, installation of a stop sign on Log Cabin Road at the intersection of Old Telico Road, installation of a stop sign on Log Cabin Road at the intersection of Pecan Grove Road and the installation of a stop sign on the Gentry - FM 1182 Connector at the intersection of Gentry Road within Road and Bridge Precinct 2.]

[00:40:01]

ALL THREE OF THESE LOCATIONS ARE FOR. ARE MINOR INTERSECTIONS INTERSECTING A THROUGH ROAD. CODY ROAD INTERSECTS WITH OLD TELLICO ALONG WITH LOG CABIN COMMISSIONERS. COURT ENGINEERING HAD SOME CONCERNS FROM THE CITIZENS OUT THERE ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES. WE TOOK A LOOK AT IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS MUNICIPAL CODE FOR TRAFFIC DEVICES. THE LINE OF SIGHT IS KIND OF BLOCKED, OBSTRUCTED BY TREES. OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WE CAN'T CUT DOWN OR TAKE TAKE DOWN. SO WE RECOMMEND THESE SIGNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER ZACH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I, I ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO OPPOSITION. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW

[3.1 Discussion, consideration, and action regarding the installation of four stop signs one on Cody Road at the intersection of Old Telico Road, one on Log Cabin Road at the intersection of Old Telico Road, one on Log Cabin Road at the intersection of Pecan Grove Road and one on the Gentry - FM 1182 Connector at the intersection of Gentry Road within Road and Bridge Precinct 2.— Ellis County Engineer Zach Gerich]

[3.2 Discussion, consideration, and action to revise the Ellis County Fire Code to include the 2024 edition of the International Fire Code along with the North Central Texas Council of Governments Recommended Amendments to the 2024 International Fire Code, effective October 1, 2026 — Fire Marshal Tim Birdwell]

HOW CAN I ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IF VERY GOOD COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT ADOPTING THE 24 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AND AMENDMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? FOR ME, I DO NOT UPDATING IT HELPS HOMEOWNERS IN THE COUNTY GET A LOWER HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE PREMIUM. IS THAT. YES, SIR.

HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES ALSO. OKAY. GIVE US GIVE A PUBLIC A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU UPGRADED. MAYBE. OKAY, SO SOME OF THE BIGGEST KEY ISSUES FOR THIS CODE IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE. GOING FORWARD IS ALL OF OUR FEES AND EVERYTHING HAVE INCREASED FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND OPERATIONAL PERMITS. ALL NEW SELF STORAGE FACILITIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, NO MATTER ON THE SIZE. THERE IS A EXISTING

[00:45:01]

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 10% OF IT THAT AFFECTS EXISTING. SO ALL NEW OCCUPANCIES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS CODE. WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION TO HAVE CONCRETE FIRE LANES AND FIRE ACCESS ROADS. THERE'S LITTLE THINGS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS. IF THEY ARE USING CONSUMER GRADE FIREWORKS, THOSE ARE CONSIDERED 1.4 G. THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A OPERATIONAL AND A PERMIT THROUGH OUR OFFICE TO DO THIS. YEARS PAST, THEY HAVE NOT.

THEY'VE ONLY HAD TO HAVE IT FOR PROFESSIONAL GRADE SHOWS. WE HAVE WENT AHEAD AND AMENDED THAT TO INCLUDE 1.4 ALSO, AND THAT IS FOR GROUPS OVER 50 PEOPLE THAT ARE PAID TO BE THERE. ANY TYPE OF STUFF LIKE THAT. OKAY, OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR SCOTT? IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE OR I'M SORRY, 3.2 FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER, PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING NO OPPOSITION ITEM 3.2 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE. AND RAFAEL, I SEE THERE IN THE BACK. YOU MAY WANT TO MAKE YOUR WAY

[3.3 Discussion, consideration, and action to approve the updated Ellis County Emergency Operations Basic Plan and authorize the County Judge to execute the plan upon approval by the Court. - Interim Emergency Management Coordinator Rafael Hernandez]

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RAFAEL. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

[3.4 FY26 Line-Item Transfer. — County Commissioner Precinct 2 Matthew Zjic Decrease 004-0652-508070 Operating Expenditures by $15,000.00 Increase 004-0653-509160 Auto/Equipment/Building Ins. by $15,000.00 Decrease 010-0653-508070 Operating Expenditures by $8,000.00 Increase 010-0653-509070 Tires by $7,600.00 Increase 010-0653-509890 Tirz Payments by $400.00]

[3.5 Presentation, discussion, and consideration of the April 16th, 2026, independent audit by Pattilo, Brown, and Hill L.L.P. of the procedures in the budgetary information used for county funds and the budget procedure. — Ellis County Judge John Wray]

[00:50:02]

IT WAS MY OPINION AT THAT TIME THAT MY CONCERNS WERE THE RESULT OF GOOD FAITH, HUMAN ERRORS MADE BY AN OVERWORKED STAFF MEMBER WORKING ON AN UNDERSTAFFED TASK. UNDER MY GUIDANCE, THE COUNTY ENGAGED ITS EXISTING EXTERNAL AUDIT FIRM, PATTILLO, BROWN AND HILL, TO UNDERTAKE THIS WORK. PATTILLO BROWN AND HILL WAS ENGAGED IN OCTOBER 25TH, AND IT PREPARED A WRITTEN REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS DATED APRIL 16TH, 2026. AS NOTED, THE REPORT HAS BEEN POSTED TO THE COUNTY'S FACEBOOK PAGE. THE COMMISSIONERS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ADDRESSING THE DEFICIENCIES FOUND IN THE REPORT, AND SEVERAL OF OUR SUGGESTED FIXES ARE CONTAINED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. BETWEEN OCTOBER 2025 AND APRIL 2026, I WAS IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH PATTILLO, BROWN AND HILL REGARDING ITS PROGRESS. I WAS ASSURED BY PATTILLO BROWN AND HILL THEY WERE FINDING NO INDICATIONS OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF TAXPAYER MONEY OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. ONE OF THE AUDIT FIRMS FINDINGS IN THIS REPORT IS THAT THE COUNTY UNDERESTIMATED TAX REVENUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET. AND, LEO, WILL WE GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT UP? YEAH, THE ADOPTED BUDGET ANTICIPATES TAX REVENUE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 100 MILLION, AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBIT D TO THE REPORT THAT IS BEING PROJECTED. HOWEVER, THE CORRECT ESTIMATE IS ACTUALLY 106 MILLION PLUS OR MINUS, AS CALCULATED BY THE AUDIT FIRM.

IN RESPONSE TO MY EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS OF LAST YEAR. I AND THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL IMPORTANT CHANGES, MOST NOTABLY, A VACANT POSITION IN THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WAS FILLED THIS PAST SPRING BY A BUDGET SPECIALIST TO BRING GREATER STAFFING TO THE BUDGET, PREPARATION AND MONITORING PROCESS. THE BUDGET SPECIALIST IS ALSO READILY AVAILABLE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONERS, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE PUBLIC FOR DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. WE ALSO PURCHASED NEW SOFTWARE THAT IS MORE USER FRIENDLY AND EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. THE CURRENT BUDGET PROCESS IS ALSO MUCH MORE COLLABORATIVE THAN LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE ENGAGED THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY AUDITOR, TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR AND OTHERS MORE THAN HAS OCCURRED IN RECENT YEARS. ALL OF THESE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE BUDGET PROCESS BY YOU, THE CITIZENS AND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SUCH AS THE COMMISSIONERS, SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND MANY OTHERS. AND YET, THERE IS MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS PAST WEEK, AS WE WORKED ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, I REALIZED THAT IF THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET UNDER ESTIMATED TAX REVENUE BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF $6 MILLION, THEN PERHAPS PRIOR BUDGETS DID THE SAME THING. I IMMEDIATELY DID A QUICK EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBERS FOR FISCAL YEARS 23 THROUGH 25, AND BECAME QUITE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS, IN FACT, THE CASE. IN A NUTSHELL, THE COUNTY MAY HAVE COLLECTED MILLIONS MORE DOLLARS, PERHAPS AS MUCH AS $20 MILLION, THAN IT BUDGETED TO SPEND OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. BUT OVER THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR WHERE THE MONEY MAY HAVE GONE. TO REPEAT, ELLIS COUNTY APPEARS TO HAVE COLLECTED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TAX MONEY THAN IT BUDGETED TO SPEND OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS,

[00:55:03]

I AM NOT ASSIGNING BLAME TO ANYONE FOR THIS SITUATION. I REPEAT, I AM NOT ASSIGNING BLAME TO ANYONE FOR THIS SITUATION. I HOPE TO PUT FORWARD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AS OTHERS AND I CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TROUBLING SITUATION. COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS. I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO UNPACK, SO I JUST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, JUDGE RAY, FOR LOOKING INTO THAT AND FINDING THIS. THIS IS THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE SIT HERE ON THIS COURT. IT'S EXACTLY OUR JOB TO BE THE STEWARDS OF YOUR MONEY. AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO LOOK BACK IN THOSE BUDGETS AND FIND THOSE DISCREPANCIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE YOU'VE GIVEN THIS COUNTY IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS. I KNOW YOU'RE UNDERAPPRECIATED, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU HERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS WAS REALLY JUST A DISCUSSION PRESENTATION ITEM. SO WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ACTION ON IT AT THIS MOMENT. SO I WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 3.6. MY COMMENT. SURE COMMISSIONER. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE POSITION THAT YOU WERE APPOINTED TO. AND AS AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL. YOU ARE THE JUDGE. I WANT TO SAY THAT I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE A IT'S LIKE A MAYBE I'M NOT THE JUDGE DEAL.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TRANSPARENCY. IT'S SOMETHING I FELT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THROUGH THE JUDGE'S OFFICE IN THE PAST, AND I HOPE WITH THE NEW INCOMING JUDGE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WILL SEE THAT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I MEAN, WHERE IS PUZZLED AS YOU PEOPLE ARE WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS LET ANYTHING COVER UP. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING OUT FOR THESE AUDITS. LIKE I SAY, THERE'S IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH EACH YEAR WITH WHAT WE ARE BRINGING IN AND HAVE THIS KIND OF AN ISSUE COME FORWARD. I HAVE MY IDEAS AS TO WHERE IT CAME FROM OR WHERE IT ACTUALLY WENT, AND I'M NOT SO SURE IT'S NOT STILL SITTING IN AN ACCOUNT. BUT BELIEVE ME, THERE'S NO I DON'T I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WRONGDOING ON ANYBODY AS FAR AS MONEY. YOU CAN'T GET MONEY OUT OF A COUNTY AND WALK AWAY WITH IT AND IT NOT SHOW UP SOMEWHERE. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. AND LIKE THE JUDGE SAID, I HOPE EVERYONE WOULD REMAIN WITH AN OPEN ATTITUDE, AN OPEN IDEA AS TO WHERE THIS IS GOING.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR DILIGENCE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MYSELF. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A IT'S A HEAVY BURDEN. AND IT'S I'VE BEEN LOSING SLEEP OVER IT. AND THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW. ALL RIGHT. I

[3.6 Discussion, consideration, and action to introduce the FY 2026-27 Budget. Final adoption will not be considered. — Ellis County Budget Officer Amil Spencer-Berry and Chief of Staff Erik Test]

[01:00:05]

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST A PROPOSAL. IT IS SUBJECT TO FURTHER DISCUSSION AND DEBATE. AND POSSIBLE REVISION WOULD BE THE SAME RATE.

27.3992. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT BREAKS DOWN BETWEEN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, INTEREST IN SINKING AND FARM TO MARKET ROAD. THE OFFICER OR OFFICIAL OF THE COUNTY WHO CERTIFIES ON THE OFFICIAL NOTICES THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. WE HAVE PUBLISHED A COUPLE OF NUMBERS FOR NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL THAT HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT OFF. AGAIN, AS YOU MAY UNDERSTAND FROM THE STATEMENT I JUST READ TO YOU EARLIER, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF, FRANKLY, CHAOS IN THE WAY THAT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN HANDLED IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE A DIFFICULT SITUATION OF TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER. I'M WORKING ON MAKING IT BETTER, BUT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE ON OCCASIONS PUT OUT INFORMATION THAT WAS INCORRECT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME IF WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LEAH. ALL RIGHT. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON HOW THE TAX BASE HAS GROWN OVER THE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN 2026 FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AS YOU KNOW, APPRAISES ALL OF THE PROPERTY IN ELLIS COUNTY. LAST YEAR IT WAS VALUED AT ABOUT THE TAXABLE PORTION WAS VALUED AT ABOUT $39 BILLION. THAT TAX RATE OF $0.27 AND CHANGE GENERATED TAX PROJECTED ESTIMATED TAX REVENUE OF 106 MILLION. AGAIN, OF COURSE, I DISCUSSED IN MY DISCUSSION OF THE PATTILLO BROWN REPORT THAT OUR ADOPTED BUDGET LAST YEAR REFLECTED A MUCH LOWER NUMBER 100 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.

THE APPRAISAL OF TAXABLE VALUE IN ELLIS COUNTY IS $41.279 BILLION. THAT IS ROUGHLY A $2.3 BILLION INCREASE. OF THAT $2.3 BILLION TWO, ROUGHLY 2 BILLION OF. IT IS NEW PROPERTY THAT WAS ADDED TO THE TO THE TAX ROLL IN 2026. SO THAT'S NEW HOUSES, NEW RETAIL, NEW INDUSTRY, PERHAPS NEW EQUIPMENT AT INDUSTRIAL LOCATIONS. SO OF THAT INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE, ROUGHLY 2 BILLION OF THAT IS FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL. BASED UPON THAT, THE PROJECTED REVENUE FROM THIS YEAR'S. IF WE KEPT IF IF WE KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME, THE PROJECTED REVENUE WILL BE $112.8 MILLION, ROUGHLY A $6.6 MILLION INCREASE. YOU MAY NOTE THAT WE. THESE NUMBERS.

THIS. THIS REVENUE ESTIMATE COMES FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR. YOU MAY NOTE THAT THE TAX ASSESSORS ASSESSMENT OR ESTIMATION IS A BIT DIFFERENT. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES USED BY THESE TWO DIFFERENT OFFICES. THE. AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY 100% DRIVEN BY STATUTE. BUT I WILL LET THE TAX ASSESSOR ADDRESS THAT. BUT THE TAX ASSESSOR PREPARES HIS ESTIMATE ESTIMATE OF REVENUE BASED UPON THE MONEY HE HAS ACTUALLY COLLECTED IN THE PRIOR YEAR. THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PREPARES IT BASED UPON THE NEW YEAR'S TAX BASE, OR VALUE THAT 41.279 TIMES THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE AUDITOR MAY. IN FACT.

I'M SORRY, THE TAX ASSESSOR MAY IN FACT COLLECT A LITTLE MORE MONEY IN A GIVEN YEAR THAN THAN PROJECTED. FOR VARIOUS REASONS, PEOPLE MIGHT PAY PENALTIES, INTEREST, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO THAT IS WHY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR TWO NUMBERS. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, I CONTINUE TO LEARN. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE IF WE KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME AT 27.399 $0.02 PER $100 OF VALUATION, THEN HERE'S HERE'S THE NUMBERS. THIS THIS NUMBER IS ACTUALLY THE THE TAX ASSESSOR'S NUMBER, THE 7 MILLION VERSUS THE 6.6. THOSE NUMBERS VARY FOR THE REASONS I JUST DISCUSSED. AND AS I MENTIONED, OF THAT $7 MILLION, 5.7 MILLION OF THAT IS GENERATED BY THE NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX BASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR. SORRY, NEW PROPERTY THAT'S ADDED TO THE TAX BASE GENERALLY APPROXIMATES POPULATION GROWTH. SO THAT'S

[01:05:05]

WE'RE TAKING A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND CHIPPING AWAY AT IT OVER VARIOUS BUDGET CYCLES.

WE ADD SEVEN NEW EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT INCLUDES SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS WELL AS CERTAIN CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. THERE IS A I BELIEVE THERE'S A CIVIL A CSI, IF YOU LIKE, THAT TV SHOW, A CIVILIAN CRIME SCENE SPECIALIST WHO CAN PERFORM CERTAIN INVESTIGATION WORK WITHOUT US HAVING TO USE A MORE EXPENSIVE SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WE ALSO PROVIDE JUDICIAL SUPPORT TO THE ELLIS COUNTY AND DISTRICT DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BY PROVIDING HER TEAM WITH FIVE NEW EMPLOYEES, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE PROSECUTORS ATTORNEYS. LASTLY, WE ARE PUTTING THE THE FIRE MARSHAL'S SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CONSTABLE'S, WHO EMPLOY SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE SAME STEP PAY PLAN ROUGHLY THE SAME THAT WE HAVE FOR THE SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE DO, IN FACT, CREATE TWO PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS AND NEW NEW DEPARTMENTS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION. THIS DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE THREE EMPLOYEES, AND WE WOULD CREATE THIS NEW POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD BE AN AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS HIRED AND AND FIRED AND RETAINED DIRECTLY BY THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT AND WOULD BE REPORTABLE TO THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD OR THIS NEW DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION WOULD THEN HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE, FIRE AND RETAIN THE VARIOUS UNELECTED DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE COUNTY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE NOW. IT IS VERY SLOW AND CUMBERSOME TO

[01:10:04]

THE CHAPTER 111, WHICH IS OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS THE MAIN CHAPTER, THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE LAW REQUIRING US TO HAVE THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE VOTE TODAY.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. IT HAS FOUR SUBCHAPTERS. WE OPERATE UNDER SUBCHAPTER A, WE, WHICH UNDER SUBCHAPTER A IT SAYS COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 225,000, AS MEASURED BY THE MOST RECENT CENSUS. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE THAN THAT. BUT COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 225,000 FOR. FOR THOSE COUNTIES, THE COUNTY JUDGE SERVES AS THE BUDGET OFFICER. THE MAIN THING THE BUDGET OFFICER DOES IS COLLECT INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ASSEMBLES A PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT PROPOSED BUDGET THEN SEEKS THE INPUT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO ALL THE COUNTY JUDGE REALLY DOES. UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER IS COMPILE A PROPOSED BUDGET. I CAN TELL YOU FROM HAVING DONE THIS TWICE, WE NEED MORE HELP IN THIS AREA. WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL, FULL TIME, DEDICATED BUDGET OFFICER WHO WILL COMPILE THAT INFORMATION WITHOUT POLITICS ENGAGED IN IT AND WHO. WELL. WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES, FOLKS. THIS BUDGET OFFICER WILL COMPILE THAT, COMPILE THAT DOCUMENT, AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT RATHER THAN THE COUNTY JUDGE. THAT'S THE PRIMARY CHANGE THAT AS ENVISIONED, THIS PERSON WOULD ALSO DO TWO OTHER KEY FUNCTIONS. HE OR SHE WOULD. THEY WOULD MONITOR TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS. WE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'LL EVER HAVE ANOTHER ONE EVER AGAIN. AND PERSONALLY, I WISH THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REMOVE THE ABILITY OF A COUNTY TO GRANT A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT. THE MAIN REASON THAT WE ARE BEATEN UP BY THESE FOLKS THAT WANT TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS BECAUSE THEY SAY, HEY, IF YOU DON'T DO IT, NAVARRO IS GOING TO DO IT, OR HILL'S GOING TO DO IT. SO YOU GOT TO DO IT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. SO LET'S JUST GET RID OF TAX ABATEMENTS FOR COUNTIES, PERIOD. BUT UNTIL THEY'RE GOTTEN RID OF WE HAVE 13 OR 14 THAT NEED TO BE MONITORED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THAT HAVE RECEIVED A TAX ABATEMENT ARE COMPLYING WITH THAT TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT. THIS PERSON WOULD DO THAT ON BEHALF OF YOU. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE BUDGET OFFICER WOULD MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET AND REGULARLY GENERATE AND REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET. HOW IS PROJECTED REVENUE? IS IT WORKING OUT THE WAY PROJECTED IN THE BUDGET? REMEMBER, THE BUDGET IS A FORWARD LOOKING DOCUMENT. IT'S AN EDUCATED GUESS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT NEVER NAILS IT, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE THE FUTURE. THE BUDGET OFFICER WOULD MONITOR HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. HE OR SHE

[01:15:01]

[01:20:04]

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SPEAK ON THREE SIX AND THREE, EIGHT IF YOU CARE TO. OKAY. AND THEN YOU DON'T. THEN YOU DON'T BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE. CORRECT. AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK ON THREE EIGHT OR YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO. OH, NO, THAT'S PERFECT. I APPRECIATE IT. AND I REALLY DON'T THINK I'LL END UP TAKING FIVE MINUTES. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU CONDENSING THE AGENDA ITEMS FOR ME BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED.

VERY GOOD. I'M REQUESTING, JUST AS YOU HAD STATED, LET'S NOT MAKE SOME SNAP JUDGMENTS AND WE POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. SINCE WE HAVE A NEW COUNTY JUDGE COMING IN WHO'S DULY ELECTED, I'D APPRECIATE FOR THAT PERSON TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE OUR COUNTY FOREVER. I'VE BEEN WATCHING A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS, AND I ATTENDED THE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT. I WAS QUITE ALARMED BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE NUMBERS CHANGED. I ALSO REACHED OUT TO MY COMMISSIONER, AND I REQUESTED THAT THEY NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE. THE RESPONSE I GOT BACK WAS THAT MY APPRAISED VALUE WENT DOWN WELL. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST FOR THE FIRST YEAR. MY APPRAISED VALUE I WAS OVERPAYING FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT'S WHY MY VALUE WENT DOWN. I WROTE BACK THAT I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT RESPONSE, AND THEN I GOT BACK. HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. WELL, THAT RAISED A LOT OF ALARM BELLS FOR ME BECAUSE THAT MEANT HE DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS.

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT DOING THIS. I'M NOT SPEAKING JUST FOR ME. I'M SPEAKING FOR THE OTHER RESIDENTS. THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THIS TAX RATE, BECAUSE FOR THEM IT IS AN INCREASE IN TAXES. IT'S FOR THE RENTERS, IT'S FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES. IT'S NOT JUST FOR ME. I'M NOT SELFISH. IT'S A BIGGER PICTURE THAN ME.

SO WHILE I DO BENEFIT WITH LOWER TAXES, MY TAXES WOULD BE EVEN LOWER. IF YOU WENT WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. SO AGAIN, I REQUEST YOU DON'T MAKE THESE DRAMATIC CHANGES WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND YOU DON'T MAKE THE BUDGET. I MEAN, BASED ON OUR POPULATION, WE WE COULD HAVE REQUIRED COURTS. THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, LIKE A DRUG COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT. THAT WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT AT OUR POPULATION. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK TODAY. THANK. THANK YOU, MISS HEALY.

OKAY. I WILL NOW CALL UP COLLEEN HAMPTON. MISS HAMPTON, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, JUST BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, IF YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. ADDRESS? MY COMMENTS.

[01:25:11]

AND AND BY THE BY, HIS OWN FISHING POLE FIRST MAKE HIM GOOD. I'VE SEEN MANY CHANGE.

I'VE SEEN. I STARTED BUILDING MY BUILDING BUSINESS IN 1979. I'VE SEEN MANY CHANGES IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT, SOME GOOD, SOME NOT SO GOOD. THIS BUDGET INCLUDES EVERYTHING THE COUNTY SPENDS AND TAKES IN, SO MY COMMENTS ON SEVERAL TOPICS SHOULD BE OKAY. TIMES ARE CHANGING. AI IS CHANGING, IS CHANGING. THE WORLD, THE US AND THIS COUNTY. THE NEED FOR MORE MEMORY WHICH MEANS DATA CENTERS SOMEWHERE. BUT EVERYONE HERE SAYS NOT IN MY BACKYARD. BUT IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE NOISE CREATE, IF THEY CREATED MORE ENERGY THAN THEY USE AND RECYCLED AND RECLAIMED THE WATER THEY USE FOR COOLING SERVERS AND CHIPS, EVERYONE, EVERYONE, WHERE WOULD THEY PUT IT? EVERYONE USES THE SERVICE THE DATA CENTERS PROVIDE CURRENTLY AND IN THE FUTURE. DO THEY NOT? WHERE WOULD THEY BUILD IT? BUT TALKING ABOUT AI, MY DAD, 91 YEARS OLD, USES CHAT, CHAT, CHAT, CHAT, GPT. SO IT'S IT'S HERE TO STAY AND IT'S COMING AND, AND WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR IT. THESE THESE DATA CENTERS. THIS IS JUST ONE TOPIC, BUT THESE DATA CENTERS BRING IN LOTS OF REVENUE, REVENUE TO THE CITIES AND COUNTIES. THEY JUST GAVE THE COUNTY $15 MILLION FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER. PLEASE USE IT WISELY AND SET ASIDE SOME OF THE MONEY FOR OPERATING IT FOR YEARS TO COME. THEY JUST GAVE YOU THE MONEY. DON'T GIVE THEM ANY TAX ABATEMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING ANYWAY. MUDS HAVE COST THIS COUNTY AND CITIES AND CITIZENS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT HAVE TO BE PROVIDED FOR THEM. I KNOW THE CITIZENS AGAINST ELLIS COUNTY MUDS PAID OVER $80,000 DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES TO FIGHT THE SHANKILL ROAD MUD. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE.

WE'RE ONLY ONE OF THE FEW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT GOT THE. GOT THE APPLICATION DENIED. I APPRECIATE WHAT THE COUNTY, HOW THE COUNTY HAS SUPPORTED US IN FIGHTING THE MUDS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ACCORDING TO. THE. COUNTIES NO LONGER HAVE LEGAL STANDING. KEEP LOOKING FOR WAYS TO KEEP QUALITY DEVELOPMENTS COMING TO THE COUNTY BY POSSIBLY IMPLEMENTING SOME COST SAVING GUIDELINES THAT MAY MAKE LOTS MORE AFFORDABLE. WITHOUT THE HIGH DENSITY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHOULD BE 100% FUNDED TO KEEP THE CITIZENS SAFE. THE BUDGET TO THE JAIL SHOULD BE CUT TO THE BONE, BUT STILL MUST KEEP THE JAILER SAFE. THE INMATE'S MEDICAL WAS BETTER THAN MOST HERE AND SHOULD BE CUT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE COUNTY HAS TO AND AND I'M USED TO UNFUNDED MANDATE. THE COUNTY HAS TO SPEND MONEY ON THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES IMPLEMENTED BY THE STATE AND FED, BUT KEEP CUTTING. THE COUNTY IS GROWING RAPIDLY AND IT'S EASIER TO IMPLEMENT POSITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE. WHILE IT'S SMALL, WHEN WHAT IS SMALL THAN WHEN IS BIGGER AND TOO LATE. THE BUDGET OFFICE NEEDS TO USE AI AND. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE A DOGE PERSON BE INCLUDED IN THAT OFFICE FOR ELIMINATING WASTEFUL SPENDING. IF A BUDGET DEPARTMENT COSTS 500,000 IN SALARIES AND OVERHEAD AND SAVES YOU A MILLION, IT'S STILL A COST SAVINGS OF 500,000, SO IT'S WORTH IT. I DON'T LIKE TO I DON'T LIKE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES EITHER. IT'S LIKE PAYING TAXES TO UNREALIZED GAINS YEAR AFTER YEAR. I FIGHT THEM EVERY YEAR, BUT UNTIL THE STATE DOES AWAY WITH THEM AND COUNTIES ARE ABLE TO FUND COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICES A DIFFERENT ROUTE, PLEASE SPEND OUR MONEY WISELY AND EFFICIENTLY ACCORDING TO THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MARTIN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. KIMBERLY. MULDER. MISS MULDER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? MISS MULDER, IF YOU WOULD JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. THANK YOU. OH,

[01:30:06]

OKAY, GREAT. I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER TWO THINGS REAL QUICK. PAGE 31 AND 162 OF THE BUDGET.

THERE'S A REVENUE LINE ITEM CALLED MISCELLANEOUS REIMBURSEMENTS. IT JUMPS FROM $151,000 TO $9 MILLION. I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS. WAS TRANSFERRED STRAIGHT. WELL, SOMEWHERE ELSE ON PAGE 19162, THERE'S A BRAND NEW LOAN FUND THAT SHOWS 9 MILLION TRANSFERRED STRAIGHT INTO THE GENERAL BUDGET, PLUS 75,000 IN INTEREST. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS COUNTED AS INCOME INSTEAD OF DEBT. SO IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF LOOK AT THAT, MAYBE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE COULD LOOK AT THAT. THEN ON PAGE 151, THE $15 MILLION FOR THE SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. THE ANIMAL SHELTER, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYWHERE. THERE'S NO BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY BE SPENT ON. AND I THINK THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THE RESIDENTS SHOULD KNOW. AND THEN THERE'S JUST A FEW OTHER THINGS, SOME CONTRACTS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT BE DUPLICATE FOR THE JP DISTRICTS. SO IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THOSE. AND THEN ALSO LASTLY.

SOME FEE ACCOUNTS SITTING ON UNUSED RESERVES THAT YOU COULD LOOK AT. AND THAT'S IN DETAIL IN THERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MULDER. AND I WILL BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR WRITTEN COMMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, MISS VICKI DILLOW. MISS DILLOW, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICKI DILLOW, 7881 FAITH LANE, WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO ADDRESS REPRESENTATION AND TAXES AND THE BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JUST ENVISION. THERE'S ABOUT 100 PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND ME. ALL PEOPLE THAT I'VE VISITED WITH THAT AREN'T HERE PRESENTLY THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY EITHER AT WORK OR HAVE KIDS OR SOME OTHER PREVIOUS OBLIGATION. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE EITHER HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS. THEY WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND PAY THEIR TAXES, OR THEY PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE IN THE FIELD AND NOW ARE RETIRED ON A SET INCOME. AND THEY PAY THEIR TAXES, ALL OF WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO. AND NO ONE ALL ARE OPPOSED TO AN INCREASE IN TAXES. WE ALL ARE. THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND KEEP ALL ASPECTS OF HOW YOU GUYS REPRESENT US. WE NEED TO TO TRY AND BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU PUT INTO PLACE, AND THE OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU CHOOSE TO PUT US UNDER. IT'S OUR MONEY. WE SHOULD BE KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. IT'S A TOUGH JOB TO DO. YOU ASKED FOR OUR TRUST, BUT TRUST IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE EARNED.

I WANT YOU TO ENTERTAIN SOMETHING WITH ME FOR JUST A MINUTE. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING TO ME IS SO BACKWARDS. YOU TAKE A BUDGET, YOU TAX THE PEOPLE TO PAY FOR YOUR BUDGET. BUT THERE'S NOT A BUSINESS ANYWHERE THAT CAN FUNCTION LIKE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT YOU TAKE YOUR VALUES FROM RICHARD'S OFFICE. YOU APPLY THE NO NEW REVENUE AND YOU LIVE WITHIN THAT BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO DO. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT YOU KNOW, THERE'S INCREASE IN GROWTH. YOU HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. I'VE WORKED WITH, I'VE WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND I KNOW THERE'S WASTE. BUT

[01:35:02]

BYRON GENTRY, 211 MAIN STREET, LOXAHATCHEE. I MIGHT BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO RISES IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUDGET. FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THE THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. I WORK FOR ONE OF THESE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE. WE'VE GOTTEN ABOUT 50 EMAILS, 20 PHONE CALLS IN THE LAST TWO DAYS DECRYING A 12% BUDGET INCREASE, WHICH YOU FIVE GUYS KNOW DOESN'T EXIST. YES, REALLY. YOU KNOW IT NOW, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE POSTED WHAT YOU DID. IN MY OPINION. YOU CHOSE TO. IT'S A FREE COUNTRY. WAS IT? MARK TWAIN SAID. BETTER TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED AND BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN OPEN IT AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT. BUT I'M WILLING TO TAKE MY CHANCES. I'M IN SUPPORT OF. OF BOTH THESE POSITIONS, THE BUDGET OFFICER IS ALMOST A NO BRAINER. IT'S AN INEVITABLE THING. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET OFFICER NOW AND AUDIT, WHO'S WITH THE TITLE? WORKING FOR THE COURT WOULD MAKE THIS WHOLE SITUATION GO AWAY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE LISTENED WHEN JUDGE RAY TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S UNACCOUNTED FOR, THAT WE WILL BE HAVING AN AUDIT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT MONEY IS. IF WE

[01:40:01]

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL ME AT THE OFFICE TOMORROW, FEEL FREE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GENTRY. OKAY, WESLEY. WESLEY. TRYON. WESLEY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. WESLEY TRYON. I'M AT 2011, BLACK CAMP, WAXAHACHIE, PRECINCT FOUR. SO? WELL, AS YOU CAN TELL, EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH OVER THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND RIGHTLY SO.

THOSE OF US WHO WERE AT THE MEETING ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WE HEARD, WELL, WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

IT'S MANDATED. WE GOT TO INCREASE IT. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE ALL THESE CHANGES. IT'S ALL JUST NECESSARY. WELL, WHAT WAS TROUBLING TO ME WAS BEFORE I LEFT, I OVERHEARD A THERE WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT MADE THE STATEMENT. THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF TROUBLEMAKERS THAT ARE OPPOSING THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, THAT'S HORRIBLE. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? OH, YEAH, IT SAYS ABOUT TROUBLEMAKERS. IT CALLS US WE THE PEOPLE. SO SINCE THE MEETING SATURDAY, I'VE HAD 221 PEOPLE SIGN A PETITION, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, ASKING FOR YOU NOT TO CREATE THIS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION AS GETTING INCREASE OUR BUDGET. NOW, INTERESTINGLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE THE PAGE THAT SAYS PAGE ONE OF FOUR, YOU'LL SEE TOWARD THE BOTTOM, YOU'LL SEE THE SIGNATURE OF DORINDA RANDALL. NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO DORINDA RANDALL IS, SHE'S THE CURRENT SETTING CHAIRWOMAN FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS. THAT'S RIGHT. THE ENTIRE STATE.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND BOTH SIGNED THIS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE IS NOW A RESIDENT OF ELLIS COUNTY, AND SHE IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE AS A TYPICAL TAX PAYING CITIZEN, LISTENING TO THIS REPUBLICAN BASED COURT. YOU KNOW, SHE'S PAYING ATTENTION. AND THAT REMINDS ME, THE REPUBLICANS, AREN'T WE THE PARTY OF LESS GOVERNMENT, LESS REGULATION, LESS BUREAUCRACY? SO I KEPT ASKING THE QUESTION, WHY? WHY DO WE NEED TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW DEPARTMENT FOR THE BUDGET? SO SATURDAY NIGHT, I'M HEARING, WELL, THE COUNTY IS GROWING AND IT'S MANDATED.

WE'VE GOT TO DO IT, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. IT LOOKS LIKE THE WAY THE PROJECTIONS GOING BY THE YEAR 2030, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE TO DO IT. WELL, WE THE PEOPLE DID A DEEP DIVE ON TRYING TO FIND THAT LEGISLATIVE CODE, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE COULDN'T FIND IT. SO I WOULD LIKE ONE TO PROPOSE THAT YOU POSTPONE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, WHEN THE DULY ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE WILL BE ABLE TO PRESIDE OVER IT. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT THE STATUTE BE POSTED. WELL, I'M NOT HEARING VERY GOOD IN THE BACK OF THIS ROOM. SO I THOUGHT I HEARD TODAY THAT WE SOMEHOW $20 MILLION GOT MISPLACED. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NO POCKET CHANGE. SO MAYBE WE NEED A LITTLE INVESTMENT, A LITTLE MONEY IN THE SOUND SYSTEM IN HERE. I DON'T KNOW, BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS IT WAS HARD TO HEAR. SO WE'RE HEARING ALL THESE DIFFERENT STORIES, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. YES. EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH ON THIS BUDGET.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGAN OVER A SIMPLE TEA TAX, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU KNOW, THE EMOTIONS WERE RUNNING HIGH IN THE BOSTON HARBOR. SO ONE OTHER LITTLE SIDE NOTE, THAT'S ONLY TWO THINGS I'M ASKING. WAIT ON THIS UNTIL NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. LET THE THE DULY APPOINTED ELECTED JUDGE PRESIDE OVER IT. AND TWO, PUT THAT PUBLIC NOTICE. THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT ON THE WEBSITE. NOW, THERE IS A LITTLE PERSONAL THING THAT MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ASKED ME IF THEY IF I CAN ASK. AND THAT WAS SIMPLY THIS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE Y'ALL SAID EVERY TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND TRYING TO GET IT ALL WORKED OUT. WELL, AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF YOUR YOUR YOUR BASE IS THE REPUBLICAN BASE. THEY'RE WORKING PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT. FREE CHEESE IS NO INTEREST TO THEM. MISS WOMACK, PLEASE. OUR DECORUM RULES. SO I'M ASKING, CAN YOU CHANGE THE TIME FROM 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON TO 6:00? IT WON'T COST ANY MONEY. AND IT MAY BE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR Y'ALL, BUT NONETHELESS, THAT WOULD GIVE WORKING CLASS FOLKS A CHANCE TO SIT HERE AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND AND LISTEN TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ONE IMPORTANT THING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK. YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO DO WHAT Y'ALL DO IT. IT'S. I

[01:45:02]

SO THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME IS WE DON'T HAVE WHAT YOU'RE NOT VOTING ON ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW IS THE BUDGET. AND THEN THESE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO PUT IN ADMINISTRATOR AND ALL THESE OTHER EMPLOYMENT PLACES, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. YOU DON'T NEED THAT AT ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GRIFFIN. YOU DID SIGN UP TO COME BACK ON 3.8, OR DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK OR OR ON ITEM 3.8? NO. THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I'M SHUFFLING AROUND A LOT OF PAPERS HERE, SO I'M TRYING TO THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SHARON COTTON, MISS COTTON. AND MISS COTTON. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST SHARE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. THANK YOU. MY GIVEN BIRTH NAME FROM MY PARENTS IS SHARON MARIE COTTON. I LIVE AT 502 BLUEBONNET LANE IN RED OAK, TEXAS. FOR 31 YEARS. INITIALLY, I WAS GOING TO COME HERE TODAY IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED TAX, AND I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU A COURTESY NOTICE THAT THE AG'S OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED TO LOOK INTO EXAMINATION AND INVESTIGATION IN REGARD TO THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO NOW THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE SENT TO ASSIST YOUR BUDGET, YOUR AUDIT PEOPLE, FOR DOING A FULL INVESTIGATION. I'M I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN INNOCENT UNTIL GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. UNFORTUNATELY, IN OUR TODAY'S SOCIETY, THERE'S A LOT OF DIRTY HANDS. I WOULD LOVE TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD FAITH ERROR. THERE'S A HELL OF A LOT OF ZEROS BEHIND THAT TO. I HAVE ALWAYS IN THE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE COME TO HERE SINCE 2023, PROBABLY EVERY OTHER MEETING THAT I HAVE MADE A STATEMENT THAT I BELIEVE Y'ALL SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY LIKE IT'S GROWING ON TREES. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT CLAIM TODAY.

THE YOU COULDN'T AFFORD AN ANIMAL SHELTER. YOU WANT TO PUT IT $1 MILLION FOR A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES. TO ME, THAT IS LUDICROUS. AND YOU YOU REALLY NEED TO YOU REALLY NEED TO CUT BACK ON WHAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN BEFORE ME SAID. THIS IS A BUREAUCRACY. YOU. YOU DON'T CREATE A BUNCH OF DEPARTMENTS. YOU CUT BACK. SO YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, WE THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT THAT EMPLOY YOU. AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING A VERY FAIR SHAKE RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MISS COTTON. MAY I THANK YOU, MISS COTTON. MISS COTTON, DO YOU CARE TO COME BACK ON 3.8 OR WHEN I CALL UP 3.8 THAT THAT WAS THE THIS IS THE BUDGET AND THAT 3.8 IS THE TAX RATE. DID YOU SHARE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE MIKE ROGERS. MIKE, COME ON UP. IF YOU'D

[01:50:04]

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HAVING ME TODAY. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, FELLOW TEXANS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY CONCERNS AFTER SERVING WITHIN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS FOR 27 YEARS, WATCHING BUREAUCRATIC GROWTH AND GOVERNMENT DEATH DEPTH THAT HAS BECOME IRREVERSIBLE, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE ELLIS COUNTY BUDGET, AND SPECIFICALLY THE PROPOSAL TO ADD NEW ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, INCLUDING A BUDGET DIRECTOR AND A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONSIBILITIES THAT REQUIRE CAPABLE EMPLOYEES, AND I SUPPORT ACCOUNTABILITY, GOOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER ADDING MORE LAYERS OF ADMINISTRATION IS TRULY THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS. EVERY NEW POSITION COMES WITH MORE THAN JUST A SALARY. THESE. THERE ARE BENEFITS, RETIREMENT COSTS, EQUIPMENT, OFFICE SPACE, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AND LIKELY LATER ADDITIONS OF MORE NEW BUILDINGS TO PAY FOR AND MAINTAIN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, CREATING ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT POSITIONS CAN CREATE ANOTHER LAYER BETWEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, EMPLOYEES, AND THE THE VERY CITIZENS FOR WHICH THEY SERVE. I'VE WATCHED DIRECTORS SALARIES EXPAND OVER THE YEARS THAT RANGE WITHIN THE 140 TO CLOSE TO $300,000 RANGE, AND I'VE WATCHED THE AVERAGES OF THOSE CLIMB TO 180 TO 230. THE MORE THE MORE DIRECTORS YOU HIRE, THE MORE CONCERNS WILL ARISE CONCERNING HOW TO RETAIN THESE ELEVATED POSITIONS. THEY'RE NOT EASILY FOUND, AND THE SALARIES THAT WILL INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR. THAT RAISES A SIMPLE QUESTION. ARE WE MAKING COUNTY GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT, OR ARE WE SIMPLY MAKING COUNTY GOVERNMENT BIGGER? BEFORE CREATING A BUDGET DIRECTOR POSITION, I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD ALLOW THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE. THIS WILL ALLOW A FULLY ELECTED COURT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES CANNOT BE HANDLED EFFECTIVELY UNDER THE COUNTY'S EXISTING STRUCTURE. WHAT MEASURABLE PROBLEMS THIS POSITION WILL SOLVE, AND WHAT SAVINGS OR EFFICIENCIES TAXPAYERS CAN REASONABLY EXPECT IN RETURN. THE SAME QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED ABOUT A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. IF THIS. IF THE ARGUMENT IS THAT ELLIS COUNTY IS GROWING AND THEREFORE NEEDS MORE ADMINISTRATION, THEN WE SHOULD ALSO ASK WHETHER GROWTH REQUIRES MORE BUREAUCRACY. AND. A MORE PERTINENT QUESTION IS GROWTH PROJECTING ADDED COSTS ON EXISTING TAXPAYERS WITHIN RAISING TAXES? I BELIEVE IT IS.

AS I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND FOR 27 YEARS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER INTERNAL STAFFING ALTERNATIVES BEFORE PERMANENTLY EXPANDING THE COUNTY'S DIRECTOR LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE. IDENTIFY DUPLICATION. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSOLIDATE FUNCTIONS, ESTABLISH MEASURABLE GOALS BEFORE ADDING A NEW LAYER OF MANAGEMENT. WHEN ASKED GOAL INNER GOAL ORIENTED QUESTIONS OR DEEPER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THOSE ADDED DIRECTORS. AT A RECENT MEETING, I DIDN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FULLY KNOWN YET, OR GOALS ARE FULLY KNOWN, YET TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO FUND THESE POSITIONS INDEFINITELY. THEY DESERVE MORE THAN AN EXPLANATION THAT THE COUNTY IS GROWING. THEY DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM IS BEING SOLVED AND WHY. THE PROPOSED SOLUTION IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE ONE. I AM ASKING THE COURT TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZE THESE PROPOSED POSITIONS AND THE OVERALL GROWTH OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR A COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT IS EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. NOT NOT SIMPLY LARGER. AND WE AS TAXPAYERS MUST ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS EVERY

[01:55:03]

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. WE DO HAVE ONE MORE. THAT WOULD BE MARC COLSON. MARK GOING TO COME ON UP. AND I I KNOW YOU KNOW THE PROCESS BY NOW MARC. BUT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SHARE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. MARK COLSON 1315 DIXIE LANE, LOXAHATCHEE. THIS IS OUR 40TH YEAR AND WAXAHATCHEE. THANK YOU, JUDGE RAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PROTESTED AGAINST TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. TODAY I STAND WITH THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED TAX RATE BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. I URGE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER THE HARD WORKING TAXPAYERS OF ELLIS COUNTY WHO'VE ENDURED COVID, BIDEN INFLATION AND THE CURRENT INCREASE IN GAS PRICES, AND TO LIGHTEN THE BURDEN OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING. AS RONALD REAGAN SAID, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE TAXED TOO LITTLE. THE PROBLEM IS GOVERNMENT SPENDS TOO MUCH. I ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TABLE THE DECISION FOR TODAY. REWORK THE BUDGET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. ELIMINATE THE TWO PROPOSED DEPARTMENTS OF UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS. AND BRING US BACK A BUDGET BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. THANK YOU. MARK, DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK ON THE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE DID HAVE ONE MORE.

KATHY. KATHY PONCE. KATHY. I KNOW YOU KNOW THE PROCESS, BUT NAME, NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE TAX RATE, BUT I'M NOT HERE ABOUT THE TAX RATE. KATHY PONCE, 300 EAST THIRD STREET MAYPEARL TEXAS 76,006 FOUR. NEXT TIME I HAVE TO HEAR THE WORD UNFUNDED MANDATE. I EXPECT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU DOWN IN AUSTIN AT THE 90TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HELP US FIGHT THE UNFUNDED MANDATES. BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT ALONE ANYMORE, OR WITH ONE OTHER PERSON BACK THERE. AND YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT TEXAS HOUSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN. IT'S THAT EASY. IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IT STATES WE THE PEOPLE. THIS STATEMENT SHOWS THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT COMES FROM THE CITIZENS, NOT A KING OR A RULER. AND LOOK TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND THE TEXAS BILL OF RIGHTS. PREAMBLE. YET SOME OF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE BECOME IN YOUR MINDS KINGS AND RULERS OF YOUR PRECINCTS. AND. MR. A, I APPRECIATE YOUR. APOLOGIES AND ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN MISTAKES MADE IN REGARDS TO THIS PROCESS. SURE. COMMENTS SUCH AS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE LOOKING IN KNOWS MORE THAN THE ONES PUT IN THE PLACE TO SERVE KNOWS NOTHING. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, BUT YOU ALL KNOW. AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WE THE PEOPLE, WE ALSO KNOW SOMETHING. WE'RE NOT STUPID. AND SOME OF US HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE WE'RE REALLY STUPID. SO MAYBE THERE'S IDEAS OUT THERE. MAYBE THERE'S

[02:00:03]

COLLIN COUNTY 1.30 MILLION. TARRANT COUNTY 2.25 MILLION. THOSE ARE THE COUNTIES WE ARE GETTING COMPARED TO IN REGARDS TO THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I DON'T WANT TO BE ANY OF THOSE COUNTIES. AND OUR POPULATION ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO THOSE COUNTIES. APPROXIMATELY 15 COUNTIES IN TEXAS HAVE A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I'M GOING TO UP IT TO 20, IN CASE I MISSED A COUPLE OUT OF 254 MAJORITY OF COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WHY? IF IT'S SO GREAT AND AWESOME, WHY AREN'T THEY LEADING? AND WE TRYING TO CATCH UP? NO, THE CHANGE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY APPOINTED OFFICIALS. AND JOHN, YOU'RE GETTING THE SLACK FOR BEING THE ONLY ONE. BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO THAT YOU'RE APPOINTED AS WELL, BUT RATHER BY THE ELECTED POWERS THAT ARE SWORN IN AFTER JANUARY 1ST.

WHOEVER WE KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE. CAMERON. MATT, YOU GOT TO WRITE IN. LET'S WAIT AND SEE.

WHO ARE THE ELECTEDS GOING TO BE AFTER JANUARY 1ST. AND WE'RE GOING TO SLIDE POSITIONS TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE BUDGET OFFICE. WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS AND WE CAN'T FIND SOME MONEY, I THINK MAYBE EVERYBODY SHOULD JUST REAPPLY FOR POSITIONS. AND MAYBE WE DO NEED TO LOOK FOR SOME FRESH EYES FROM OUTSIDE. JUST ME. AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY POORLY DONE PROCESS. AS YOU HAVE EXPLAINED, THE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION THAT ELLIS COUNTY HAS TO BE ONE OF THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAX RATES IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES IN THE STATE. BUT JOHN, YOU AND I KNOW FROM THE 86TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BECAUSE WE WERE BOTH THERE, IT'S DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF SB THREE, WHERE THE STATE HAS DONE CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION. THE STATE HAS DONE THE COMPRESSION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL, AND THE ISD LEVEL. IT'S NOT FROM ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS HEART. IT'S BEEN FROM OUR STATE. BECAUSE IF IT WAS UP TO MOST. I'M NOT SAYING YOU GUYS. WE'D PROBABLY BE AT A 0.74, 0.64, 1.09. WE'D BE ALL OVER THE PLACE BEFORE THE 86TH.

IT'S IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS, BUT IT'S NOT A COMPLICATED PROCESS. YOU HAVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND YOU HAVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS ANYTHING OVER THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO HAVE AN EVENING MEETING THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS TO HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP, AN EVENING MEETING.

AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU COMMISSIONERS, DO A TOWN HALL GET INTO YOUR PRECINCTS, BECAUSE I HAVE A PETITION OF 147 PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF MAYPEARL, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THEIR COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PONCE. MISS PONCE, DID YOU WANT TO COME BACK ON THE TAX RATE? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. MISTER BRYANT, YOU SIGNED UP, IF YOU WILL. JUST ONE SECOND. WE OUR RULES REQUIRE YOU TO SIGN UP BEFORE IT'S CALLED UP FOR DISCUSSION. BUT YOU DID SIGN UP FOR 3.6 AND 3.8. THEY'RE VERY INTERRELATED. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL YOU ON 3.8. I WANT TO FOLLOW THAT RULE SO THAT THINGS JUST DON'T GET OUT OF OUT OF HAND. BUT THEY'RE SO INTERRELATED. YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING YOU INTENDED TO SAY.

OKAY, BUT NO, MR. BRYANT, I'LL CALL YOU UP ON 3.8. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR SIGNING UP.

OKAY. THIS AS I NOTED, AS NOTED IN THE AGENDA, THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET TODAY. THIS WAS JUST TO LAY THE BUDGET OUT AND TO RECEIVE YOUR FEEDBACK.

WE WILL BE TAKING IT UP FOR CONSIDERATION LATER IN SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED EACH TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE ON EVERY ON EVERY AGENDA, BUT JUST BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT COMMISSIONERS ANY. OH, I, I WROTE A LITTLE STATEMENT HERE. I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF READ JUST TO START THE BUDGET PROCESS OFF. ON A GOOD NOTE, JUDGE RAY AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, PART OF WHY WE WERE HERE TODAY IS TO DISCUSS A BUDGET AND TAX RATES. I'M SURE, MUCH LIKE MYSELF, YOUR PHONES, YOUR EMAILS. BEEN

[02:05:15]

AND I WILL PUSH FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE TO KEEP OUR TAXES FLAT IN ELLIS COUNTY. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE GROWTH OF OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE FUELED BY THE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY. WITHOUT US ASKING OUR TAXPAYERS FOR ANY MORE MONEY.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK ABOUT THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD VALUE GOING DOWN IN THIS COUNTY THANKS TO OUR TEXAS LEGISLATURE. THAT IS TRUE. THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WAS INCREASED FROM 100,000 TO 140,000, THUS GIVING A SMALL SUBSET OF TAXPAYERS A DECREASE IN THEIR VALUES, WHICH ATTRIBUTES TO A DECREASE IN THEIR TAXES. THAT IS NOT THE MAJORITY, THOUGH THERE ARE 110,545 TAXABLE PROPERTIES IN ELLIS COUNTY, PER THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. OF THAT, 110,545, ONLY 52,064 ARE HOMESTEAD EXEMPT PROPERTIES. THAT MEANS THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROPERTY OWNERS IN ELLIS COUNTY WILL SEE A TAX INCREASE, WITH ANY RATE OTHER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THIS IS AN INCREASE ON THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHO HAS KIDS AT HOME THAT IS DOING HIS BEST TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY. THAT MEANS THAT RENT WILL GO UP FOR THE SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS WORKING TWO JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THAT MEANS THAT THE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME OR LIVING IN A SENIOR COMMUNITY OR ASSISTED LIVING, WILL PAY MORE IN RENT. THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO FEED THE NATION WILL PAY MORE IN TAXES ON THE GROUND THEY FARM AND RANCH AS THEY FACE RAZOR THIN MARGINS, IF ANY MARGINS AT ALL. ON A YEAR LIKE THIS, AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THESE TAXPAYERS AND THINK OF THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY OUR DECISIONS AS WE SIT UP HERE ON THIS DAIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? COMMENTS? IF I GO AHEAD, I THINK I REALLY THINK THAT WE CAN WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT HERE. RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YES. AND AND WE DO EVERY WE DO EVERY BUDGET YEAR, WE GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AND WE END UP FIXING, FIXING THE PROBLEM. DID WE HAVE CHALLENGES THIS YEAR? YOU DAMN RIGHT WE DID. WE STILL GOT THEM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, BUT WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THEM. WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THEM. OCCASIONALLY. YOU KNOW, YOU GET SO MANY EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS THAT YOU DO KIND OF LOSE YOUR COOL A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AND SO FOR KATHY OUT THERE, I APOLOGIZE FOR MAYBE LOSING MY COOL AND YOU TAKING THAT ALL INTO CONTEXT THE WRONG WAY. IT HAPPENS TO US SOMETIME. AND SO IF, IF I OFFENDED YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE WITH THAT ONE COMMENT THAT I MADE, I APOLOGIZE. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU FOR FOR SPEAKING FOR THIS COURT, I WILL I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COURT, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE HERE IS GOING TO DO THEIR VERY BEST, THEIR VERY BEST TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND I AND I JUST HOPE THAT Y'ALL HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN US TO, TO LET US WEED THROUGH THIS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT, GET IT RIGHT, AND WILL IT BE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, OR THE SECOND OR THE THIRD OR THE FOURTH? NO, SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVEN OR 8 OR 9 TIMES TO, OF, OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO, TO KIND OF GET THIS WHERE WE CAN DO IT. NUMBER ONE, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MONEY WENT. YES. I MEAN, ONCE WE FIND THAT OUT THAT THAT COULD, THAT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE, FOR EVERYBODY. SO. RIGHT. I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OTHER AGENDA ITEMS ON HERE. BUT I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S WE HEAR YOU. LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE HEAR YOU. I HOPE YOU DO. I HOPE YOU I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT JUDGE. THANK YOU. AND I DO AGAIN, IT IS A PROPOSED BUDGET AND IT IS A PROPOSED TAX RATE. RIGHT. AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROCESS. WE SOLICIT FEEDBACK. WE RECEIVE

[02:10:01]

AND WE GET IT DIALED IN. WE'VE ALREADY I'VE ALREADY CIRCULATED SOME LOWER TAX RATES AND HOW THAT WOULD INDICATE HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE EVERYTHING'S FLUID AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT. SO UNLESS THERE'S NOT ANY OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

[P.2 Public hearing regarding the elected official's salaries and allowances.]

OKAY. AND THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE THE MARKET, THE JOB MARKET. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS P2 PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOTION TO ENTER THAT PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ZAJC. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO. OPPOSITION. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. WE HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THAT'S MISS ELY. ARE YOU STILL. YEAH. I MISS HEALY. I KNOW YOU ALREADY HAVE. LISA HEALY. 418 MILLIGAN DRIVE, MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT PAY RAISES IN THE PAST, SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. AGAIN. THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT GETTING A 3% PAY RAISE. OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT GETTING A 3% PAY RAISE. I ASK THAT YOU FORGO A 3% PAY RAISE FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, MINUS LAW ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CRUNCH, A MONEY CRUNCH. AND IF WE'RE ALL FEELING IT, YOU SHOULD FEEL IT TOO, BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT US.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS EVELYN. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I, I, I DOES ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO OPPOSITION. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

[3.7 Discussion, consideration and action to set salaries and allowances for elected county and precinct officials. — Ellis County Budget Officer Amil Spencer-Berry]

JOHN. JUDGE. I THINK WE PROBABLY WE COULD I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE FOREGO SALARIES INCREASES FOR THE COURT, BUT THEN GO AHEAD AND GO WITH THE REST OF THE ELECTEDS. I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO TELL THE OTHER ONES. THEY DON'T DESERVE WHAT THEY'RE EARNING. I THINK WE DESERVE IT TOO. BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT FEEL LIKE WE DESERVE IT. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT US TO HAVE IT. AND I DIDN'T COME HERE FOR THE MONEY. I'M WILLING TO TO FOREGO IT IF IF THE REST OF THE COURT WANTS TO.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY OUT ON A LIMB. WELL, I OR WE CAN DO ALL ELECTEDS AND JUST KILL IT.

YEAH, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SENTIMENT. I, I'M IN A DIFFICULT POSITION THERE SINCE THE SALARY WILL GO TO MY, MY SUCCESSOR, SO I, I. HATE TO THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO WIN ON THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING. IF I, IF I GO, IF I GO WITH YOU, THEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, I DID THAT TO, TO PUNISH THE NEXT GUY. IF I OPPOSE IT, THEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO SPEND THRIFT. SO I'D PROBABLY RECUSE MYSELF. IF YOU WANT TO

[02:15:02]

I AIN'T MISAPPROPRIATED ANYTHING. AND I'LL STAND ON MY INTEGRITY. AND I'LL STAND ON WHAT MY LORD AND SAVIOR TELLS ME. JUDGE NOT THAT YOU BE NOT JUDGED YOURSELVES. AND I TRY NOT TO JUDGE PEOPLE. THIS JOB HAS BECOME BECAME VERY STRESSFUL. BECAUSE OF THE POSITIONS I HOLD IN THE COMMUNITY. OTHER THAN THIS, I DON'T ENTER INTO FACEBOOK STUFF.

I DON'T GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. EVERYBODY THAT GETS ON THERE IS NORMALLY LOOKING FOR A FIGHT, AND PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR A FIGHT. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. YOU SEE ONE IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, NOBODY BREAKS IT UP. THEY GATHER AROUND TO WATCH. I MEAN, THIS IS THIS IS NOT THE TEXAS THAT I WAS RAISED UP IN. I WAS BORN RIGHT OVER HERE ABOUT TEN BLOCKS IN 1955. AND I WAS RAISED BY GOOD, GOD FEARING PEOPLE AND HONEST PEOPLE. MY GRANDDAD COULD GO TO THE BANK AND BORROW MONEY ON HIS NAME.

IT WASN'T ON ASSETS YOU HAD BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ASSETS. MY FAMILY'S WORKED HARD FOR WHAT THEY'VE GOT, AND NO, I DON'T I DON'T NEED RAISE, BUT I DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER, DON'T NEED RACE. BUT IT'S OKAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE I'M CUTTING MY PAY BECAUSE I'VE STOLE SOMETHING. BUT I'M NOT. I'LL STAND ON MY INTEGRITY AND I'LL STAND STATING THAT I AIN'T STOLE ANYTHING. AND IF I KNEW ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, I WOULD. I WOULD COME FORWARD WITH IT. BUT. THESE ARE SAD DAYS IN ELLIS COUNTY. I MEAN, I'VE GOT, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 100 PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. AND I KNOW WE GOT 200 000 PEOPLE IN THIS RIGHT NOW. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 235,000, SOME OF THE ESTIMATES. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE MISREPRESENTED THE PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY. AND I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY WHEN I WAS ELECTED THAT THE HIGHER POWER THAT I SERVE IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. AND I CAN'T STAND HERE AND SAY THAT I BELIEVE

[02:20:01]

NONE OF Y'ALL FIGURED OUT THAT THERE'S MONEY MISSING. BUT YET WE DID. AND HERE WE SIT. NOW, I'M SURE THAT REACHING OUT FOR AUDITS WILL SOLVE IT. BUT YET THESE THESE WERE AUDITED EVERY YEAR. AND IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT SWAGGART'S, EVERY TIME IT COMES THROUGH, SOME OF THE TIMES I'D MAKE COMMENTS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WENT OUT FOR AN APPRAISAL ONE TIME AND THE BANK COME BACK, PAID 2500 BUCKS FOR IT. WE WERE BUILDING A FAMILY LIFE CENTER FOR A CHURCH, A FAMILY, FAMILY LIFE CENTER. COST FOR ANOTHER CHURCH TO BUILD IT $1 MILLION A YEAR BEFORE WE DID. BUT WHEN THAT APPRAISAL COME BACK, IT APPRAISED AT $500,000. WE WERE BORN $450,000 ON IT. WAS THAT A GOOD APPRAISAL? NO. IT JUST HE GOT $2,500 FOR A PITIFUL APPRAISAL BECAUSE WE HAD PAPERWORK SHOWING WHAT THE ONE PREVIOUSLY COST. AND THESE AUDITS WERE DONE COME IN HERE. AND THIS, THIS AUDIT, THIS EVERYTHING IS GREAT. YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. DOWN AT THE END OF IT, IT STATES AT THE BOTTOM, THIS AUDIT IS TRUE TO THE EXTENT OF INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED. SO THIS ABSCONDED THEIRSELF FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST GOT PUT THROUGH IN THAT BUDGET. I DON'T LIKE THOSE KIND OF AUDITS. I, BUT I DON'T LIKE BEING ACCUSED OF BEING THE BOARD THAT WENT IN THERE AND TRIED TO UNDERHAND YOU PEOPLE AND TELL YOU THINGS THAT, THAT ARE NOT TRUE. I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD IN YOUR HEARTS REALIZE THAT WE'RE ALL MEN. CHECK MY RECORD. I AIN'T NOTHING ON MY RECORD ANYWHERE. I RAN BUSINESSES THAT HAD BUDGETS IN THEM OF UP TO $20 MILLION. NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS. AND I DO THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING UNDERHANDED IN THIS. I THINK YOU'LL FIND THE MONEY, THE MONEY MAY HAVE BEEN SPENT, BUT EVERYTHING THAT I'M LOOKING AT THAT I'M SEEING UP TO DATE WHAT WE PASSED MONEY FOR LAST YEAR, THAT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO WHAT WE SPENT THIS YEAR. SO BUT LIKE I SAY, GOING BACK, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO BACK AND LOOK AT THEM. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE EVEN AT. AS FAR AS THE MOTION, YOU GOT A MOTION ON THE TABLE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S NOT A MOTION, NOT A MOTION YET.

OKAY. THE YEAH. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE MY HEART'S AT. RIGHT? I MEAN, MY HEART'S FOR THE PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY. IT HAS BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED. AND GO AHEAD WITH YOUR.

I AGREE, RANDY, I THINK IT'S PRETTY DISHEARTENING THAT WE GOT A FEW THAT WANT TO STIR UP A POT AND MAKE SOME FALSE STATEMENTS. ABOUT 12% INCREASES ON TAXES WHEN IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. MOST PEOPLE MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FLAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE CUTS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SOME INCREASES. NOW IT'S A WORDSMITHING GAME OF USE OF CREATING THIS 12% NUMBER.

YEAH, YOU CAN MAKE THAT NUMBER DOING SOME MATH, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY COME DOWN TO ACTUAL DOLLARS THAT YOU FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE PAID. I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR YOUR TAX BILL, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT YOU'VE BEEN HOODWINKED ON THIS, THIS CLAIM. IT'S NOT TRUE. SOMEONE'S STIRRING A POT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GET REELECTED. AND THAT'S THE FACT OF THE MATTER. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I CALL HIM A FRIEND, BUT HE'S NOT ACTING LIKE A FRIEND TO ME OR TO YOU WHEN HE TAKES ADVANTAGE. NO, NO, MISS PONCE, PLEASE DO NOT MISS PONCE. OUR RULES SPECIFICALLY PREVENT OUTBURSTS. I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR DECORUM RULES DO NOT ALLOW OUTBURSTS IN PERFORMANCES LIKE THAT. SO PLEASE, PLEASE RESPECT EVERYONE. COMMISSIONER PONDER. IT'S TRUE. IT'S TRUE THOUGH.

IT'S IT'S A IT'S A FACT. I COULD GO IN DEEPER. I COULD GO IN DEEPER AND POINT OUT HOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EXTRA SECURITY AROUND HERE. I COULD POINT OUT HOW THE MIDLOTHIAN CITY COUNTY COMMISSIONER. DO YOU MIND PUSHING YOUR MICROPHONE A BIT CLOSER? I COULD POINT OUT HOW THE MIDLOTHIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS EXTRA PATROLS PATROLLING THE CITY COUNCIL'S HOMES BECAUSE OF A POST. A POST THAT ASKED, WHAT DO WE DO WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT RAISE OUR TAXES? THE RESPONSE IS VARIED, BUT A LOT OF THEM WERE DRAWN AND QUARTERED. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT DRAWN AND QUARTERED IS? I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. SOMEONE IS DRAGGED WITH A HORSE. TO THE THE TORTURE LOCATION. THEY'RE LAID UP ON A

[02:25:05]

THESE NEVER SAID A WORD. JUST LET IT GO. AS OF THIS MORNING, ALL THOSE ALL THOSE RESPONSES WERE STILL THERE. THAT IS HORRIBLE. IT'S HORRIBLE THAT ANYONE WOULD DO IT MIGHT. MAYBE THEY. HE DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE RESPONSES. BUT THAT WAS THE RESPONSES. AND HE LET THEM OUT THERE. HE LET THEM STAY THERE.

I FIND THAT TO BE UTTERLY DISGUSTING. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE THIS PENDING AGENDA ITEM. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND TO WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE 3% OR THE 1%? NO, IT'S AS PROPOSED AS WAS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. IT'S 3% WITH SOMEWHAT MORE THAN 3% FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO LET ME LET ME BE CLEAR. COMMISSIONER PONDER HAS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH INCLUDED THE 3% COLA FOR ALL ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WAS GETTING ADDITIONAL. IN ADDITION TO THE 3%. SO COMMISSIONER PONDER HAS MADE THAT MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND. NO. SECOND. DID YOU SECOND IT, COMMISSIONER? NO SECOND, NO SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THAT FAILS, FOR LACK OF A SECOND. WE ARE UP ON AGAINST THE DEADLINE, SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. OKAY, I'LL MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP ALL ELECTEDS FLAT AND. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT MUCH MONEY. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE. BUT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU FOLKS WANT, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. WE'LL KEEP THEM FLAT. CAN WE? CAN WE CARRY OUT THAT MOTION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT? LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS IT ANYWAY. WELL, I THINK HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD AFFECT THAT WOULD AFFECT THE SHERIFF AND THE FOUR CONSTABLE.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET, WE WERE ADJUSTING HIS PAY TO MEET THE NEW STEP STANDARDS. I DON'T WANT TO THROW THAT OFF. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS FEEL. SURE. THAT'S FINE WITH ME. YEAH. WE CAN LEAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THERE. OKAY. MIKE. MIKE, THE COMMENT THAT ALL ELECTEDS HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THIS, I MEAN, THEY CAN THEY CAN GRIEVE THEIR THEY CAN GRIEVE THEIR SALARY. I ENCOURAGE THEM TO IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN SLIGHTED. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT FROM COMMISSIONER STINSON.

THERE IS A STATUTORY GRIEVANCE PROCESS AND A STATUTORY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. IF ELECTED OFFICIALS FEEL AGGRIEVED BY THE DECISION TO HOLD THEIR SALARIES FLAT, THEY CAN. BETWEEN AUGUST 25TH AND AUGUST 27TH, AS I KNOW THEY HAVE TO FILE A GRIEVANCE BEFORE THAT, BUT THAT THOSE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS HAVE TO OCCUR DURING THAT WINDOW. IT'S AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS, AND SO THEY WOULD MEET AND SET THE SALARIES. SO I JUST WANT TO WARN EVERYONE OF THAT, JUST FYI. OKAY. AS I APPRECIATE IT, I'M NOT SURE. DID YOU MAKE A MOTION COMMISSIONERS? I GUESS I WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND. YEAH. SO MOTION COMMISSIONER PONDERS SORRY, I JUST AMENDED I'M SORRY. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE'LL JUST WE'LL WE'LL WE'LL NOT WILLING WILL NOT INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN KEEPING IT FLAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO UP.

OKAY. SO JUST FOR PURPOSES OF OUR OF OUR CLERK, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, COMMISSIONER PONDER HAS MADE A MOTION WHICH HE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED TO HOLD SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES

[02:30:02]

BUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO CARES TO VOTE, I PLEASE STATE I, I, I, I OKAY AND I OF COURSE ABSTAIN.

IS ANYONE CARE TO VOTE? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I HEARD FOUR EYES. SO THE MOTION CARRIES WITH FOUR VOTING IN FAVOR AND WITH ME ABSTAINING. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 3.8,

[3.8 Discussion, consideration, and action to propose a tax rate for Tax Year 2026 based on rates presented by the Tax Assessor/Collector. — Tax Assessor - Collector Richard Rozier]

SECONDLY, THE NUMBERS THAT I'M BRINGING TO YOU TODAY IS RELATES TO THE COUNTY. MY CHIEF DEPUTY, TINA BOYKIN, AND I, ON THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH, OR EXCUSE ME, LAST MONTH, ON

[02:35:02]

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, OH, RICHARD, YOUR NUMBER DOESN'T AGREE WITH WHAT THE JUDGE'S BUDGET NUMBER WAS ON THE BUDGET. WELL, IT'S BECAUSE HE'S GOT A BUDGET NUMBER AND HE'S LOOKING AT THE OVERALL VALUE OF ALL THE PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY. WHEN WE GET THAT NUMBER FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WE HAVE TO THEN TAKE OFF NEW NEW GROWTH. WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF FREEZES. WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF EXEMPTIONS. WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF THINGS THAT ARE IN LITIGATION, PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN LITIGATION, THE VALUE OF THAT. SO BY THE TIME WE TAKE OFF ALL THOSE DEDUCTIONS, WE GET DOWN TO ABOUT $32 BILLION.

AND THEN FROM THAT, WE GOT TO TAKE OFF THE $2 BILLION OF GROWTH, WHICH THAT LEAVES US.

AND THE NUMBER'S NOT UP THERE. BUT THAT LEAVES US ABOUT $30 BILLION TO CALCULATE THE RATE ON. SO IF YOU TAKE THAT NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND YOU CALCULATE IT, OR YOU TAKE THE NO, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OR YOU TAKE THE THE JUDGE'S PROPOSED RATE. IF YOU LOOK DOWN BELOW THAT, MY, MY, I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR IN PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS BECAUSE WE COLLECT IT. RIGHT. SO MY, MY MACHINES ARE MY COMPUTERS. TELL ME WE BROUGHT IN A LITTLE UNDER $89 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. NOW THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED WITH THE WITH THE RATE THAT'S PROPOSED WOULD BRING IN ABOUT $95 MILLION, AGAIN, ABOUT $7 MILLION OVER WHAT WE COLLECTED LAST YEAR OF THAT. MOST OF THAT IS, AS I SAID, IS COMING FROM NEW GROWTH. ABOUT $1.3 MILLION WILL COME FROM NEW TAXES ABOVE. NOW, I DIDN'T SAY NEW REVENUE.

NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT NEW TAX REVENUE ABOVE WHAT THE WHAT'S PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET. SO THE NEXT SLIDE, LEAH, IS PRETTY MUCH A REHASHING. I KIND OF DIDN'T REALIZE I'D SAID THE SAME THING TWICE, SO MY APOLOGIES ON THAT. BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME NUMBER.

BEFORE I SIT DOWN AND ANSWER OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, I WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR JUST A SECOND. NOW THIS SLIDE HERE I PUT TOGETHER, AND I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANYBODY OR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S A 12% OR WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S 80%, I DON'T I'M NOT ARGUING THAT POINT. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS CHART THAT WAS THAT WE GOT OUT ON THE THE INTERNET AND JUDGE TOLD YOU WHERE IT CAME FROM. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN HIS REPORT, INITIALLY IN THE BUDGET. IT'S AN ERROR, OKAY. IT'S JUST FLASHED AN ERROR. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY WAS TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN SUBTERFUGE OR TRYING TO HIDE THE REALITY. AND ANYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS ON THAT, IN MY OPINION, COMMENTS MORE ON THEMSELVES THAN THEY DO ON THE TRUTH. BUT WHAT HAPPENED? I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM. I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY YESTERDAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT NUMBER 24, FOUR, FIVE, 55, 12 CAME FROM. I CANNOT FIND IT. I CAN'T FIND IT IN ANY PAST DOCUMENTS. I CAN'T FIND IT IN ANY CALCULATED NUMBERS. NOW, REPRESENTATIVE, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO INTERRUPT IN THAT WAY. SO PLEASE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DECORUM POLICY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NUMBER

[02:40:05]

I JUST SAID THAT. BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT NUMBER. OKAY, THAT'S NOT THE REVENUE. REMEMBER, FROM LAST YEAR? IT'S NOT. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU CAN FIND IT FOR YOURSELF. IT'S NOT THE NUMBER THAT YOU ALL APPROVED IN LAST YEAR. AND FURTHERMORE, IT'S REALLY NOT EVEN GERMANE TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE VALUES FROM LAST YEAR HAVE CHANGED TO THIS YEAR. SO YOU CAN'T USE THE THE SAME RATES AND THE SAME NUMBERS TO SAY THIS IS A 12%, IS THAT A 12%, 12.6 OR 12.5% INCREASE OVER THAT NUMBER? THE TWO NUMBERS.

IT ABSOLUTELY IS. IT IT ABSOLUTELY IS. I'M NOT ARGUING THAT POINT AND WOULD NOT ARGUE THAT POINT, BUT WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S AN ERROR AND IT'S SIMPLY AN ERROR. AND I JUST WANTED TO I'M NOT TRYING, AGAIN, TO ARGUE OR GET ON ANYBODY'S REPUTATION OR ANYTHING ELSE. I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT. IT'S A MISTAKE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS DONE IN ANY WAY TO BE FALSE OR ANYTHING ELSE. I JUST BELIEVE IT WAS A MISTAKE. WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ROGER. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. YOU MAY WANT TO COME BACK UP AFTERWARDS. I'LL GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT AT THIS TIME, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL UP FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. AND THE FIRST I'LL CALL UP IS MEREDITH DEBORD, WHO? MISS DEBORD, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE SHARE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. MEREDITH DEBORD 5039 FM 984 SOUTH BARDWELL, TEXAS. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW HOW MUCH AND HOW HARD YOU GENTLEMEN WORK, AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. AND DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, BUT IT IS YOUR JOB. SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH THE NO NEW RATE REVENUE AT THIS TIME. AND I MIGHT ADD THAT AS A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, THIS PAST YEAR, I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SHUTDOWNS. I WAS A FORMER TEACHER, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY INSURANCE RATE WAS OUTRAGEOUS. MY HUSBAND AND I FARM. I DIDN'T GET A 3% INCREASE THIS YEAR. SO FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TO BRING SOME REAL NUMBERS TO YOU GENTLEMEN AND WANTED TO ASK, HAVE YOU RECEIVED A 962% PAY RAISE, MAYBE A 714% PAY RAISE, MAYBE A 537% PAY RAISE, 237%, OR MAYBE EVEN A 930, 193% INCREASE. I DON'T THINK SO. AS I STATED, I DIDN'T. THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M GIVING YOU ARE FROM MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY, LOCAL AND MY BARDWELL COMMUNITY IN OUR TAX AG VALUE, INCREASE IN PROPERTY RATE, THE 917 962% 11 YEARS. THIS PERSON NOW AND TWO YEARS 42% EIGHT 6% INCREASE. AND THESE ARE ON AG VALUES. AND SO THIS PAST YEAR, I WENT AND PLEAD MY CASE, AS I DO EVERY YEAR. AND THE 34.06%, IT WAS 34.02% WAS DENIED. AND THE THING THAT I SAY TAXES DO MATTER, AG VALUE MATTERS. AND IF YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT THE TAX RATE IS MADE, TAX VALUES ARE ABOUT 30% LOWER THAN THE REGULAR HOMESTEAD VALUES. AND WHAT REALLY KIND OF GOT MY ATTENTION WAS WHEN I TALKED TO THOSE, THE COMMITTEE, THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, MR. BOARD, WE'RE TAKING A MANDATE FROM AUSTIN AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO OUR JOB. AND I REALIZE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO THAT, BUT BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT NUMBERS MATTER.

PERCENTS MATTER, JOBS MATTER, PEOPLE MATTER. AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. I MARRIED INTO THIS COMMUNITY. I DIDN'T COME HERE. AND I'M BLESSED TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS. I HAVE TWO LITTLE FARMERS, ONE THAT CAME GRADUATED FROM TEXAS TECH, AND HE'S COMING BACK. AND I WANT TO BE SURE AND I WANT TO PASS SOMETHING DOWN TO MY SECOND GENERATION. BUT WHEN THOSE INCREASES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE 12.05% CLAIM WAS WRONG OR MISLEADING, AN INCREASE IS NOT MISLEADING. AND SO I ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO DO YOUR JOB. YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. BOYD. MA'AM, CAN YOU REMIND ME AGAIN HOW MUCH YOU SAY YOUR AG VALUE WENT UP? I'M SORRY. WHAT NOW? YOU SAID YOUR AG VALUE INCREASED. HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY AGAIN THIS PAST YEAR? IT WAS 34.02% ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY THAT I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR. I TO I GO AND THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE AG LAND OR AG EXEMPT, IF YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING THAT LAND, IF THEY CAN GET YOUR AG VALUE UP TO HERE, THEN WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH YOUR REGULAR HOMESTEAD? THIS PAST

[02:45:02]

OKAY. MR. BUFORD, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK? I KNOW YOU'RE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NOT, OR YOU MIGHT. YOU'RE CERTAINLY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. COME ON UP. IF YOU WOULD JUST SHARE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. WELL, I WASN'T GOING TO TALK UNTIL I HEARD HER TALKING. AND WHAT SHE BRINGS UP IS A VERY VALUED POINT. MR. BUFORD, DO YOU MIND? SORRY. JAMES BUFORD, MY ADDRESS IS 2431 PRYOR ROAD. AND BY THE WAY, BY THE WAY, YOU ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE 3.9, THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS THE SCHEDULE FOR CONSIDERATION. I DON'T WANT THAT ONE. I'LL JUST DO HERE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. SO MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT THE TAXES ARE GOING UP. YOU CAN SIT HERE AND SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT. AND YOU TALK ABOUT NO NEW REVENUE AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BASE YOUR TAX OFF THAT. I'VE HEARD SOME SAY THAT THEY'VE HAD A RESPONSE FROM THEIR COMMISSIONER. MINE HAS NOT DONE THAT, WHICH I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BY. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THESE CORPORATIONS ARE COMING IN. THEY'RE RAISING UP OUR TAX BASE. I GOT A THOUSAND ACRES ON MY STREET THAT'S ABOUT TO BE A FARM, A SOLAR FARM, AND THAT'S GOING TO HURT OUR FARMERS OR RANCHERS IN OUR AREA. AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT OUR FARMERS OR RANCHERS, OUR RURAL AREAS, WE WON'T HAVE RURAL AREAS. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TAXES GOING UP, LET ME GIVE YOU A FUN FACT THAT RIGHT NOW IN ALL OF TEXAS, THE. IF YOU HAVE RENTAL PROPERTY, IT'S YOUR RENT IS GOING DOWN BY 20 TO 26%. AND YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN'T GET MORE RENT IF PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING IT, BUT YOUR TAXES ARE KEEP GOING UP. SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT HOMESTEADERS AND FARMERS AND RANCHERS, BUT WE GOT TO PROTECT EVERYBODY. AND THEN I LISTEN TO THE FIRE MARSHAL GET HIS FIRE BOOK, NEW CODES ADOPTED WITHOUT ANY QUESTION AS FAR AS PROPERTIES ARE BEING SOLD AND TRANSFERRED IN ELLIS COUNTY, HOW MUCH THAT WILL IMPACT THE NEW BUYER THAT HAVE TO BRING UP THE PROPERTY TO NEW CODE. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IF YOU DRIVE ON ASPHALT OR IF WE DRIVE ON CONCRETE? IF WE BUILT A BUILDING IN 1940 AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, WHY WOULD WE REQUIRE A NEW HOMEOWNER TO DO THAT? AND WHY AREN'T WE ASKING THE QUESTIONS? AND I'LL JUST STOP THERE. I DON'T APPROVE OF THE NEW TAX. I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO REDUCE THE TAX FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND I DON'T APPROVE OF ADDITIONAL OFFICES AND SO FORTH. JAMES BUFORD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BUFORD. SYLVIA. YOU'RE NEXT, SYLVIA COLSON. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THE THE DRILL. SYLVIA COLSON, 1315 DIXIE LANE, WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. HI, HOW ARE YOU? I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT SOME FACTS, SOME REALITIES THAT I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. I'M GOING TO START WITH A QUOTE FROM MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN, WHO SAID THE NINE MOST TERRIFYING WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARE, I'M FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M HERE TO HELP. SO FACTS ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS A 12% TAX INCREASE. I'VE GOT A PICTURE ON MY PHONE. I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY.

IT WAS VERIFIED BY A LEAD AUTHORITY ON TEXTING TEXAS PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM THAT IT IS A 12% INCREASE TAX RATE TIMES APPRAISAL. IF THE APPRAISAL GOES UP, THE RATE MUST GO DOWN.

AND IT'S JUST BASIC MATH. IT'S THERE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET CREATES OFFICES OF UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS, WITH A STARTING ANNUAL COST OF $1 MILLION FOR FIVE PEOPLE. THAT NEVER GOES DOWN. THERE'S NO STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT ANY SIZE COUNTY. I DID CHECK ON THAT. IF THE TAX RATE WERE 6/1000 OF A CENT MORE, IT WOULD TRIGGER AN ELECTION TO PASS.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS? THERE IS FAT TO TRIM? THERE IS ALWAYS FAT TO TRIM. THERE'S A RAISE FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHICH JUST GOT ENDED. LET ME TAKE THAT OFF. EXCUSE ME. AND COUNTY JUDGE

[02:50:03]

YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO DO THAT OR ANY LATER ITEM. BUT SINCE WE'VE ALREADY WE'RE ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF 3.8. IT'S TOO LATE TO SIGN UP. OKAY, I WILL NEXT CALL UPON MR. BRYANT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME ON UP? AND AS I AS I TOLD YOU EARLIER, THIS IS CLOSELY RELATED ENOUGH TO THE BUDGET THAT I. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK ON EITHER THE BUDGET OR THE TAX RATE. MY NAME IS SAMUEL BRYANT. 605 EAST AVENUE F, MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS, 76065. THE 3.6 I'LL MAKE VERY QUICK JUST I'M IN OPPOSITION OF THE CREATION. THAT EXTRA LAYER. I THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR A FUTURE ADMINISTRATION. THE 3.8. SOME OF THE PAIN POINTS THAT I SEE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTUAL SETTING, THE RATE. A LOT OF PEOPLE, UNLESS YOU TAKE THAT INFORMATION, THAT DATA FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW BY AVERAGE PER CAPITA THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL. WHEN YOU SET THAT RATE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THE FULL IMPACT OF THAT RATE UNLESS YOU SEE AND REVERT BACK TO WHAT THE APPRAISALS WERE. AND ON AVERAGE, HOW MUCH DID THE APPRAISALS CLIMB? SO LET'S JUST SAY YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP IT. WE'RE GOING TO USE NOTIONAL NUMBERS AT 2%. AND IF THAT HOUSE EVALUATION IS AT $400,000, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE CORPORATIONS COME IN AND THEY BUY UP $90,000 PER ACRE TO BUILD A SOLAR FARM, WELL, GUESS WHAT? THE COST PER ACRE GOES UP.

THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL THAT INTO A COMPARABLE ANALYSIS APPROACH, COST ANALYSIS APPROACH. SO WHEN THEY RUN COMPS ON THE COST PER ACRE, THE PRICE PER ACRE GOES UP EXPONENTIALLY. SO WHEN THOSE APPRAISALS COME OUT AND HERE YOU ARE SETTING THE EFFECTIVE RATE OR SETTING THAT RATE. AND WE DIDN'T RAISE THE RATE. WE DID NOT RAISE THE RATE. BUT YOU'RE APPRAISALS WENT UP. SO THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WAY TO TAKE THE DATA COLLECTIVELY AND WORK WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, ALL THEY KNOW IS WHEN THAT RATE IS VOTED ON SOMETIME LATER ON PASSED THEIR PROPOSED APPRAISALS, THEY'RE GIVEN TIME TO CONTEST IT. THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH TAXES THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING, OBVIOUSLY. YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, THEY ARE IN THE REARS, BUT ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY GET A STICKER.

PRICES AND THEIR TAXES GO UP. SO WHEN THEY'RE MANAGING THAT PITY PAYMENT WITH THEIR THEIR MORTGAGE, THEIR INSURANCE, EVERYTHING TIED TO IT, THEY GET HIT WITH THE STICKER PRICE AND LIKE MY TAXES WENT UP, BUT ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY HAD THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT CHAMPIONED CONSERVATISM SAYING, I'M NOT GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES. I DON'T WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES. IF I CAN HELP IT, I WON'T DO IT. AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU DO IS, IN THEORY, BY THE OPTICS, YOU'VE BROKEN THE TRUST. THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, IS WE'RE TRUSTING YOU TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET THIS COUNTY OR THIS TEAM CAN

[02:55:01]

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK. THANK YOU, MR. BRYANT. OKAY. NEXT IS RANDY BELLAMY. RANDY, YOU'RE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. YOU DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON 3.9. AND I FEEL THAT THOSE ARE CLOSELY RELATED ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN, IF YOU CARE TO. YOU CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS ON. 3.9. THANK YOU, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IT, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US ALL TO SPEAK TODAY. AND AS YOU KNOW, I, I TEND PROBABLY AT LEAST 90% OF THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS AND I TRY TO STAY UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY. LET ME FIRST STATE, I'M FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. I THINK THAT IS A. A KEY POINT IN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE REALLY ARE TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING HIT FROM EVERY DIRECTION.

Y'ALL ALL KNOW THAT Y'ALL BEEN HIT WITH IT, I'M SURE. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS JUST SAID BY SAM THAT WE NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BUDGET. WE NEED TO TIGHTEN IT HARD. THERE IS THE CREATING OF A NEW TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS, I THINK IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ELIMINATE FROM THIS BUDGET. DO WE NEED HELP IN THE BUDGET AREA? ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT NEEDS TO STAY UNDER OUR JUDGE AND THAT INDIVIDUAL. YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU HAVE TO ALLOCATE MORE MONEY TO GET A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL IN THERE. AND AND THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE NEED THAT AUDIT. WE NEED IT STRONG. WE NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT THAT DIVES DEEP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AT LEAST A LANDMARK THAT WE CAN PUT A STAKE IN AND WORK FROM. SO I IN FACT, I SUGGEST THAT EACH INCOMING INDIVIDUAL HAVE AN AUDIT DONE ON HIS OFFICE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ADDITIONAL MONEY, BUT MISTAKES DO HAPPEN AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FROM THAT POINT ON. THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, LIKE I SAID, THAT ARE HURTING. I'M WORKING WITH A, A YOUNG COUPLE NOW THAT INHERITED A NICE SIZED PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH BARNS AND STUFF AND ALL ON IT. AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO LOSE IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE TAXES ON IT. AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, AND I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF OUR J. P S THAT EVICTIONS ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, NOT NOT MAINLY IN RENTAL PROPERTY, BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE GOING UP AND THE RENTS GOT TO GO UP. SO. WE'VE GOT TO HOLD THE LINE. NOW, IF WE HAD AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS LYING AROUND TO CREATE THESE APARTMENTS, I'D RATHER DIVIDE IT UP BETWEEN THE DA'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO GET ENOUGH PERSONNEL FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THE JAIL, AND THE DA COULD MOVE THESE CASES OUT FASTER THAN SHE'S ABLE TO TO DO IT. NOW, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE ALLOCATED SOME RESOURCES TO THEM RIGHT NOW IN THIS BUDGET, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY IN THE JAIL.

AND FROM WHAT I HEAR ALSO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT QUALIFIED LAWYERS TO TO BE IN THE DA'S OFFICE TO DO A GOOD JOB AND STUFF. IF WE TOOK SOME OF THAT MONEY, MAYBE OFFERED A SIGN ON BONUS AND GAVE AN INCENTIVE TO BRING SOMEBODY USED TO THAT, OUR DEPARTMENTS WOULD SAY PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO COME HERE BECAUSE OF THE WAY OF OUR LIFE, OR THE WAY OF LIFE HERE IN ELLIS COUNTY HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND SO I REALLY BELIEVE THIS BUDGET NEEDS A WHOLE LOT OF MASSAGING, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. SO LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU ON THE ON THE RATE START WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. DON'T START AT WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED AND THEN WORK DOWN. START AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND GO FROM THERE. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. RANDY. RANDY, JUST TO CONFIRM, DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK ON THE NEXT ITEM THREE POINT. NO, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OH, OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, THAT IS EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 3.8.

IF YOU THINK YOU SIGNED UP AND I DIDN'T CALL YOU, JUST WAVE YOUR HAND. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PAPERS UP HERE. I DON'T SEE ANYONE. OKAY. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS. AGAIN, THIS IS A

[03:00:03]

THAT IS A SALES TAX. SALES TAX IS MUCH MORE FAIR. IT'S MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT. IT'S TRANSPARENT BECAUSE YOU SEE IT RIGHT THERE ON YOUR RECEIPT, YOUR INVOICE. YOU CAN CONTROL IT TO SOME DEGREE BASED UPON WHAT YOU BUY OR CONSUME. AND THAT COULD BE USED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BUY DOWN OR EVEN COMPLETELY ELIMINATE. IN MY OPINION, SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX, SCHOOL DISTRICT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX. THAT WOULD PROBABLY CUT YOUR TAX BILL IN HALF DOING THAT. SO I DO BELIEVE IN THAT AND I THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN. I AM FULLY AWARE DUE TO MANY THINGS, BUT CERTAINLY FROM FROM SERVING ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE THAT PROPERTY TAXES JUST INHERENTLY FLAWED. IT'S HORRIFICALLY COMPLICATED. NOT EVERYBODY IS REALLY PUT IN THE SAME BOAT. YOU YOUR PARTICULAR PROPERTY COULD GO WAY UP AS THIS. MR. BOARD, I BELIEVE, POINTED OUT, YOU CAN HAVE HUNDREDS PERCENTAGE INCREASES, WHICH REALLY SHIFTS WAY TOO MUCH TAX BURDEN TO THOSE PEOPLE. SO IT IS HORRIBLY, INHERENTLY FLAWED. I GET THAT, HOWEVER, WE AS A COUNTY GOVERNMENT DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER FUNDING MECHANISM WE GET NOT I DON'T, I'M JUST SHOOTING FROM THE HIP, BUT CERTAINLY MORE THAN I WOULD SAY 95% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM THE PROPERTY TAX. YOUR CITIES HAVE MUCH OR MANY OTHER SOURCES OR STREAMS OF REVENUE TO TAP INTO THAT HELP THEM SORT OF EVEN THINGS OUT, I SUPPOSE, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THEM CHARGE 65 TO $0.70, WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN THE COUNTY'S RATE OF $0.27.

BUT CITIES COLLECT SALES TAX. CITIES COLLECT. IMPACT FEES. CITIES COLLECT VARIOUS PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEES, AND THEY TYPICALLY ALSO HAVE WHAT THEY CALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS, SUCH AS WATER, WASTEWATER, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION. SO THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FEES AND TAXES THAT CITIES COLLECT THAT THE COUNTY JUST SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE. SO UNTIL WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISM WHICH IS DEPENDENT UPON STATE LEGISLATION, WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON THIS PROPERTY TAX. I WISH WE HAD ANOTHER WAY TO FUND IT, BUT WE SIMPLY DO NOT. THAT'S ONE THOUGHT. SECOND THOUGHT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS SINCE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT PASSED THROUGH, AT LEAST OUT OF THE COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, SENATE BILL THREE, THAT WAS THE BILL THAT LOWERED THE ROLLBACK RATE USED TO BE CALLED THE ROLLBACK

[03:05:04]

AND I JUST TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN ADD A LOT OF REVENUE TO A CITY OR A COUNTY, RATHER BY NEW POPULATION COMING IN. BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T SPEND ALL THAT EITHER, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF WE DID GET A BUNCH OF MASSIVE INDUSTRY THAT CREATED A LOT OF TAX BASE, WE SHOULD BE LIMITING THE GROWTH OF EXPENDITURES BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T REALLY TAX THAT OR THAT DOESN'T REALLY STRAIN COUNTY SERVICES THE WAY HOUSING DOES.

THAT BRING IN A LOT OF RESIDENTS. SO THESE GROWTH IN LIMITED GROWTH AND TAX EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS, THEY TYPICALLY SAY THAT THE GROWTH OF A OF A GOVERNMENT BUDGET SHOULD BE LIMITED TO POPULATION GROWTH, THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION GROWTH PLUS THE PERCENTAGE OF INFLATION. THAT IS THE WHY THAT'S THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED CONSERVATIVE GROWTH AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS. THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE DOES THAT. OUR TAX REVENUE FROM. FROM THIS ADDITION, THIS NEW RATE WOULD BE 6.6 TO 7 MILLION. THE TWO OFFICES CALCULATED DIFFERENTLY. LET'S GO WITH THE 7 MILLION NUMBER. THAT IS LESS THAN THE CURRENT POPULATION GROWTH. AND AND AS MOST CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED AND INFLATION FOR ELLIS COUNTY.

SO WHEN THIS SENATE BILL THREE WAS PASSED, IT RECOGNIZED THAT. SO POPULATION GROWTH OR NEW VALUE ADDED NEW VALUE THAT WE ADD TO THE TAX ROLL IS HOW SENATE BILL THREE COMPENSATES FOR POPULATION GROWTH. OKAY. THE THREE AND A HALF ROLLBACK RATE FOR CALCULATING THE VAR IS HOW SENATE BILL THREE COMPENSATES FOR INFLATION. SO IF IF INFLATION IS RUNNING LOW, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO LOWER TAXES OR IF INFLATION'S FLAT, YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD JUST LIMIT YOUR REVENUE GROWTH TO TO THE POPULATION GROWTH COMPONENT. RIGHT. BUT OTHERWISE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES ALLOW YOU TO FACTOR IN INFLATION BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS MONEY ON IS GOING UP IN COST, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. SO IF YOU'RE IF IF AN AREA IS EXPERIENCING INFLATION, WHICH WE ARE, AND WE ALWAYS ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE'RE ACTUALLY THE INFLATION IS EATING AWAY AT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES. THAT'S JUST REALITY. THAT'S THAT'S ECONOMICS AND THAT'S REALITY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD ADOPT. I'M NOT ARGUING TO SAY WE ADOPT THE 273992. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU PRESSURE GOVERNMENT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN EACH YEAR TO ONLY ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE COUNTY'S THE MANDATORY COUNTY SERVICES WILL BEGIN TO SUFFER. IT WILL. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIRE AS MANY DEPUTIES. THE JAIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIRE THE DETENTION OFFICERS THAT IT NEEDS. YOUR ROADS WILL NOT BE. YOUR COUNTY ROADS WILL NOT BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND VARIOUS OTHER SERVICES WILL SUFFER. SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT THESE DECISION MAKERS UP HERE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND. AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT BECAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M TRYING TO LET YOU KNOW THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST SAYING NO NEW REVENUE RATE. OKAY. THAT'S IMPORTANT. CERTAINLY. AND IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. OUR COUNTY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS GONE FROM A TAX RATE OF ABOUT $0.41 PER 100, DOWN TO THE CURRENT $0.27 PER 127.3. SO JUST JUST A FEW FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, COMMISSIONERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, BUT BEFORE I ASK YOU TO COMMENT, AS YOU AS YOU SEE FIT, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE PROPOSE THIS RATE, WE HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO THE INS AND FARM TO MARKET COMPONENTS. AND SO IF YOU WANT TO PROPOSE A RATE, WE DO HAVE THAT CALCULATED FOR THE

[03:10:02]

RECESS. ARE WE ARE WE STREAMING AGAIN? YEAH. OKAY. THE STREAM IS BACK ON. SO AS A REMINDER, WE ARE STILL ON ITEM 3.8. THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION TO PROPOSE A TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2026 BASED ON RATES PRESENTED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR. COLLECTOR.

OKAY, LET ME GIVE A THOUGHT OR TWO. HERE I AM AGAIN. THIS IS A PROPOSED RATE. WE CAN ALWAYS LOWER IT LATER. I AM NOT IN ANY WAY OPPOSED TO ADOPTING A RATE LOWER THAN 27.3992. HOWEVER, FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU CAN SEE EARLIER, I, I WE HAVE TO PROPOSE THIS RATE WHERE WE SPLIT IT OUT BETWEEN THE THREE PIECES MNOINS FM. WE HAVE TO SPLIT THOSE THREE PIECES OUT WHEN ADOPTING THE OVERALL RATE, AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S SOMETIMES BEEN HARD FOR ME TO GET A HANDLE. I WAS LEFT WITH A SITUATION WHERE SOME OF THIS BUDGETING HAS BEEN VERY HARD.

IF A COMMISSIONER WANTS TO PROPOSE A RATE LOWER THAN 20, WE HAVE THE 27.3992 ALL CALCULATED OUT AND SPLIT INTO THOSE THREE COMPONENTS. IF A COMMISSIONER WANTS TO PROPOSE SOMETHING LOWER THAN THAT, EVEN IF WE TAKE ANOTHER BREAK AND TRY TO GO CALCULATE THAT, I JUST HATE TO CALCULATE THAT ON THE FLY. I JUST REALLY DO. AND I, YOU KNOW, I SURE HATE TO CALCULATE IT ON THE FLY, SO. WELL, CAN I, CAN I SAY THIS? YEAH. IF, IF WE GO AHEAD AND, AND WE THIS IS JUST A THIS IS NOT SET IN STONE. WE CAN'T WE CAN'T GO UP. BUT WE CAN ALWAYS GO DOWN. ALWAYS GO DOWN. RIGHT. OKAY. WHAT IF, WHAT IF WE SAY WE, WE WANT TO CHALLENGE DOING AWAY WITH THE TWO POSITIONS AND WHAT THE TAX RATE WOULD BE AFTER AFTER AFTER TAKING ON THE NEXT TIME WE COME BACK. SURE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING I DO YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY EXPLORE THAT AND SEE WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE RATE WE. YEAH. SO WE WOULD PRINT I MEAN, YOU WOULD YOU WOULD PUT GO TO THE YOU GO TO THE PAPER, RIGHT. AND PRINT THIS ONE. AND THEN WE'D COME BACK WITH ANOTHER BUDGET. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND CHALLENGING. WHERE'S ERICA? AND WE'RE CHALLENGING TO TAKE THE TWO THE TWO, THE TWO DEPARTMENTS OUT AND SEE WHAT THAT IS. RIGHT. YEAH. WE'D GIVE US TWO. IT GIVES. YEAH. IT GIVES GIVE US AND I DID AS THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW, I DID EMAIL OUT A COUPLE OF OTHER LOWER RATE OPTIONS. WE JUST DIDN'T CALCULATE THE HOW IT BROKE DOWN INTO THE THREE COMPONENTS. YEAH. COMMISSIONER STINSON, I'M SORRY, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM, SO I MADE A LOOKS TO THE RIGHT. I'M KIND OF I'M I'M IN THE ZONE. I'VE GOT THE TUNNEL VISION HERE. SO JUST QUICKLY I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH GETTING SOME OF OUR NUMBERS PERFECTLY NAILED DOWN, I HATE TO CALCULATE THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE TAX RATE ON THE FLY. IF SOMEONE PROPOSES A LOWER RATE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY, RIGHT? WE CAN'T WE CAN'T TABLE IT, WE CAN'T POSTPONE IT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT PERIOD OF TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TOTALLY DIALED IN. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ADOPT A LOWER RATE, SINCE TODAY IS JUST A PROPOSAL AND WE CAN ALWAYS ADOPT A LOWER RATE LATER, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO TO SUGGEST THAT WE STICK WITH THE 27.3992, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE M AND O COMPONENT, THE INS COMPONENT, AND THE FARM TO MARKET ROAD COMPONENT ALL PROPERLY CALCULATED. AND I JUST FEEL THAT IF WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING LOWER ON THE FLY TODAY, THAT THERE AN ERROR MAY OCCUR. AND SINCE WE CANNOT GO UP LATER, WE COULD REALLY FIND OURSELVES IN SOME KIND OF A PICKLE. THIS THIS ISN'T SET IN STONE. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER. SO SO WE WOULD HAVE WE WOULD HAVE ROOM TO COME BACK AND AND THAT GIVE THEM TIME TO PUT IT THIS WAY, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT. YEAH. JUST I'M JUST TELLING THE PUBLIC OUT HERE WE GOT IT. I DON'T KNOW MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE EVER WENT OVER. NO. I, I WELL SAID EACH TIME THAT I REMEMBER THOSE YEARS WHERE PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS IN ELLIS COUNTY BECAUSE

[03:15:03]

LEAH, DO YOU MIND PUTTING UP THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE 273992 AND AND THE, THE SUBCOMPONENTS OF IT, PLEASE. AND I WANT TO PUT THAT UP THERE JUST SO I CAN CONFIRM AGAIN FOR YOU WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO THE, WHEN WE MAKE THIS MOTION TO SET THE TAX RATE, WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE RATE, THE INS RATE AND THE FM. SO WE'VE GOT THAT CALCULATED FOR THIS 273992. IF A COMMISSIONER PROPOSES A LOWER RATE, WHICH I'M NOT OPPOSED TO US ADOPTING IN THE FUTURE. BUT IF A COMMISSIONER PROPOSES A LOWER RATE, A LOWER RATE, WE THEN HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND CONFER AND CALCULATE THE NEW MNO INS AND FM COMPONENTS OF THAT RATE.

AND I JUST WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MORE THAN A RUSHED 15 TO 30 MINUTES TO DO THAT. I REALLY, REALLY WOULD. WELL, WE COULD WE COULD VOTE IT IN WITH CONDITION COULDN'T WE. NO I THINK, NO YOU CAN'T. I THINK WE JUST I MEAN, YOU CAN CERTAINLY STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE WITH THE PROPOSAL, BUT YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO VOTE TO ADOPT IT. YOU CAN CERTAINLY WE CAN PROPOSE ANY NUMBER RIGHT, THAT WE WANT. RIGHT. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE FINAL CHANCE.

WE GOT ANOTHER CHANCE LATER. SO WE PROPOSE IT NOW. AND THEN WE START DIGGING IN. WE DECIDE, OKAY, WELL, LET'S LET'S DO SOMEWHERE HALFWAY IN BETWEEN. LET'S WRITE THE NO NEW REVENUE.

THEN WE REWORK THE NUMBERS BEFORE WE COME TO THE NEXT COURT. AND THEN WE JUST ARE BEFORE THE FINAL COURT. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IF YOU WANT TO SAY I'LL VOTE TO PROPOSE IT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ADOPT IT. AND I'M VOTING TO PROPOSE IT BECAUSE WE NEED MORE TIME TO CALCULATE THE THE COMPONENTS OF AN ADOPTED RATE. YEAH. BUT YOU KNOW, I FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE, I'M I'M TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT SOMETHING THAT MISCHARACTERIZES WHAT WE DO GETS SPREAD ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT ANYWAY. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU IF IF WE IF THIS IS SAVE SOME TIME AND WE CAN, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PROPOSE TO ADOPT THIS WIN WITH, WITH CONDITIONS THAT. WELL, WE'RE NOT AND WE'RE CONFUSING, WE'RE JUST PROPOSING NOT ADOPTING. YOU SAID PROPOSE TO ADOPT. SO. WELL, WE'RE JUST PROPOSING PROPOSING TO ADOPT. YEAH. OKAY. SO YOU PROPOSE NO NEW REVENUE DATE. YOU PRETTY MUCH ADOPTED IT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. EVEN IF YOU GOT SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER. RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I AGREE. THERE'S WE'RE AT I'M, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE POINT THAT I THESE COURTS ALWAYS WENT WITH NO NEW REVENUE RATE. NOW THIS YEAR WE'RE, WE'RE SET WITH SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN SET WITH BEFORE. SO I DON'T I DON'T SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'VE DONE HERE BEFORE. BUT AND WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, WE DIDN'T SET COME IN HERE AND LOWER OR WHATEVER. NO, I'M JUST SAYING I'M JUST SAYING IF IF THE FOLKS OUT HERE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WHITTLE THIS DOWN.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO WHITTLE IT DOWN, RIGHT? YEAH, I AGREE, WE WILL. YEAH. SO THE WAY THIS WORKS PROCEDURALLY IS I WOULD NEED A MOTION TO NOT FOR THE

[03:20:07]

THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE COLLECT FEES OF OFFICES. ANOTHER AMOUNT IS ANOTHER BUCKET OF MONEY. THEY'RE ABLE TO COLLECT $75,138,000. INTERGOVERNMENT INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES $36,594,000. THERE'S OTHER REVENUES OF 12 $12,477,000.

INVESTMENT INCOME. THIS IS JUST THE MONEY THEY GET OFF OF THEIR INTEREST FROM HAVING MONEY INVESTED. $9,394,000. CASH FINES $2,223,000. OTHER. OTHER OTHER PROPERTY RELATED. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT WOULD BE. THIS IS WHAT I JUST FOUND. LISTED $1,582,000 LICENSES $1,300,000. INTERFUND TRANSFERS $1,200,000 AND THEIR CASH CARRY OVER CARRY FORWARD FUNDING.

THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD LEFT THE YEAR BEFORE WOULD BE $113 MILLION. NOW THEY ARE BIGGER AREA EXCEPT FOR. HERE'S A HERE'S SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY ROADS, HOW MANY COUNTY ROADS, TARRANT COUNTY HAS TO HAS TO MAINTAIN ITS 430 MILES. ELLIS COUNTY IS OVER 900 MILES. THE POPULATION IS AROUND 241,000 HERE. TARRANT COUNTY 225,000. SO THERE'S A LOT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE PAYING INTO THAT POT THAN WE HAVE HERE. ROAD MILES PER RESIDENT. ELLIS COUNTY 3.7 TO 4.1 ROAD MILES PER RESIDENT.

THAT'S ROAD MILES. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF TARRANT COUNTY, 0.19 MILES. THAT'S HOW MANY.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF ROADS PER RESIDENT, PER 1000 PER 1000 RESIDENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. THEIR APPROXIMATE FUNDING PER ROAD MILE IS $98,000 PER ROAD MILE. IT COST US MY NUMBERS IS ABOUT 90,000 TO DO A CHIPSEAL ROAD. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LAY DOWN ASPHALT, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE OR CONCRETE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CHIPSEAL ROAD.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO COVER. EVERY MILE THEY HAVE IS 98,000 PER MILE. AND ELLIS COUNTY, WE'VE GOT BETWEEN 18,000 AND 20,000 FOR EACH MILE OF ROAD WE HAVE. WELL, WE KNOW THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD ALL OF OUR ROADS, ALL OUR ROADS WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO COME CLOSE. I'M I AM LUCKY TO GET I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NUMBER, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT TO TRY TO COMPARE US TO TARRANT COUNTY, THEY'VE GOT SO MANY MORE BUCKETS OF MONEY TO DRAW FROM THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO A MUCH LOWER PROPERTY TAX RATE AND STILL FUND THEIR OFFICES. THEY LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST YEAR, THEY GOT RID OF A OF OF A DEPARTMENT. I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT WAS. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OR SOMETHING. AND THEY GOT RID OF 400,000, 4 MILLION, I THINK EITHER 4 OR $8 MILLION WORTH. I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT. SO I JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THESE CLAIMS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT TARRANT COUNTY LOWERED THEIR LOWERED TO THE BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THEY HAVE MORE THEY HAVE MORE BUCKETS TO PULL MONEY FROM. AND, AND THEY HAVE MORE RESIDENTS TO TAKE THAT MONEY FROM. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX AND AND LIKE JUDGE RAY SAID, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD GET SOMETHING ELSE IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD GIVE US SOMETHING ELSE. THE LEGISLATURE DICTATES TO US THAT THIS IS HOW WE COLLECT FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY. WE'RE WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE. AND SO JUST TRYING TO

[03:25:06]

0.010631. AND TO PROPOSE A FARM TO MARKET LATERAL ROAD RATE OF 0.0018214. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A SECOND OF THAT MOTION? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STENSON. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. SO WE WILL I WILL CALL THE ROLL. MADAM CLERK PLEASE SHOW THE COUNTY JUDGE VOTING I. PLEASE VOTE I OR NO. SO COMMISSIONER STENSON. COMMISSIONER ZIKE NO.

COMMISSIONER PONDER I COMMISSIONER BUTLER I OKAY. WE HAVE FOUR EYES AND ONE NO. AND SO THAT WILL BE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO. ITEM 3.9. BEFORE I

[3.9 Discussion, consideration, and action to set hearing date(s) to potentially finalize the FY 2026-27 Budget and set the 2026 Tax Year Rate.]

[03:30:02]

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DANIEL SUTHERLAND. I RESIDE AT 123 OREGON TRAIL, WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS, 75167. I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 3.9, AND MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO SET WHATEVER DAY IT TAKES TO REWORK THE NUMBERS, TO SET THE ACTUAL RATE BACK TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF 0.244516 PER PAGE SIX OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON ELLIS COUNTY WEBSITE. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A PAY CUT OR FOR A TAX CUT. WE ARE JUST ASKING, PLEASE DON'T TAX US ANY MORE THAN WE'RE CURRENTLY THE NAME. NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IN MY OPINION, IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT DECEPTIVE BECAUSE THE REVENUE WOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY. WE CAN USE THAT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE NEED FOR OUR, OF COURSE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, ROADS, BRIDGES, ALL THESE NECESSITIES. OUR COUNTY IS GROWING. WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO CUT NEEDLESS SPENDING AND BRING IT OR KEEP IT AT THE. NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF 0.244516 AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THAT WOULD BE THE SET TAX RATE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY OUR BEST TO WHITTLE THIS DOWN. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. FOR TIME'S SAKE TONIGHT. YES. THAT'S ALL IT IS. IT'S FOR TIME INACCURACY.

OKAY. YES. WE WANT TO BE ACCURATE. WHATEVER WE SAID IF WE DECIDE TO CHANGE IT TODAY AND THERE'S A MISTAKE MADE TRYING TO DO IT ON THE FLY. RIGHT. WELL, THEN WE GOT MORE PROBLEMS, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO IF WE DO THE PROPOSED NOW AND THEN WE CAN WORK IT LATER WHEN THERE'S MORE TIME TO WORK IT PROPERLY. MR. SOLOMON, YOU STILL GOT SOME TIME LEFT. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? YES. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I MEAN, NO. NO, OF COURSE, OF COURSE. I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE EXAMPLE. I BELIEVE, JUDGE, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE TAX RATE USED TO BE $0.41. CORRECT. NOW IT'S DOWN TO 27. YET HAS OUR ACTUAL PROPERTY TAXES DECREASED AT ALL. NO. IF NOT, IN FACT THEY'VE INCREASED. SO THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THIS IS NOT A TAX RATE ISSUE. THE TAX RATE THAT WOULD NOT INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAXES WOULD BE 0.24. FOR ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IS A TAX INCREASE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. I'M NOT EVEN ASKING TO LOWER THE TAXES. PLEASE JUST HOLD IT STEADY, ESPECIALLY UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE INTO THIS POSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SULLIVAN. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 3.9. DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SET EVERY TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER AT 2 P.M.

AS AS HEARING DATES TO POTENTIALLY FINALIZE THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 627 BUDGET AND SET THE 2026 TAX YEAR RATE. IN SEPTEMBER. EVERY TUESDAY, TUESDAY, THERE'S THERE'S FIVE OF THEM. WHAT? AND YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 1ST. SEPTEMBER 8TH, SEPTEMBER 15TH, SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND SEPTEMBER 29TH. WE'RE REALLY JUST ADDING TWO BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THREE SET. CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT GIVES US MORE TIME TO WORK ON IT, SOLICIT PUBLIC FEEDBACK, AND GET IT DIALED IN. WELL, AND WE CAN ALWAYS CANCEL THE, THE CALL, THE EXTRA CALL TO ME. THAT'S RIGHT. IF WE, IF WE END UP ADOPTING IT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD POTENTIALLY CANCEL THE SEPTEMBER 22ND MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE, PROBABLY HAVE TO DO THE EIGHT THE EIGHTH. AND AGAIN, THAT'LL GIVE US A CHANCE TO TRY TO WHITTLE DOWN THAT TAX RATE, THAT PROPOSED TAX RATE AND DIAL IN SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES. DID HE MAKE YOU MAKE A MOTION? YEAH. OKAY. SO COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER STINSON MADE THAT MOTION. COMMISSIONER PONDER HAS SECONDED, SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I, I DOES ANYONE CARE TO OPPOSE THE MOTION? HEARING NO OPPOSITION. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM

[3.10 Discussion, consideration, and action of a resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of an Ellis County Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note. — Chief of Staff Erik Test]

[03:35:07]

IF THEY WANT TO COME UP. ANDRE AND JULIE FROM HILLTOP, AND I THINK THEY CAN EXPLAIN THEY'RE THE EXPERTS. THEY CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE BETTER, RIGHT? YEAH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANDRE AYALA AND JULIE PARTAIN WITH HILLTOP AND AND OF COURSE JULIE IS BOND COUNSEL, RIGHT? PLEASE. RIGHT.

NOT NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. LET ME JUST SAY THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT. RIGHT, RIGHT. SO UNDER FOR FEDERAL TAX LAW PURPOSES, IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO REIMBURSE YOURSELF FOR EXPENDITURES, YOU'VE ALWAYS YOU'VE ALREADY MADE FROM THE PROCEEDS OF DEBT YOU ISSUE IN THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS RESOLUTION ON THE BOOKS. SO SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ISSUE DEBT WITHIN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO. YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO CALL BACK EXPENDITURES 60 DAYS FROM TODAY AND REIMBURSE YOURSELF, DOESN'T OBLIGATE YOU TO ISSUE DEBT. IT'S JUST KIND OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR TAX LAW, RIGHT? THIS IS BASICALLY LIKE A SAFETY NET, CORRECT? CORRECT. IF, IF AND WHEN IF WE NEEDED SOMETHING. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION THAT IS A PRECURSOR. IT IS NOT A DECISION TO VOTE TO SEEK THAT DEBT INSTRUMENT. AND IT'S, QUITE FRANKLY, IN FULL DISCLOSURE, IT'S HONESTLY A RESULT POSSIBLE TO HAVING THIS SAFETY NET IS ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SOME OF THE IRREGULARITIES, KIND OF WHERE I'M THAT'S WHY I SAID IT THAT WAY. YEAH, EXACTLY. YEAH. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD THIS REVERSED. YEAH.

RIGHT. WE DONE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE WE DONE, YOU KNOW, TO SET, YOU KNOW, SET OUR PROPOSED RATE. RIGHT. I MEAN, FOR THE RECORD, THIS WON'T CHANGE OUR INS RATE WILL IT. IT IT DOES ADD ONE TENTH OF $0.01 TO IT. AND THAT NOT THE RESOLUTION, NOT THE THE RESOLUTION DOES.

BUT IF YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO ADOPT AN ORDER ACTUALLY ISSUING DEBT THAT THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

YEAH. THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION THAT IS LIKE, HEY, WE NEED THIS OPTION. AND IT'S A TIME SENSITIVE RESOLUTION. YEAH, IT'S NOT A RESOLUTION. YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE TIMING OF IT? WELL, I'LL JUST SAY PART OF THE, WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING A MINUTE AGO ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE TAX RATE. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DECIDED TO DO THAT, THAT IS PART OF THE CURRENT INS RATE. OKAY. RIGHT. SO WHAT WHAT WE DID WAS DROP DOWN THE NO SIDE TO COMPENSATE ON THE INS SIDE. GOTCHA. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING. SO. YEP. SO IT DOES HAVE A IT IS CURRENTLY THERE WHETHER IT HAS A STAY. YOU KNOW Y'ALL CAN DECIDE LATER, RIGHT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NO MATTER WHAT. IF YOU WANT IF WE IF WE LATER DECIDE THAT WE I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WANT TO. I'M GOING TO SAY IF WE LATER DECIDE THAT WE HAVE TO. YEAH. YEAH. IF THE COUNTY HAS NO DEBT, IT'S JUST LIKE YOU AT HOME. IF YOU CANCEL YOUR CREDIT CARDS, YOU LOSE YOUR.

CREDIT SCORE, YOUR CREDIT SCORE IS GOING TO GO DOWN. YOU'RE YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF CREDIT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE PUSH WHEN LITTLE WAS HERE WAS TO PAY ALL DEBT OFF. WELL, LISTENING TO BOND COUNCIL AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT, IT'S NOT THE THING TO DO. YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT LINE OPEN IN THE EVENT WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW JAIL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF OUR BACK POCKET LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THAT'S COME IN THROUGH HERE. SO THIS IS A GOOD THING TO LEAVE OPEN. I MEAN, IT IT CAN GIVE US A PARACHUTE TO SORT OF BE ABLE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LOWER THE RATE THIS YEAR, RATHER THAN WHAT THE PROPOSED RATE IS IN THE EVENT WE, YOU KNOW, WE BOUGHT A BUILDING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE RANDY BELLAMY SIT RIGHT THERE AND TOLD ME WHEN WE APPROVED TO BUY THAT BUILDING, THAT WAS A VERY SMART DECISION FOR OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. WE DID GET AN EMAIL, I THINK, ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT SAID, WE DID MAINTAIN OUR YEAH RATING, WHICH IS. YEAH. RIGHT. OUR BOND RATING. RIGHT. MAINTAIN MAINTAIN TRIPLE A BOND RATING. THAT'S RIGHT. SO JUST JUST TO BE JUST TO BE REALLY CLEAR AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ISSUING THE DEBT. IT DOES NOT IMPACT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY WOULD NOT IMPACT THE INS RATE. IT'S JUST THE PRECURSOR IN CASE WE DECIDE DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THIS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO REIMBURSE YOURSELF THE

[03:40:02]

COMMISSIONERS DO. DOES ANYONE. OH, YOU DID, YOU DID. I'M SORRY, MISS HEALY. THANK YOU. WE'VE BEEN GOING A WHILE, SO I APOLOGIZE IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ONE MORE TIME. HI. LISA HEALY FOR 18 MILLIGAN DRIVE. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL MEMORIZED IT. NOW IT'S THE HOUSE WITH THE FLAGS IN FRONT. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU HOLD OFF DOING THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL THE NEW COUNTY JUDGE IS IN PLACE. I. I WISH I HADN'T MISSED THE FACT THAT YOU APPROVED TO BUY THIS BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE BEST DECISION FOR US, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE NOT HOPEFULLY NOT GOING TO HAVE THESE NEW DEPARTMENTS. I ALSO, AS THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAY, GOT THE ECC WHEN I FOUND OUT WHO OWNS THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING WASN'T FOR THE NEW POSITIONS. THAT WAS WELL, FUTURE GROWTH OF OF THE ELECTIONS WHERE THAT'S GOING. OKAY. WELL, SO THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT I STILL LIKE KIND OF GOT THE ECC REGARDLESS OF WHAT. WHAT GROWTH WAS GOING TO GO IN THERE. AND I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OPTION TO INCUR DEBT, AND I APPRECIATE WE DON'T HAVE DEBT, I REALLY DO. THE THAT SHOULD BE FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS HEALY. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS. KIND OF WE'VE KIND OF TRIED TO LAY IT OUT PRETTY CLEARLY. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AS I SAY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU IF IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT TOMORROW, A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT RESOLUTION TODAY OR WITHIN THE NEXT, I THINK, WEEK. I BELIEVE. RIGHT IS THE TIME IS THE TIMELINE YOU HAVE. OKAY. THE FEDERAL TAX LAWS. YEAH. RIGHT. HAD TO CALL A SPECIAL, SPECIAL MEETING. WELL, NO WE WOULD YEAH. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND AND WANT TO DO THE RESOLUTION LATER. YES. WE'D HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, HAVE TO CALL ONE REALLY QUICK TO IN ORDER TO DO THE 72 RESOLUTION ISN'T MEANING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. YEAH. CORRECT. THIS IS A THAT'S RIGHT. A SAFETY NET. YES, SIR. YEAH.

RIGHT. OKAY. OKAY. ERIC. REAL QUICK. DO YOU REMEMBER YOU? I KNOW YOU WEREN'T IN THIS OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS. JUDGE LITTLE WAS HERE, BUT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT BUYING THAT BUILDING, DO YOU REMEMBER THE DATE? DO YOU HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? I KNOW TODD WAS STILL HERE. HE BROUGHT IT TO US AND SAID, LOOK, HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A BUILDING REALLY CHEAP BY COMPARISON OF WHAT IT WAS GOING TO COST US TO BUILD OUT AT THE FARM TO GET THE ELECTIONS OFFICE MOVED. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S. IT WAS LAST YEAR SOMETIME, I THINK WE GOT A SURVEY ON THE BUILDING ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO NOW, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A BIT. YEAH. YEAH. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR A WHILE AND I, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, ALL IN PAY FOR BUILD OUT AND EVERYTHING, I THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST US TO BUILD OUT ON THE FARM. SO THEIR ESTIMATE AT THE FARM AND IT INCLUDED A STORAGE COMPONENT, BUT IT WAS IT WAS ABOUT 31 MILLION. AND THIS WITH THE ELECTIONS NOW DOESN'T HAVE THE STORAGE COMPONENT. BUT BUT IT WAS AN ESTIMATE OF 10.7. YEAH. YEAH. BUT I MEAN WE COULD WE COULD MAKE STORAGE SPACE THERE IF WE WANTED TO. AND THEN SQUARE FOOTAGE OUT THERE WAS WHAT WAS SQUARE FOOTAGE. IT WAS OH IT WAS ABOUT HALF. YEAH. IT WAS ABOUT HALF. YES SIR. SO IT'S NEARLY 50. SO YOU'RE GETTING WE'RE GETTING DOUBLE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THIRD OF THE COST OF THE COST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD WHY WE DECIDED TO BUY THAT BUILDING RIGHT THERE. AS FAR AS STORAGE. THERE'S TWO FLOORS OUT THERE THAT WE COULD USE FOR RECORD STORAGE RIGHT NOW. RATHER THAN BUILD AND SPEND $35 MILLION. YEAH. WHICH, YEAH, SHE'S ALREADY DOING IT, WHICH IS THE INTENT. YEAH. YOU KNOW. YEAH. RIGHT. OKAY. OKAY.

COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO

[03:45:05]

[3.11 Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding a regional animal shelter, including potential direction for future discussions. — Ellis County Commissioner Precinct 3 Louis Ponder]

YEAH. IT HADN'T BEEN THERE LONG. AND HE SAID THERE THEY BUILT IT AT $300 A SQUARE FOOT. AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY AMAZING. AND SO I KIND OF LOOKED IT UP AND SAW LITTLE INFORMATION. AND, AND I IMMEDIATELY, I MEAN, THIS WAS THIS WAS EARLY MORNING WHEN I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT DAY IT WAS. BUT ANYWAY, IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE COMMISSIONER WHOSE PRECINCT IT WAS IN AND TALKED TO HIM AND I ASKED HIM, THIS WAS ON A THURSDAY MORNING, AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, COULD WE COME DOWN AND MAYBE TOUR THIS THING? I'D LIKE TO COME DOWN. I'D LIKE TO TOUR IT TOMORROW IF I CAN, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET A SHELTER DONE AND GET ONE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ISSUE THAT WE'VE HAD EVER SINCE SPCA TEXAS WALKED OUT ON US. AND SO. THE GUY SAID, YEAH, COME ON DOWN. I'LL TAKE YOU ON A TOUR IN THE MORNING. SO I REACHED OUT TO MR. TEST AND HE REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONER STINSON AND WE WENT DOWN THERE. WE DROVE DOWN THAT NIGHT, SPENT THE NIGHT AND GOT OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY, AND HE TOOK US ON A TOUR, WALKED US THROUGH IT.

WHILE IT'S A METAL BUILDING, IT'S VERY WELL BUILT. IT'S VERY WELL INSULATED. THEY'VE GOT CLOSED CELL SPRAY FOAM INSULATION, INSULATION IN THERE EVERYWHERE. THAT I BELIEVE IS THE SURGICAL ROOM. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF EQUIPMENT IN THERE. THEY'RE PRETTY NEW, SO IT'S NOT FINISHED OUT, BUT IT'S MOSTLY FINISHED OUT. BUT I MEAN, THEY DON'T HAVE LIKE A SURGICAL TABLE. BUT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT IS THE, IS THE THE KENNELS. THEY'RE VERY WELL BUILT KENNELS. HE SAID AT FIRST THAT THEY WERE GALVANIZED WITH A, WITH A POWDER COATING. BUT THEN HE'S LIKE, WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE GALVANIZED. SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE BUILD OUT ON THAT OR THE EXACT MATERIALS. BUT HE WAS SHOCKED AT HOW EXPENSIVE THEY WERE. HE WAS REALLY, HE SAID HE SAID, MAN, I DIDN'T KNOW KENNELS COST THAT MUCH. AND THERE ARE $300.

A SQUARE FOOT NUMBER WAS OFF BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE KENNELS IN THERE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE FURNITURE AND FIXTURES. THERE WAS A FEW OTHER THINGS THEY DIDN'T HAVE LISTED IN THERE. SO IT ENDED UP THEY HAD A BOND FOR FIVE, SEVEN, 5.7 MILLION. IT ENDED UP COSTING A LITTLE OVER 7 MILLION, BUT THEY'VE GOT SO THEY'VE GOT THIS CORRUGATED STEEL FOR THESE WALLS, THESE DIVIDER WALLS. I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S NOT QUITE AS NOISY. I THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH ECHO IS GOING TO GO ON IN THERE. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE CLOSED CELL FOAM IN THE CEILING SO THAT THAT ABSORBS A LOT OF SOUND. IF YOU'VE GOT ANIMALS BARKING OR WHATEVER, THEY'VE GOT THOSE REALLY BIG FANS. AND I WAS SHOCKED TO, TO LEARN THAT THAT AREA, THE DOG AREA IS NOT EVEN AIR CONDITIONED. AND IT WAS, IT WASN'T BAD. I WAS, I WAS REALLY BECAUSE I, I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AND THEY HAD THESE LITTLE BITTY HEATERS, THESE LITTLE BITTY DROP DOWN HEATERS. THEY HAD THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND I ASKED THE GUY, I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, YOUR HVAC DOESN'T DOESN'T HEAT TO. AND HE GOES, YEAH, IT DOES. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THIS HVAC. AND SO I'M STANDING THERE THINKING, MAN, IT'S AWFUL COMFORTABLE IN HERE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. SO I'M THINKING WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO AIR CONDITION THAT AREA IF WE DO IT LIKE THEY DID IT. WELL, THEN ERIC WENT DOWN THE NEXT WEEK. HE GOES, YEAH, IT'S PRETTY STUFFY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AIR CONDITION. SO SO ANYWAY, WE WENT BACK THE NEXT WEEK. YEAH. DID YOU GO BACK TO WE WENT BACK. OH I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WENT BACK TO. OKAY.

SO ANYWAY IT WAS. YEAH THEY'RE THEY'RE ALL IN NUMBER WAS 385 A SQUARE FOOT. YOU KNOW, WE'LL PROBABLY DO A FEW THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO IT MAY COST US A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO COST US $100 A SQUARE FOOT OR 1023. I THINK THAT'S WHAT MANSFIELD IS. IT'S LIKE 1023. THE KENNELS, THE WAY THEY'RE SET UP, THEY'RE SET UP WHERE THEY'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A

[03:50:07]

EPOXY. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. LIKE AN EPOXY. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT IS, IS IT'S NOT AS EASY TO WASH, BUT YOU DON'T WANT, DON'T WANT IT TOO SLICK EITHER, YOU KNOW. AND THEN THEY'VE GOT TROUGHS BETWEEN THE KENNELS. SO WHEN THEY WASH DOWN IT WASHES THROUGH. THEY ALSO WERE DOING RAIN HARVESTING. SO THEY'VE GOT THEY'VE GOT TANKS SET UP OUTSIDE. THEY'RE CATCHING ALL THE RAINWATER OFF THE ROOF AND THEY USE THAT TO WASH DOWN THE KENNELS. I BELIEVE, ANDY, FOR FLUSHING THEIR TOILETS. SO THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT I LIKE. YEAH. THERE'S A LITTLE PLAY AREA THERE. SO THEY'VE GOT THEY'VE GOT THE VOLUNTEERS MUCH LIKE PET COALITION OF ELLIS COUNTY. THERE'S A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS DOWN THERE THAT THEY COME IN AND THEY, THEY WALK TO, I THINK THEY BATHE THE DOGS TOO, BUT THEY WALK THE WALK THEM AND THEY PLAY WITH THEM THE PLAY YARDS. AND SO AS WE WERE DOING OUR TOUR, I BROKE OFF AND WENT OVER AND TALKED TO THOSE FOLKS, SEE HOW THEY LIKED IT, AND THEY REALLY LIKED IT. BUT THEY HAD HAD SOME ADVICE AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE AND PUT A ROOF OVER THESE LITTLE YARD AREAS BECAUSE IT GETS REALLY HOT. AND THE LITTLE MAKESHIFT EASY UPS AND STUFF JUST WASN'T DOING WHAT IT SHOULD. SO WE, WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO DO THAT AS WELL. Y'ALL, MAN, Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD. THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE ARE A FEW LITTLE THINGS THAT YEAH. LIKE ON THE DRAIN. YEAH. I WOULD MAKE BIGGER. YEAH. DRAIN HOLES. I THINK THE DRAINS WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH. YEAH. THEY WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH. IT DIDN'T WASH. I DON'T THINK IT WASHED AS WELL AS IT SHOULD HAVE. AND LIKE THEM DIVIDERS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT WAS SO THE THE DOGS ON THE OTHER PEN. YEAH. SO THEY WOULDN'T SEE EACH OTHER FIGHT BARKING ALL THE TIME.

YEAH. YEAH. SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BLIND. I DO THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING THAT'S MORE SOUND ABSORBING SO IT'S NOT ECHOING. I COULD DO LIKE A SPRAY FOAM ON THE INSIDE MAYBE.

YEAH. AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SETUP. IT WAS REALLY NICE. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO ADD ANYTHING. I, I, I KIND OF GOT, I WASN'T ABLE TO GO, BUT I GOT SOME FEEDBACK THAT PERHAPS EITHER A VENTILATION AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM OR HVAC WITH A SPECIAL SYSTEM MIGHT BE NEEDED DUE TO THE ODOR OF IT. BUT YEAH, SO, SO COMMISSIONER PONDER'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THE FACT FINDING PIECE OF A POTENTIAL ANIMAL SHELTER. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH N S IN WAXAHACHIE. WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND OH, I HAD ANOTHER THOUGHT, BUT IT'S BEEN ALMOST FOUR HOURS WORTH OF MEETING, SO I LOST IT. YEAH. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? DID WE ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO SPEAK ON IT. YEAH. WE WE DO, WE DO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PONDER ON THIS. AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

Y'ALL WENT DOWN THERE TOO. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. SO I MEAN, THIS IS YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, WE GOT THROW IT IN THE GREASE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND IT REALLY STUNK. AND WE HAD TO DO THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO. WE DIDN'T LIKE DOING IT. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE. YOU KNOW. WOULD IT HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA TO MAYBE BUY THAT BUILDING FROM SPCA OF TEXAS AND TRY TO USE IT? PROBABLY IN HINDSIGHT, BUT IT WAS I KNOW IT WAS A TRAIN. I'M NOT SAYING PERMANENTLY, BUT SOMETHING TO GET US THROUGH. YOU KNOW, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE PERMANENT FACILITY. BUT NOW WE HAVE $15 MILLION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY A COMPASS DATA CENTER. AND ONCE IT BECAME ONCE THEY GAVE US THAT MONEY, ONCE IT HIT OUR BANK ACCOUNT, THAT BECAME YOUR MONEY. THAT MONEY IN THERE IS YOUR MONEY. AND WE WANT TO SPEND YOUR MONEY PROPERLY. AND WE DON'T WANT WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE MONEY ON STUFF THAT WE DON'T NEED. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE PROPERLY. AND, AND WE CAN BUILD BIG ENOUGH THAT IT'LL DO WHAT WE NEED. AND IF, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY DID THE, THE CITY FOLKS THAT WAS HERE, WE HAD SOME CITY FOLKS WERE HERE EARLIER. WELL, I WAS HOPING MAYOR ISBELL WAS HERE ON, ON THEIR VIEWS TOO, BECAUSE, BECAUSE CHRIS WRIGHT WENT DOWN AND SOMEONE FROM ENNIS, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE I THINK IT WAS THE CITY MANAGER OR THE ASSISTANT WAS HERE. YEAH. OKAY.

YEAH. THEY LEFT. THEY OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WANT I WANTED THEIR OPINION TO WHAT THEY WHAT THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. I HAVE TO CALL IT TO COURT TO DISCUSS IT OR WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT. RIGHT, RIGHT. I HEARD DON'T DON'T LET ME IN EARLIER ABOUT THAT. WE'VE BEEN GIVEN $15 MILLION, AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY'S AT. THAT MONEY'S SITTING IN A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. SEGREGATED AIR TAG JUST FOR THAT DOG CENTER. AND THE OPERATION OF THAT DOG CENTER DOWN THERE. THEY'RE TALKING THAT THE OPERATION OF IT'S GOING TO, FOR CATS TO THEM, ABOUT 1.3 MILLION A YEAR. TO

[03:55:04]

YEAH, THEY HAD IT FOR. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS. ONE SECTION IN THE MIDDLE WHERE SOME OF THE KENNELS WERE. AND THEN THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER AREA TO THAT HAD THAT HAD AC IN IT WHERE THEY WERE. THE CATS WERE SEPARATE, COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE DOGS. YEAH, IT SHOULD BE. IT WAS AN AIR CONDITIONED. THIS DON'T DO THE JUSTICE OF WHAT? WHAT. OKAY. AFTER THE SECOND TRIP, I GUESS I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO NEED AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE IT WAS STUFFIER THEN THAN IT WAS THE DAY. THE WHOLE POINT IS, WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU NOT TAKE PEOPLE DOWN THERE WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME AND WHO KNOW THE QUESTIONS TO ASK? THAT'S THAT'S MY REAL QUESTION. I THINK THAT CAN BE ARRANGED FOR YOU. YEAH. WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES AVAILABLE FOR TWO YEARS. WE HAVE DONE THE COUNTY'S JOB FOR TWO YEARS NOW. WE'RE TIRED, WE'RE BROKE, AND WE NEED HELP. AND THIS BUDGET DOESN'T HAVE A PENNY IN IT FOR THE ANIMALS. NOT A PENNY. WHAT? WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE THINKING? I WE WE ARE DOING YOUR JOBS. OUR AVERAGE AGE OF VOLUNTEER HERE IS OVER 60. WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR 70S. WE ARE OUT THERE PICKING UP ANIMALS, VETTING THEM, FINDING THEM HOMES, AND WE'RE TIRED. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU, LOUIS, FOR BEING THE THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS LISTENED TO US IN THE PAST YEAR. BUT WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS AND WE HAVE MONEY. LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT RIGHT. AND LET'S GET INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS WALLACE. OKAY. NICOLE VONDERHEIDE. MA'AM, IF YOU'D

[04:00:09]

THIS IS A GIFT THAT WE ARE SPENDING. SO I DO HOPE THAT WE WILL SPEND IT WISELY. YOU WANT TO HAVE A SHELTER THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO GO TO. YOU WANT TO HAVE A SHELTER THAT IS NOT GOING TO SMELL AND IS NOT GOING TO HAVE DOGS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, NOT SEPARATED PROPERLY AND SO NOISY THAT YOU JUST GET UNCOMFORTABLE BEING THERE. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH WHAT I HAD PREPARED, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO PULL MYSELF BACK A LITTLE BIT. BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS GIFT REPRESENTS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY ADDRESS THIS CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTY. THE FACTS ARE GLARING. WE DON'T HAVE AN ANIMAL SHELTER. WE HAVE DUMPING OF ANIMALS ALL THE TIME. YOU GUYS SEE IT ON FACEBOOK. WE ALL DO. WE HAVE SICK, INJURED ANIMALS, UNCONTROLLED BREEDING, GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT DISEASE, AND THE BURDEN IS FALLING ON A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE. AS JOHN MENTIONED, IT'S THE RESCUES THAT ARE HERE IN THE ROOM. IT'S OUR VOLUNTEERS, IT'S FOSTER FAMILIES, AND IT'S CITIZENS WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP ANIMALS FROM SUFFERING. SEVERAL OF SEVERAL OF Y'ALL HAVE EVEN CALLED US ABOUT ANIMALS, STRAY ANIMALS THAT YOU'VE FOUND FOR HELP. SO YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM. WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A RESPONSIBLE, MODERN SYSTEM BUILT FOR THE ELLIS COUNTY OF TOMORROW, NOT THE ELLIS COUNTY OF TODAY OR YESTERDAY. WE URGE THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY PARTNERING WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE ALSO LOOKING AT SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN ANIMAL SERVICES. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A $35 MILLION SITUATION. I MEAN, YOU'VE BROUGHT AN OPTION HERE. THAT'S ONE OPTION. THERE'S WAYS. AND LIKE JOHN SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT CAN HELP ADVISE. WE NEED PROPER VENTILATION, HVAC, DURABLE NON-CORROSIVE MATERIALS, APPROPRIATE SPACES FOR ADOPTION, COMMUNITY ACCESS, A PLACE WHERE CITIZENS CAN ACTUALLY FIND IT AND USE IT AND BE COMFORTABLE THERE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT ECONOMIES OF PARTNERSHIP, SHARING, CAPITAL INVESTMENT INVESTMENTS, EXPERTISE, TRAINED STAFF AND ONGOING OPERATING COSTS. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT. EVEN IF WE MAKE EVERY DECISION CORRECTLY TODAY, WE'RE 2 TO 3 YEARS FROM BREAKING GROUND ON A SHELTER. AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, BUT I CAN'T CONTINUE TO CARRY THIS BURDEN ALONE. JOHN HAS MENTIONED IT. WE ARE ALL AT OUR BREAKING POINT. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR. SO WHY YOU PLAN FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION? WE NEED AN INTERIM COUNTYWIDE ANIMAL SERVICES PLAN, ONE THAT GIVES CITIZENS SOMEWHERE TO TURN WHEN THEY FIND A STRAY ANIMAL, PROTECTS LOST ANIMALS FROM BEING PREMATURELY REHOMED. THERE'S PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY THAT WHEN THEY FIND AN ANIMAL, THEY DON'T WANT THAT HOT POTATO. AND THEY ARE. WE'VE HAD ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE RECOVERED, FOUND THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAD MICROCHIPS THAT BELONG IN DALLAS AND HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES HERE, AND WE HAVE RETURNED THEM TO THEIR FAMILIES IN DALLAS. BUT PEOPLE ARE LOSING ANIMALS. AND BECAUSE THEY KNOW AFTER THREE DAYS IT'S THEIRS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THEY ARE TAKING THESE ANIMALS AND REHOMING THEM AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN. SO THIS IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY. YOU HAVE THE FUNDING, YOU HAVE COMMUNITIES WILLING TO PARTNER WITH YOU. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK IN THIS ROOM. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD MORE THAN A BUILDING. WE WANT TO BUILD AN ANIMAL SERVICES SYSTEM THAT'S WORTHY OF THE FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE OF ELLIS COUNTY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS VONDERHEIDE. MATT, WHILE YOU'RE STANDING UP, YOU'RE NEXT. MATT.

CRAIG. I GUESS I'D SAY GOOD EVENING NOW. SORRY ABOUT THAT. MATT CRAIG WITH NOT MY COMPANY.

[04:05:10]

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WAS GOING TO SAY WE REALLY NEEDED TO BRING THE THERAPY DOG THAT SHE HAS. I THINK AFTER THIS MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, WE COULD ALL USE THE THERAPY DOG, RIGHT, JUST TO EASE THINGS. BUT ANYWAY, FIRST OF ALL, WELL, MY POINT TODAY IS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING, BUT ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES. AND THAT TO ME IS A HARDER AND MORE COMPLICATED THING TO DO, IS BRINGING THOSE ALL TOGETHER. AS WE TALKED ABOUT A REGIONAL SYSTEM, NOT JUST A SHELTER BUILDING. SO BUT ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF A MODERN. ANIMAL FACILITY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR ANIMAL SERVICES AS NEEDED FOR DISEASE CONTROL, YOU KNOW, HAVE PROPER DRAINAGE AIRFLOW ON THAT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE ANIMAL'S WELFARE FOR THAT PART. I'M THINKING AS MUCH FOR HAVING A CLINIC THERE THAT CAN EVEN REDUCE THE NEED, HAVE SPAY NEUTER THERE. NOW, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO HAUL THE ANIMALS OUT TO ANOTHER VETERINARY CLINIC, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HAVING THE FLOOR EPOXY FLOOR FOR CLEANING AND STABILITY AND ENDURANCE ON THAT, AS WELL AS THE PROPER AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, BUT ALSO MODERN FACILITY IS GOING TO ATTRACT HIGH QUALITY STAFF. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A TOUGH JOB. IT REALLY IS. AND TO HAVE A FACILITY THERE WOULD REALLY HELP ATTRACT AND KEEP THE STAFF THERE. IT ALSO ATTRACTS VOLUNTEERS. AND AGAIN, YOU HEARD THE STORY HERE ABOUT HOW IF YOU WANT TO COME TO A PLACE, YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT YOUR VOLUNTEERS, YOU'RE BRINGING THAT UP WITH KERR COUNTY AND KERRVILLE DOING THAT PART. BUT I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THAT. AND IT'S REALLY THE BENEFITS OF HAVING PARTNERSHIP.

FIRST, IT SIMPLIFIES THE INTAKES FOR ANIMALS. SOMEBODY CALLS UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M IN WAXAHATCHEE. WELL, YOU GOT ALEX HACHEY ADDRESS, BUT YOU'RE NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS.

WHAT DO I DO NOW? AND SO THAT ALSO KEEPS FROM FOLKS TO SAY, WELL, I'M OUT IN THE COUNTY, BUT I'M GOING TO DROP THIS ANIMAL OFF IN IN THE CITY LIMITS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SHELTER. SO THAT REALLY DOES HAVE A REGIONAL SYSTEM, HELPS PROTECT THAT TYPE OF THING FROM HAPPENING. THE OTHER THING WITH REGIONAL SHELTER AND PARTNERING, IT'S GOING WITH ANOTHER CITY OPERATED. IT'S REALLY JUST A LINE ITEM THEN FOR Y'ALL. AND I KNOW WHEN THE PARTNERING SIDE, I SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR ROCKETT SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT. WE HAVE A JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT ON WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THAT WORK CAN BE DONE EQUITABLY. KERR COUNTY, I THINK, DID THAT WITH THE CITY, WITH THE CITY OF KERRVILLE. I'VE GOT AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND FOLLOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HAYS COUNTY, IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF TRAVIS COUNTY, AUSTIN, THAT THEY DID A JUST APPROVED AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHERE THE CITY OF KYLE IS OPERATING IT. BUT THE COUNTY AND BUDA ALL PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND HAVE A FORMULA FOR COST SHARING BASED ON THE INTAKE AND THE USE OF THAT. SO IT'S A GOOD ROUTE TO DO, BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE. AND AGAIN, THE CHALLENGE IS WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT PART OF IT TO BUILD THAT ISLA BUILDING CONSENSUS, BUILDING A REGIONAL SYSTEM THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT EVERYBODY HERE. SO WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. THAT REGIONAL SIDE HAS BEEN DONE, NOT ONLY KERR COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY, IT'S IN BASTROP, GALVESTON, CAMP COUNTY HAVE THOSE TYPE OF AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. AND AGAIN, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED HERE, WE CAN'T RUN THE COUNTY LIKE IT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. WE'RE A NEW FACILITY AND WE NEED TO TO WORK FORWARD ON THAT, AND IT DOES TAKE TIME TO DO THAT. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK ON HAVING A AT LEAST SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET, AND FACILITATING A FACILITY FOR MOVING THAT FORWARD, AND I'M OFFERING TO BRING IN A AN ARCHITECT THAT SPECIALIZES IN ANIMAL SHELTER DESIGN. THEY'RE CALLED SHELTER PLANNERS OF AMERICA. THEY'RE IN GRAPEVINE. THEY'VE DONE OVER 500 SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A HOST OF WORKSHOP. WE WANT TO HAVE STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON THAT, HAVE THEIR ARCHITECT COME IN. AND I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU, IF I GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES, YOU KNOW, THEY SENT A KIND OF A FACT SHEET ON THEM ABOUT A 8 OR 10 SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THAT HAVE COST PER SQUARE FOOT, AND THEY'RE IN THE 400 TO $600 PER SQUARE FOOT RANGE. AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE AMENITIES. THEY KNOW THE RIGHT

[04:10:03]

SO MY NAME IS CAROLYN TAYLOR. I KNOW I CANNOT BE AS SALTY AS SOME OF THOSE FOLKS. IT'S REALLY BEEN AN EASY AFTERNOON, I BET. I BET Y'ALL ARE SITTING THERE GOING, I'M NOT TAKING THAT MOTION. Y'ALL TAKE THAT. CAROLYN TAYLOR I LIVE AT 1005 DUNKERLEY ROAD IN ENNIS, TEXAS IN THE COUNTY. MATT IS MY MY COMMISSIONER, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SHELTER. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, GUYS, THERE'S SOMETHING BETWEEN THIS, WHICH I MEAN, NO, I DON'T LIKE THE NO SHADE. I MEAN, THERE'S SOMETHING BETWEEN THIS AND THE TAJ MAHAL THAT WE CAN COME TO AGREEMENT WITH. I HAPPEN TO HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES THAT MATT'S TALKING ABOUT. THEY'VE DONE SOME FANTASTIC SHELTERS IN THE 4 OR $500 RANGE. THIS IS ALL GREAT. YEAH, THAT'S TWO YEARS AWAY A YEAR. LET'S CALL IT A YOU KNOW, THAT'S A IT'S STILL A LONG TIME AWAY. WE NEED SOMETHING NOW, GUYS. NOW WE NEED YOU TO INVEST IN SOMETHING. SOMEBODY FIND A PARTNERSHIP. I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CAPACITY THAT CAN HELP. WE NEED TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE, GET THEM TO THE TABLE AND AT LEAST DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE ARE DROWNING IN DOGS. ON JUNE 9TH, YOU ACCEPTED THE $15 MILLION. SINCE THEN, SINCE JUNE 9TH, I'VE HAD 132 INTAKE REQUESTS VIA EMAIL. THAT'S PEOPLE GOING TO MY WEBSITE AND CLICKING THE INTAKE REQUEST PAGE. THAT CLEARLY SAYS WE'RE OVER CAPACITY. THAT'S NOT THE FACEBOOK MESSAGES I GET. IT'S NOT THE PHONE CALLS I GET ON MY GOOGLE VOICE. IT'S NOT THE TEXTS. THAT'S 1.8 REQUESTS A DAY. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR MY RESCUE? ZERO WORK. THERE ARE TWO OF US FIELDING ALL OF THESE INTAKE REQUESTS. WE ARE TURNING AWAY PEOPLE. AND THIS IS NOT ONE DOG.

THESE ARE LITTERS OF PUPPIES. THESE ARE SWEET, INNOCENT PUPPIES THAT ARE BORN UNDER A MOBILE HOME IN 110 DEGREE WEATHER. YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, I SAT THERE AND I WAS LISTENING TO ALL THE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT NO NEW REVENUE, RIGHT? I WONDER IF THEY LIVE IN THE COUNTY AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANIMAL SERVICES. IF THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN HELP AN ANIMAL, BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION. I KNOW THE CITIES ARE FULL, BUT THE CITIES AT LEAST HAVE AN OPTION. NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANTS A 90% LIVE RELEASE RATE. BUT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR THE CITIES. NOBODY WANTS TO DO IT. BUT IN THE COUNTY, THERE'S LITERALLY ZERO OPTIONS. IT'S IT'S ME, IT'S THE PET COALITION. IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO FIND THOSE DOGS. AS NICOLE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM VERY, VERY QUICKLY. WE WE CAN'T DO THIS.

THAT IS. SO IF IF WE SAY AT THIS AT THIS RATE, 1313, $1,314 OVER 14 CALLS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE TO HANDLE. AND THE. AND THIS IS JUST ME. I MEAN, THE PET COALITION IS GETTING EXACTLY THE SAME NUMBER BECAUSE I'M LIKE, SORRY, CALL THE PET COALITION. SO SORRY, NICOLE, BUT YOU KNOW, BUT BUT I'M TWO PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DOGS ARE AT MY HOUSE.

I'VE GOT 30 DOGS AT MY HOUSE. MY FRIEND LORI HAS 30 DOGS AT HER HOUSE BECAUSE WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I'M A I'M A CONSERVATIVE, SO DON'T LIKE CRUCIFY ME HERE. BUT IF THESE IF EVERYBODY WHO TALKED ABOUT NO NEW REVENUE TODAY WOULD DONATE TO A NONPROFIT AND WOULD SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT HERE DOING THIS WORK, WE'D ALL BE IN A BETTER SPOT. RIGHT? AND I HATE TO I HATE TO SAY THIS, AND I AND THIS IS MAKING ME SALTY, BUT IT'S FALLING ON THE THE SHOULDERS OF A FEW. AND IF WE REALLY ARE A COMMUNITY THAT WE SAY WE ARE AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF RURAL FARMERS WHO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, THEN WE NEED TO START SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. THAT'S A DIFFERENT SOAPBOX. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS TONIGHT. I THANK Y'ALL FOR THE CONSIDERATION. I'M GLAD Y'ALL WENT DOWN TO KERRVILLE. I THERE ARE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LEWIS. THERE'S I KNOW GUYS WE

[04:15:03]

SORRY, I'M GETTING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. I'M NOT HAVING DONE THIS IN A WHILE, BUT IT'S FOR MY DAUGHTER. SO NOT ONLY DO I REPRESENT THE PETCO COALITION, I REPRESENT MY WIFE, WHICH WHEN THIS STARTED, SHE WAS AT WORK. SHE'S A TEACHER NOW. SHE'S HOME GRADING PAPERS. MY DAUGHTER'S AT STARTED, SHE WAS IN SCHOOL, AND NOW SHE'S AT HOME DOING HOMEWORK. I'D LOVE TO HAVE HER UP HERE, BUT SINCE SHE'S NOT HERE, I WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE OF THE KIND OF PERSON THAT SHE IS. LET'S SEE. SHE STARTED OFF WITH AT TEN YEARS OLD, WANTED TO HELP THE ANIMALS. SHE WANTED TO HELP THEM ALL. SHE SAID, HEY, LET'S GO FIND ALL THESE ANIMALS THAT ARE LOST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. LIKE, HEY, WE CAN'T DO THAT. SO FOR HER BIRTHDAY PARTY, SHE DECIDED TO TAKE. INSTEAD OF PRESENTS, SHE TOOK DONATIONS FOR THE PET SHELTERS RESCUE. ACTUALLY, THIS ONE HERE FOR FLYING BEE. AND SHE WANTED THAT. AND I SAID, HEY, THAT'S COOL. LET'S HAVE A GOOD BRAG MOMENT. LET'S BRAG ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SHE GOES, NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT'S ABOUT THE DOGS. REMEMBER, THIS IS A TEN YEAR OLD, TEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, MY ONLY DAUGHTER. SO SHE CAME TO ME WITH A MESSAGE FOR Y'ALL. AND THAT MESSAGE IS SHE WANTED TO SHE WANTS TO HAVE A SHELTER THAT HAS AIR CONDITIONING. THIS IS A NOW SHE'S 12. SHE'S ALSO DONE ELIMINATE STANDARD. SHE PLANS TO DO EVERY YEAR TO HELP OUT. BUT THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT SHE WANTED TO RELAY TO Y'ALL. SHE WANTS A SHELTER FOR ALL THE DOGS AND SHE WANTS AIR CONDITIONING. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR. LAMONT. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. WE CAN WORK THAT OUT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER PONDER, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? THIS IS LIKE STEP ONE OF A THOUSAND. SO THIS WAS THIS WAS NOT TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND WE DON'T WANT ANY INPUT FROM YOU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS WAS JUST TO KIND OF TO, TO, TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS AMONGST US WHAT WE'VE SEEN, WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT IT. I THINK AT THIS POINT GOING FORWARD. AND, AND I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO GET A COMMITTEE SO I CAN GET INPUT FROM YOU FOLKS. I DON'T WANT TO JUST DO THIS BY MYSELF BECAUSE I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT TO WASTE $15 MILLION AND HAVE IT MESSED UP. ALSO, WE STILL ARE GOING TO BE HAVING TALKS TO SEE IF WE CAN DO A REGIONAL WITH THE CITY. I THINK THE CHRIS, I THINK HE LIKED WHAT HE SAW DOWN THERE. AND THEN THE, THE, THE FOLKS FROM VENICE WENT AND THEY LIKED IT TOO. SO FROM THAT WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE NEED BASED ON A, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THEY STILL WANT TO BE IN ON A REGIONAL AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED THINK IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE FROM THAT, THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE PROGRAM TO DECIDE WHAT, HOW WE WANT TO START OFF. IT'S, IT'S NOT THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE ALL, BUT IT GIVES US SOME IDEAS OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHERE WE CAN GO AND HOW WE CAN DO IT FOR LESS. I'D LOVE TO SEE THE CRAIG, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE $4, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE. SORRY, I'M. MY BRAIN'S TIRED. YES, SIR. I BELIEVE MR. CRAIG WAS ASKING IF WE COULD DO A WORKSHOP. MAYBE. YEAH. YEAH, WE WE WE PROBABLY NEED TO WAIT UNTIL BUDGET SEASON IS OVER. THAT'S OKAY. JUST GET US PAST THIS. YEAH, I, I REALLY INTERPRETED THE TRIP TO KERRVILLE IS JUST A FACT FINDING MISSION. IT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY. HEY, WE'RE GOING DOWN THERE TO COPY THIS THING, BUT IT WAS JUST TO GET SOME IDEAS. SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS WE'VE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT SOMETHING LESS EXPENSIVE MAY LOOK LIKE. SO, AND COMMISSIONER PONDERS, I DO THINK IS HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB WITH IT. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET AN ARCHITECT ON BOARD PURSUANT TO OUR GIFT TERMS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. AND I DID. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT, EVEN THOUGH MY TIME IS VERY SHORT, I HAVE THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF CITIZENS COMMITTEE OR CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP TO

[04:20:01]

NO. AND I REALLY WOULD HOPE WE CAN GET SOMETHING GOING MUCH SOONER THAN LATER. AND SOMEONE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT 2 TO 3 YEARS BREAKING GROUND. YEAH, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME. IF WE'RE NOT BREAKING GROUND SOMETIME IN IN THE NEXT YEAR, I AM NOT GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY.

OR SOME PEOPLE DON'T CARE IF I'M HAPPY OR NOT. BUT BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD A GOOD FEEL FOR ME IF WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING, SOMETHING I THINK PHYSICAL. I THINK ONCE WE GET TO CITIES INVOLVED, THOUGH, TO, TO FIND OUT IF THEY WANT TO JOIN OR IF THEY DON'T WANT TO JOIN. THAT'S, THAT'S THE BIGGEST KEY OF MOVING FORWARD. AND I WAS HOPING, I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE WAS, LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS SOME CHRIS ROCK AND, AND SOMEONE FROM VENICE WAS THERE AND I WAS HOPING THEY WAS GOING TO BE HERE SO WE COULD GET THEIR INPUT TOO, BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY WERE. THEY WERE HERE, THEY WERE HERE. THEY JUST I GUESS THEY GOT TIRED. YEAH. SO BUT IT PLEASE TRUST ME THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO EXACTLY LIKE THAT. BUT THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF PROGRAM TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WE CAN GO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, MATT, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GO FOR, WHAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER. BUT I JUST, I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A GOOD START TO GIVE US SOME IDEAS OF WHERE WE CAN GO. AND I MEAN, THE, THE, THE GROUP THAT'S DOWN THERE, THEY SEEM REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.

THEY WERE THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE OUTSIDE WHERE THEY HAD THE EASY UPS AND THEY HAD SHADE CLOTHS HANGING OVER FENCES AND STUFF. THE FUNCTIONING PART OF IT, THEY WERE REAL HAPPY WITH IT. YEAH, THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH IT. SO AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T SET THAT IN STONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT IT OTHER THAN WE WENT AND LOOKED AT IT. AND THIS WAS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT WE DO WHAT WE DO.

I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD FASTER THAN THAN WHAT THE THE THOUGHT IS.

BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO MOVE TOO FAST AND MESS IT UP. BUT I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN. AND SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT WE GOT INVITATIONS TO SEE TRI CITY, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER. I DIDN'T GET I DON'T THINK I GOT THAT, I THINK IT WAS IN THE PAST. YEAH.

OH OH OKAY. MENTIONED THAT WAS LIKE I MENTIONED, JUDGE LITTLETON. SO THAT WOULD BE A WHILE BACK. OH, OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. YEAH. NO, I, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT IT. I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, BUT I'VE NOT REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN IT. BUT, BUT I HAVE BEEN THERE. SO YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? I JUST WANT TO SAY I WE HEAR YOU AND LEWIS. IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY, I'LL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE. WHATEVER YOU NEED. LET'S GET GET THESE FOLKS SOME HELP THAT THEY NEED. AND AND, LAMONT, I WANT TO SAY, YOUR DAUGHTER'S CHARACTER IS A TESTAMENT TO THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD JOB ON RAISING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT KID. OKAY, COMMISSIONER PONDER, I DON'T THINK YOU INTENDED FOR US TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THERE WAS NO ACTION TO TAKE, JUST AN UPDATE.

SO THERE WON'T BE ANY ACTION ON ITEM 311. WE DID CROSS POST A POSSIBILITY OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC, AND WE APPARENTLY DIDN'T NEED TO ASK FOR A LEGAL CONSULTATION DURING THIS MEETING. SO WE HAVE CONCLUDED OUR AGENDA. WHO? SO DOES ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PONDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. I IS ANYONE OPPOSED HEARING? NO. OPP

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.