hays

Ellis County delays tax rate decision to allow more budget discussion

Administrator postpones Revenue Neutral Rate notification to give commissioners time for detailed budget deliberation.

Greg Loving

05 Jul 2025 • 2 min read

ELLIS COUNTY — In response to recent public commentary on the county’s budget, an earlier move by the Ellis County Administrator has created room for more thorough deliberation before the commission signals its tax plans for 2026. During the county commission meeting on June 17, Administrator Darin Myers removed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) notification item from the agenda. Myers stated the postponement was intended to give commissioners an opportunity for a more detailed discussion about the budget, citing the need to prepare for potential future property-tax reductions enacted by the state legislature.

This decision delays the county’s formal declaration on whether it will exceed the tax rate that keeps revenue the same as the prior year. The RNR notification, which includes the county’s expected mill levy, is due to the County Clerk by July 20. By rescheduling the agenda item for the July 15 meeting, the commission now has a window to hold further budget discussions and consider public feedback before the official budget hearings and the RNR deadline.

Commissioners will review a revised budget proposal at their July 15 meeting, followed by a special budget review session on July 21. The final draft budget will undergo review on August 12, with the completed document scheduled for presentation and publication authorization on August 19. Members of the public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed budget during a public hearing on September 9, immediately before the commission votes on the 2026 budget adoption.