Elected Ellis County officials getting pay increase

WAXAHACHIE – Ellis County Commissioners voted unanimously to set the mandatory payment rate for the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Ellis County Judge Todd Little said all rates were implemented into the proposed budget and include all elected officials. 

After the approval vote, the following day salaries were announced followed by a 5-day grievance, which afterward if there is none these new pay rates will move forward to be adopted in the new fiscal year budget.

Commissioner Prec. 4 Kyle Butler said, “I know this year we are playing catch up with some other counties. I did my homework, talked to some other elected officials, all I am asking is whichever way we go that we carry that motion with our team. 

“All the other employees in here we are setting the bar high this year and concentrating on getting everyone caught up, the department heads and employees along with the elected officials, lets carry that bar.”

Little said, “It is in the proposed budget that way.”

Butler countered “Let it be known too that some stuff that was a ‘want’ probably next year will become a ‘need’ as far as equipment, vehicles, what not… This is a pretty big chunk here and one of my biggest fears is the tax rate. We have carried a very good tax rate for a long, long time and continue to look toward the tax rate for the citizens in the county and I would hate to get the salaries extended to this limit and then have to go up on taxes just to pay. Do you see where I am going with this?”

Little said, “I do.” 

Butler added “The economy is dropping here a little bit.”

Little said, “I have” referring to surveys, and Butler continued, “If we do it I definitely want our people out here to travel right along with us.”

“I think our taxpayers have recognized our intent to lower the rate. When we did our surveys, we looked at Johnson and Kaufman Counties.

“Ellis County has a tax rate five pennies lower than those counties and for every penny in this county we have on a tax rate currently, we raise $3.5 million in tax revenue.” 

Little said the tax rate has been lowered the last five years to give back to the citizens.

It was explained indeed there were some items that were not approved for the new fiscal year budget, but according to Little, “Each year we have different budget priorities. This year it is obvious to me that elected officials compared with three other counties in comparison were underpaid on average.”

Those countries it was pointed out there Johnson, Kaufman and Parker in which the salaries were compared. It was also added in regard to the sheriff and constable salaries, Denton, Rockwall, Wise and Collin Counties were also considered.

“This is step one for getting salaries to competitiveness while also managing the tax rate,” Little said.

Commissioner Prec. 3 Louis Ponder said before the final vote, “This is a huge chunk, this is a lot of money” adding, “we don’t want to leave anyone behind.”

Also, at that same meeting no one spoke for or against the elected official’s salaries or the proposed budget.

No action was taken on these items. 

The proposed budget will be adopted at a September meeting, and Little said Sept. 10 is the date planned to adopt the tax rate.