On May 14, 2013, Ellis County voters approved a one-half cent per dollar local sales tax to construct a new building for Fire and Emergency Medical Services and extensively renovate the County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center. That sales tax went into effect on October 1, 2013, and sunset five years later on September 30, 2018.
At the time of the election, the sales tax was projected to generate $14,352,000 over the five-year period to repay bonds issued to finance construction of the two facilities. Reconciliation of the sales tax receipts through December 28, 2018, indicates that the tax actually generated $16,299,016.69. Expenditures on construction and associated expenses totaled $14,887,328.70, leaving a remaining balance of $1,411,687.99. Ellis County Commissioners will consider in February of 2019 plans for spending that remaining balance.
(Read more: Hays Post)