Bond elections: How much are they really worth?

STAFF REPORT
The Ellis County Press
ELLIS COUNTY - That $103 million bond election in Midlothian is worth a lot more than voters realize, according to an analysis done by The Ellis County Press of cities and school districts.

The Texas Bond Review Board, a state agency charged with monitoring taxing entities' bond elections and debt loads, shows just how much debt taxpayers in Ellis County owe (from 1999 to 2007) to pay for schools, streets, fire protection and a myriad of other wish-list items entities ask for.

Some items are approved by voters in elections, but state law allows certain entities like cities to approve millions in bonds without a vote of the public.

The list of debt each city or school district, plus the government of Ellis County itself, is listed below:
City Debt

Waxahachie Debt: $108,316,418

Midlothian Debt: $137,703,468

Red Oak Debt: $42,206,778

Ennis Debt: $75,524,549

Ferris Debt: $5,028,442

Ovilla Debt: $14,040,620

Maypearl Debt: $648,540

Italy Debt: $11,084,121

Source: http://www.brb.state.tx.us/dbsearch/city.lasso

School Debt
Waxahachie ISD Debt: $154,680,126

Midlothian ISD Debt: $360,745,594

Red Oak ISD Debt: $42,116,480

Ennis ISD Debt: $181,370,438

Ferris ISD Debt: $37,268,676

Maypearl ISD Debt: $33,834,625

Italy ISD Debt: $2,837,690

Source: http://www.brb.state.tx.us/dbsearch/isd.lasso

Ellis County, Texas Debt: $25,906,522
(excluding cities and schools)

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