During the last Commissioners Court meeting on November 29th, Ector County Commissioners, led by Judge Dustin Fawcett, unanimously approved issuing $325 million in the COs to be used to build a new courthouse and juvenile detention center. Unlike traditional bonds, which require voter approval, COs can be approved with a simple majority vote from the Commissioners Court.
The Court last issued $26 million in 2020 to pay for a new juvenile detention center. To date, no work has started on the juvenile detention center, but Ector County taxpayers have continued to make payments on the debt.
According to an analysis of data from the Texas Bond Review Board, Ector County now holds the highest level of non-voter-approved debt among Texas counties with populations over 50,000. The per capita debt burden stands at an alarming $3,516. For a family of four, this translates to a total debt responsibility exceeding $14,000.
“While Ector County often prides itself on being conservative, these numbers paint a very different picture,” said Kris Crow, a local advocate for low taxes and fiscal responsibility, during the Commissioners Court meeting. “It’s shocking to see Ector County leading the state in per capita debt. Even compared to traditionally liberal counties like Travis (Austin), Bexar (San Antonio), and Dallas, we’re carrying much more debt. Only a few small counties with tiny populations have a higher per capita debt, but their numbers are skewed by their low population base.”
Ector County Debt in Context
Odessa Headlines compared Ector County’s debt burden to seven other counties with similar populations. An analysis of total county debt — including both voter-approved bonds and non-voter-approved COs — places Ector County seventh overall statewide. Only very small counties, such as Martin County (population 5,771), have higher debt levels.
By comparison, Midland County’s per capita debt is just $1,539 — less than half of Ector County. This makes Ector’s debt burden 2.28 times higher. Midland County’s lower debt levels include significant investments, such as a modern courthouse, a quality library annex, and a $170 million jail facility.
“When you compare Midland to Ector County, the difference is striking,” Crow added. “Midland has achieved these improvements while maintaining a much lower debt level. It seems like Ector County has joined a troubling trend of issuing non-voter-approved debt without restraint.”
Incoming Commissioner Samantha Russell’s Response
Incoming District 3 Commissioner Samantha Russell, who will take office in January, spoke out against the CO issuance during both Commissioners Court meetings which dealt with issuing the debt.
“While I support addressing long-term needs for our courthouse and juvenile detention center, I cannot support issuing debt without taxpayer approval except in the most dire and emergency situations,” Russell said. “I urged Judge Fawcett and the Commissioners to finalize plans and present them to voters in a May 2025 bond election. As I prepare to take office on January 1st, one of my top priorities will be to ensure taxpayers are presented with a cost-effective plan. I’ll be working hard to slay this massive $325 million budget without compromising the needs of our county employees or the public.”
Looking Ahead
As the COs move forward, Ector County residents will bear the weight of these financial decisions. Critics argue that a more prudent approach — involving voter input and a transparent budgeting process — would better serve the community.