By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
A former Ellis County Attorney issued a public apology for his office's budget overrun by more than $72,000 in the final year of his term.
Former Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson told the Ellis County Commission Tuesday that budget overage stemmed from multiple factors, including hiring Joshua Becker as a fifth attorney.
Anderson said he expected attorney James Rutherford to leave by October, but Rutherford stayed through January. Both attorneys remained on staff, which caused overlapping budget costs.
Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers said the 2024 fiscal budget was $1,066,725, with Anderson exceeding it by $72,400.
"If I can go back in time, my preference would have been to come to the commission and ask for that budget authority," Anderson said. "I would have never deliberately or purposely spent money we didn't have. That is my apology."
Anderson said he is handling about a dozen cases at no cost as a special prosecutor as an act of restitution.
County commissioners responded to Anderson with appreciation and understanding, commending his efforts to maintain staffing in the attorney’s office during his transition out of the role.
"It takes a real person to come and apologize," Commissioner Neal Younger said.
Anderson did not run for re-election for county attorney.
Aaron Cunningham ran unopposed for the position in 2024 and assumed the office in January.