Last week, Fairfield City Council gave final approval to increase water base rates, and adopted a new budget that, according to City Administrator Nate Smith, includes cuts to every department over the previous year.
Those cuts include Fairfield EMS, whose director, Billy Perez, made one last appeal to council members during the Citizens Forum during the September 24, 2019 meeting.
“I appreciate everything you do, and the tough decisions you have made,” said Perez.
Fairfield EMS had asked for $125,000 from the City of Fairfield, which is the same amount they have received previously.
Fairfield Council budgeted $100,000 for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.

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According to City Administrator Smith, council wanted to keep to a conservative budget to see how much sales tax comes in over the year. He relates previous budgets had been based on projected sales tax revenues that simply did not meet with reality.
Smith further states that, if Fairfield EMS needs assistance later in the fiscal year, “Come to us and we will find a way.”
The slimmed down budget does allow for City priorities that were identified by Council members early in the budget process. This includes new vehicles and equipment for Fairfield Police Department, sewer and water plant improvements, and a pay increase for all City employees.
Smith credits the hard work of both the council and City staff for crafting a budget that meets priorities while keeping costs at a minimum.
Copies of the approved budget, along with supporting documents, is available online at fairfieldtexas.com
Regarding water rates, those changes will be in effect starting October 1, 2019 with customers seeing a raise in the base rate on their November bill.
Base rates will increase by $5 for residents inside city limits.
Residential customers outside city limits, as well as Commercial customers, will see an increase of $10 for the base rate.
During the Citizens Forum portion of last week’s meeting, three Westwood Utility customers made one more plea for Council members to reconsider the $10 rate increase.
With the change to water rates approved, customers outside the city limits of Fairfield have one more recourse to pursue – that of filing a petition for the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to review the City’s rate increase.
Signatures from ten percent of ratepayers, forty-two in this case, would be required to file a petition with PUC.
“If it goes to the PUC, the PUC will tell us what we can do,” says City Administrator Smith.
Smith has maintained from the beginning that the City of Fairfield has a strong case for raising water rates for their out-of-city-limits customers.
“The fact is, we are not meeting our costs,” he said, explaining that the PUC allows for municipal utilities to cover their expenses and maintain a profit.
In the meantime, Smith is moving forward with establishing a Westwood Advisory Committee in order to open the lines of communication. His goal is to put this on the October 8th agenda.
Karen Leidy reporting.