Residents of Fairfield, Texas will be making their voices heard during a Special Called Election concerning the City’s debt obligation as early voting started on Monday, October 21st, 2019 with the final vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, 2019.
This election was called when a Citizen’s Petition was filed in August seeking voter approval prior to the issuing of Certificates of Obligation by the City of Fairfield for the acquisition and remodel of the facilities on Telephone Hill, which were vacated last year by Navarro College.
In actuality, only half of the $2.65 Million in Certificates of Obligation were earmarked by Fairfield Council for the new City Hall project.
Additional projects included completing the repair of Oak Street, refurbishing the water tower on Love Street, along with other street projects and sidewalks together with related drainage improvements.
Although this election has delayed all of the proposed projects, including the well-traveled Oak Street, City Administrator Nate Smith has stated that closing dates for construction bids would not be jeopardized, should voters choose to approve issuance of the Certificates of Obligation.
However, the city administrator admitted that it would be difficult for the City to meet their obligations, if this measure fails to pass. “With the way things are, we can’t do some of these projects paying it out of our bank account,” says Smith. “That puts us in a bad fiscal position.”
Petitioners, on the other hand, have gone on record stating that the City Hall project, specifically, has seemed rushed, and they do not want the City to utilize a location that is older than the facilities on Mount Street, which closed this year due to problem with mold.
Voters will be presented with a FOR / AGAINST ballot that reads as follows:
–FOR– The issuance of $2,650,000 of certificates of obligation by the City of Fairfield, Texas to (I) Construct, Improve and Repair City Streets and Sidewalks, together with related drainage improvements, (II) Rehabilitate the Love Street Water Tower, and (III) Acquire, Renovate and Equip the real property and facilities located in the Southeastern quadrant of the city, for use as an administrative buildings, levying the tax in payment thereof, and creating a security interest by providing for a lien on and pledge of the surplus revenues, if any, received by the city from the ownership and operation of the waterworks and sewer system
–AGAINST–
Early votes can be cast at the Convention Center/Green Barn starting Monday, October 21st, 2019 through Friday, October 25th, 2019 and Monday, October 28th, 2019 through Friday November 1st, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Election Day voting will be held Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Convention Center/Green Barn and at the Dogan Cafeteria.
Applications for ballot by mail, and completed ballots by mail due by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 25th, 2019, should be mailed to:
ATTN: Misty Richardson, Early Voting Clerk
P.O. Box 1149
Fairfield, Texas 75840

For more information about Proposition A, click here.