Although still working through the numbers, Fairfield Council has set the prescribed public hearing for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year Budget. Citizens will have the opportunity to express their views on this subject on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Council members also voted to approved a proposed utility base rate increase, as well as a proposed property tax rate.

The next step in the process is to release this information to the public in the form of public notices printed in local newspapers.

Utility customers outside the city limits will also receive letters about the proposed increase, as prescribed by law.

City Administrator Nate Smith also invited citizens to visit with him at City Hall. “I welcome any water resident to come in and I can sit down and talk with them as to why this is being proposed,” he said.

Once the information has been distributed, citizens will have the opportunity to voice their concerns during Public Hearings on Tuesday, August 27th and Tuesday, September 10th.

It is important to note that, by law, public notices are not necessarily required for changes to utility rates. In fact, according the City Administrator Smith, Council can make these changes at any time during the year, not solely during the budget process.

On Tuesday, September 24th, Council members are expected to cast their vote to adopt the final tax rate, and possibly to approve an increase on utility base rates.

The proposed utility base rate increase approved constitutes a $5 increase for residents inside city limits, a $10 increase for customers outside the city limits (Westwood Utility), and a $10 increase for commercial customers.

Utility rate increase passed with a vote of 4-1, with a “no” vote cast by Randy Johnson – Place 2.

The rollback tax rate of .464582 was approved as the proposed property tax rate. The rollback rate is the calculated maximum rate allowed by law without voter approval.

Proposed tax rate passed with a vote of 4-1, with a “no” vote cast by Randy Johnson – Place 2.

Concerning the proposed rates approved last week, City Administrator Smith said, “This does not mean this will be the tax rate. This is the ceiling. It can’t go higher, but you can go lower.”

Also during this meeting, Council approved the expenditure of $4,800 to Luminant for set-up and delivery of eight cubicles for the city employees at the temporary city hall currently located at the conference center.

If bought new, these cubicles would cost approximately $3,500 each, according to Scott Mills, who was attending the meeting in another capacity.

Luminant is donating the cubicles to the City of Fairfield. Until now, city staff had been utilizing room dividers loaned by Fairfield ISD.

During a two-hour Executive Session, Council received an update from attorneys regarding the City of Teague vs. City of Fairfield lawsuit.

Also discussed during the closed session was consideration of a request by employee, Ronald Corley.

Back in Open Session, Council members took no action concerning the lawsuit update.

However, Council approved with the reinstatement of Ronald Corley back to his original salary of $20 per hour.

This measure was approved with a 3-2 vote, with “no” votes from James Tyus – Place 1 and Randy Johnson – Place 2.

Other business conducted during this meeting included:

–approving minutes and bill register

–accepting letter of retirement from Sharon William

–granting a special event permit to allow alcohol sales during the Show of Wheels event on September 7th

Budget Workshop

Immediately following the August 13th Regular Session, Fairfield Council conducted a Budget Workshop concerning the General Fund. Three entities presented their budgets:

–Fairfield Library

Library Board President, Scott Mills, presented a packet outlining this year’s accomplishments. “We have surpassed everything we did in 2018,” he said.

The number of adult programs offered has more than doubled, as have the number of volunteer hours logged. Up significantly are children’s programs and children attendees.

In the last twelve months, as many as 3,254 children have enjoyed programs at Fairfield Library.

Readership is up with regular book circulation up by 34% and eBook circulation increase by 52%.

Fairfield Library is asking for $4,000 more this year.

According to Board President Mills, the library’s long-term goal is to become self-sufficient, which is why they are working to build up their investments. “We had to dip into our reserves three times this year,” he said.

–Fairfield EMS

Fairfield EMS Director Billy Perez presented their budget, asking the City for $125,000, the same amount as last year.

Fairfield EMS has eleven full-time employees and nineteen part-time employees. They currently license and operate four ambulance

One ambulance is staffed with two certified personnel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This “911” ambulance is staffed with an A, B, and C shift crew, working 24 hours on and 48 hours off.

A second ambulance is staffed with two certified personnel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The second crew is to assist in providing ambulance services for transfers out of our local hospital and for “911” services.

“Since I started working for Fairfield EMS in 1999, I have always been in awe of the advanced training and equipment this EMS service has provided to its employees and community,” said Director Perez. “It is just one of the reasons I have been here for so long.”

Reduced revenue and reimbursements, as well as increased costs and regulations, jeopardize the survivability of ambulance services across the nation, according to Perez.

–Fairfield Economic Development

“We got land!” said Fairfield EDC President David Fowler as he reported that the Industrial Park Expansion project was 90% complete.

With the completion of paving a 1,650 foot long road, perspective companies now have access to 125 acres of shovel-ready property. Stay tuned for an official Ground Breaking “when the weather gets cooler,” said Fowler.

Money has been allocated in the coming year budget for promotions and marketing in order to fill those newly-accessed acres at the Industrial Park, located between the I-45 access road and Highway 27.

Fairfield EDC is funded through sales tax with one half of one percent allocated toward economic development.

Upcoming

The City of Fairfield is holding their last budget workshop on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. On the agenda includes:

–Enterprise Fund (TDCJ)

–General Fund (Parks, Streets)

–Hotel-Motel Funding

The final budget will be presented during a Public Hearing set for Tuesday, September 10, 2019.