Finance director outlines multi‑year water rate plan and $12.8 million water CIP transfer in Farmers Branch budget update

Jay Patel, the city’s finance director, told the Farmers Branch City Council at a May 5 study session that staff plans to increase the capital contribution to the water/wastewater capital improvement program from $9,000,000 to $12,800,000 next fiscal year and to use a staged rate plan to pay for it without issuing new debt.

Patel outlined a multi‑year rate schedule he said is already partially in motion: a 15% increase was implemented this past year; staff has programmed a 12% increase for the upcoming year, another 12% the following year, and two subsequent 5% increases. “Only 27% of a resident’s tax bill comes into our coffers,” Patel said while explaining the broader tax‑and‑service context for the rate and CIP decisions.

The presentation described how the larger water/wastewater transfer, coupled with the rate plan, would let the city cash‑fund needed projects called out in the capital improvement…