Early City Council adopted the budget for fiscal year 2014/2015, set the 2014/2015 tax rate and amended water and sewer rates at their regular meeting held Tuesday September 9, 2014.

According to City Administrator Ken Thomas, the city adopted a budget of $5,024,000, which is a 9% increase from last year’s budget of $4.986 million.   One new expenditure included in the budget is funds to hire a part time paid fireman, said Thomas.  This will add approximately $23,000 to the Early Volunteer Fire Department budget.  He explained that the position will be staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  During this time, the fireman will be on call and several members of the EVFD will fill in and work the position.

“This will allow our department to become certified through the Texas Fire Commission.  They will be able to do all the things the state requires,” explained Thomas who also confirmed having the certification may also positively affect the city’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating.

The tax rate for 2014/2015 will remain $0.5146 per $100 valuation.  The effective rate will be $0.5021, which although lower will still net the city the same amount of property tax revenue with the increased property valuations within the city, said Thomas.

Water rates set Tuesday are increased approximately 8%.  Thomas stated that the majority of the increase is to help pay debt services that the city owes in connection to the city’s pipeline project connecting to the Brown County Water Improvement District’s water plant.

Sewer rates were also raised by the council approximately 9%, due to the city’s plan to build their own wastewater treatment plant.  Thomas explained that the city received approval of Texas Water Development Board funding last Thursday.  The plant is expected to cost approximately $8.3 million; however, the city will save $325,000 per year on average which is currently being paid to the City of Brownwood to treat Early’s sewage.  Thomas explained further that the plant Early will build differs from the Brownwood plant which is a mechanical plant.  Early’s plant will be a land application, which will allow for the effluent to be used for irrigation.  This effluent may also be sold, hopefully to some current customers of BCWID, which will help conserve water being used from Lake Brownwood.  The city plans to begin the engineering process at the start of 2015 with hopes of the plant being completed in early 2017.