Special Called Election for Municipal Development District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Fairview City Council calls Municipal Development District Election
New Fairview, TX, February 17, 2025 – New Fairview residents and those in the surrounding ETJ will go to the polls May 3 to vote for or against the creation of a special purpose district to support economic growth, support local businesses and attract new investments to the community.
The New Fairview City Council voted Feb. 4 to place a measure on the city’s general election ballot to establish a Municipal Development District (MDD). The MDD would be funded by a half-cent sales tax used to develop and finance projects to benefit the community and encourage private economic development.
“The creation of an MDD will raise revenue to fund specific community needs that will help New Fairview grow responsibly,” said Mayor John Taylor. “Infrastructure improvements are necessary to address current growth.
“At the same time the district will provide funds that can be used to support new and existing commercial businesses and encourage new economic development so our residents can shop closer to home. It will also give New Fairview a new tax base to reduce the financial burden on our homeowners,” he said.
Registered voters within the city limits of New Fairview as well as those owning property in the extra territorial jurisdiction of the city are eligible to vote on this ballot measure.
The Texas Legislature established MDDs in 2005 to provide a vehicle for cities to promote economic development and to fund infrastructure and community projects. City Administrator John Cabrales said the development district is necessary to manage the city’s growth.
“According to data from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, our city has added about 1,000 new residents since 2020, and that number continues to climb,” Cabrales said. “It is important to manage our growth in an efficient and responsible way. Having an MDD in place helps accomplish that goal. That’s why many of our neighbors in Wise and Denton counties have already put MDD’s in place.”
Because the MDD is a sales tax, the revenue generated by the district will come from anyone who purchases taxable items in New Fairview. Currently the city collects 1.5 cents in sales tax: 0.5 cents is for property tax relief and 1.0 cent is for the general fund.
Cabrales said city staff will work until election day to answer questions and concerns from residents and provide public education on how the MDD will work, how the funds can be used and how the district will be managed.
“We want to ensure that every voter has all the information they need to make an informed decision,” said Mayor Taylor. “We will be sending information via social media, mail and email. A website dedicated to the MDD ballot measure information will also be active within the next two weeks. State law dictates that the city is only allowed to provide information about the election and cannot advocate a position.”
Established in May 1973, New Fairfield celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. The city is the largest in square miles in Wise County. Its proximity to Fort Worth and the Alliance corridor has spurred significant growth in residential development over the last three years.
Please contact the City of New Fairview with any questions.
Please see our website on MDD’s!