Levelland Council Juggles Priorities to Fund Critical Wastewater Plant, Support Staff

The City of Levelland took its next major step toward constructing a new wastewater treatment plant Monday night, officially awarding the construction contract to MH Civil Constructors, Inc., even as financial concerns and community pressure remain top of mind.

The approved base bid of $26.2 million places the total project cost around $30.6 million, including contingencies, engineering fees, and other related expenses. City officials now face the challenge of closing a $7 million funding gap.

City Manager James Fisher outlined several options under consideration, including issuing certificates of obligation, adjusting the wastewater improvement fee, and implementing a temporary property tax levy for the first three years of the project. He emphasized that these ideas are still under review by the city’s financial advisor, Jason Hughes of Hilltop Securities.

"My recommendation would be to move forward with the project as is and work with our financial advisor to determine if a three-year tax levy could help soften the burden," Fisher said.

However, the city is balancing more than just this single infrastructure project. During Monday’s meeting, city leaders discussed several other initiatives—some already underway and others still in the planning stages.

A new SCADA system is currently underway to improve the city’s ability to monitor critical infrastructure and provide real-time alerts to local emergency responders in the event of hazardous conditions. City staff believe this project can be funded through existing enterprise accounts, avoiding additional debt.

Separately, the city is in the planning phase for a new animal services facility. Officials say the existing facility, damaged during a windstorm, is no longer a sustainable long-term solution. The proposed replacement would provide safer, more modern conditions for staff, volunteers, and the public.

Additionally, at Monday's meeting, Cole Kirkland, emergency management coordinator, presented proposals for new safety features, including the installation of panic buttons and electronic access controls at key municipal buildings such as City Hall. These enhancements are intended to improve emergency response and will integrate with the city’s public safety radio system for faster, more coordinated alerts.

Several of these projects have experienced higher-than-anticipated costs due to inflation and supply chain pressures. In response, Fisher said city staff are reviewing internal funds to determine where costs can be absorbed or reallocated.

The concern over rising property valuations also loomed large in the conversation, with council members acknowledging resident anxieties about possible tax increases. Fisher noted,

"There will be pressure from the community that if overall values are up, they’re going to expect their tax rate to drop significantly."

Mayor Breann Buxkemper made clear that the council’s financial decisions will not come at the expense of staff compensation. "We’re not going to build this facility and take on more debt on the backs of our employees," Buxkemper said. "This isn’t their fault. We have to support them."

She urged the community to shut down rumors that employee raises might be frozen. "Rumors are poison. We’re a pro-employee city and a pro-employee council," she said. "We don’t have the plan all figured out yet, but we will not build it on the backs of our workforce."

Buxkemper noted that rejecting the bid and restarting the bidding process could delay the project by months and potentially raise costs even further. "No one I’ve spoken to thinks waiting six months will make this any cheaper," she said. "We don’t have the luxury of time."

The next steps include bond issuance planning and continued collaboration with engineers to identify any possible cost savings. City leaders hope to finalize financing by September 1, a deadline driven by pending legislative changes that could alter how municipalities issue certificates of obligation.

Construction on the plant is expected to begin within 45 days.