What to watch: Midland County Utility District’s (MCUD) board will meet Saturday, Sept. 12, first for an open workshop on long-term strategy, followed by a regular meeting that includes a public hearing on property taxes, adoption of the new tax rate and next year’s budget, and updates on the November bond election and potential Park Water acquisition.

Editor’s note: MCUD is not part of the Midland County government. It is a voter-created, taxpayer-supported public utility district.

Key items:

  • Tax rate, budget: The board proposes holding its property tax rate flat, unchanged from 2025 and 2024. Although the proposed rate is unchanged, the tax bill on the district’s median-valued home is projected to increase by less than $4 because of higher taxable values.

The board will also consider adopting a $2.5 million budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and amendments to the current year’s spending plan.

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  • Nov. 3 bond election: MCUD’s $299 million bond is on the Nov. 3 ballot, the district’s second attempt after voters rejected a $645.8 million bond in May 2025. Saturday’s agenda includes election updates and a broader discussion of the board’s public education and outreach strategy heading into the vote.

If approved, the bond would fund acquisition, construction, improvement, and expansion of the district’s water system and related facilities. MCUD says the money would allow it to proceed with its planned Capital Improvement Program in phases.

  • Park Water acquisition: The board will receive an update on MCUD’s offer to acquire Park Water’s water system and may authorize action related to that offer. MCUD and Park Water settled years of legal disputes in July.
  • Federal financing: The board will consider submitting a letter of interest for financing through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), a federal loan program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for major water infrastructure projects.

A letter of interest is the first step toward a formal WIFIA loan application and could provide another financing option for the district’s long-term capital projects.