City, Fairfax End Water System Merger Talks
By FALLS CHURCH CITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
August 8, 2012
The City of Falls Church announced today that negotiations with Fairfax County and Fairfax Water for the sale of the City’s water utility have been discontinued. The City will continue to operate a world class water system by delivering safe, dependable drinking water at a competitive price.
“The City took a business approach to these negotiations,” said Mayor Nader Baroukh. “The goal was to explore the possibility of a sale agreement that would benefit City taxpayers and all of the customers of the water system. We did not reach such an agreement and we are happy to continue to provide vital public water services to the City and County as we have for over 80 years.”
The Falls Church Water Utility currently provides water service to McLean, Tysons Corner, and Merrifield as well as the City of Falls Church. Falls Church Water has an 80 year track record of excellent water service with rates below average for the region and in the bottom quartile statewide.
The City had three meetings in July with Fairfax County and Fairfax Water to discuss a possible sale of the City’s system. The City was clear throughout the discussions that any sale agreement would based on the value of the City’s utility assets using standard utility valuation methods.
“It was worthwhile discussing the matter with Fairfax Water. However, we could not justify selling the system below what it is objectively worth. Accordingly, there was no basis for an agreement,” said Ira Kaylin, City Councilmember and member of the City’s Public Utility Commission.
In December 2011, Fairfax County adopted an ordinance that would force new development to incur millions in additional costs in order to connect to Fairfax Water, and would have the County attempt to regulate water rates duly enacted by the municipal water systems operating in the County. In June 2012, U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady issued an order to stay any enforcement of the Fairfax County water ordinance for a period of 90 days. The stay was jointly requested by the City, Fairfax Water, and Fairfax County.
The City used the 90 day period to explore possible resolution of issues with Fairfax County. The stay also applied to enforcement of the ordinance with respect to the water utilities owned by the City of Fairfax, Town of Vienna, and Town of Herndon.
With the termination of negotiations, the City will resume its effort to overturn the County ordinance in court at the end of the 90 day period in September.
By Stephen Siegel
August 8, 2012
Brilliant! More and less expensive litigation with Fairfax County!
This is why they allocated $600,000 of the surplus to litigation. This is in addition to the previous amount budgeted for this fiscal year for litigation.
Tonight I decided to boycott business in the City, especially restaurants where I pay a tax to the City, but also my veterinarian, Brown’s Hardware and my barber. I also plan to write to regional commissions to ask them to expel or suspend the City, since the leaders of the City does not understand how to cooperate with other jurisdictions. Enough is enough. Tomorrow I will write letters to each member of the Council.
Tom – - if you are a City resident I encourage you to have an “exit” strategy. I have lived here for most of my life which is a considerable number of years, went to City schools where my children also went and graduated. I am planning my “exit.” I don’t know your age but if you are close to retirement and don’t depend on the Metro, don’t have children in the school system, and are not tied to the City in other ways….then I feel you are not getting your money’s worth in terms of the real estate taxes we all pay…..and when you add the lack of accountability within the City and the on-going miscues….that even makes the case that a lot of folks need to start planning their exit…..because with the leadership that is now in place…..you should expect more of the same going forward. The City Manager has lost credibility given the deal made with respect to his variance….etc., etc.
quote of the week about two thirds of lifetime wage growth happens during the first 10 years of a career, with the biggest gains coming from job – hopping or earning advanced degrees before marriage..
The key to this story comes from Ira Kaylin’s quote. Fairfax Water lowballed their offer. Does this surprise anyone? They have acted in bad faith from the beginning and will continue to do so.