In the upcoming November 2024 election, the City of Fate is asking residents to approve a $20 million bond package under the guise of improving public safety. But the facts reveal a different story—one that saddles taxpayers with a massive financial burden without delivering the public safety improvements that are being promised. At the heart of the proposal is a plan to construct new buildings, including a $15.7 million police station, but let’s be clear: a new building won’t make Fate any safer.
Safety comes from the men and women of the police force who have already been doing their jobs effectively with the resources they currently have. A new police station, without even including a basic holding cell, will not improve how the department operates. Instead, the city is asking residents to foot the bill for unnecessary facilities that won’t even change the current practice of transporting offenders to Rockwall.
A Building Does Not Equal Safety
The city’s sales pitch for the bond rests on the assumption that public safety will somehow be improved by erecting a new police station. But buildings are just structures—they don’t protect communities, trained police officers do. Fate’s police force has proven capable of maintaining public safety with its current facilities and resources, so why is this new building necessary?
The proposed police station lacks critical infrastructure, such as holding cells, meaning that the current policy of transporting offenders to Rockwall will remain unchanged. For $15.7 million, taxpayers should expect more than just a shiny new building. A facility that doesn’t even address core operational needs hardly seems like an improvement, and it raises serious questions about the true purpose of this proposal.
A Taxpayer Burden with Little Return
If approved, the bond will increase property taxes by $31.40 per $100,000 of property valuation, which means an additional $125.60 in annual taxes for the owner of a $400,000 home. These calculations are based on optimistic growth projections that assume Fate’s population will increase by 15% in 2026, 10% in 2027, and 5% annually from 2028 through 2038. If that growth doesn’t materialize, the tax burden will fall harder on existing residents.
Meanwhile, the city already carries $8.8 million in debt that has yet to be paid off. Adding $20 million more in debt, plus interest, will push the total obligation to nearly $28 million. All of this for a building that won’t tangibly improve public safety? It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially considering the city’s troubled track record with fiscal responsibility under City Manager Michael Kovacs.
Michael Kovacs: Mismanagement on Display
City Manager Michael Kovacs has repeatedly demonstrated his inability to responsibly manage taxpayer dollars. He’s the only city official who enjoys the luxury of a paid, private vehicle—a wasteful perk that residents are forced to fund. His administration also continues to spend lavishly on things like out-of-town management conferences and unnecessary lobbying efforts in Austin, all while neglecting critical infrastructure like road repairs and water management.
Now, Kovacs wants taxpayers to foot the bill for a bond that will cost $27.86 million over the next 20 years. His refusal to prioritize the actual needs of the community, combined with the opaque decision-making process that has shrouded this bond proposal, should raise alarm bells for every Fate resident.
In fact, the Fate Tribune submitted two Open Records Requests (ORRs) in October 2024 asking for all communications between city staff and elected officials about the DPS bond proposal. Despite launching a public relations campaign to sway voters, the city still hasn’t responded to those requests. The lack of transparency is troubling, especially when the stakes are so high for taxpayers.
Lafayette Project: A Complete Turnaround
The push for this bond also stands in stark contrast to the city’s messaging during the approval of the massive mixed-use project known as “Lafayette.” At the time, city officials and council members went to great lengths to assure the public that the Lafayette project would not jeopardize public safety. They repeatedly claimed that all developments were signed off by the Chief of Police, and that the influx of residents and businesses from Lafayette would not strain the city’s resources or pose any safety concerns.
But now, just a short time later, the city is singing a different tune. Why the sudden shift? Were they lying about the Lafayette project back then, or are they lying about the need for this bond now? You can’t have it both ways. If the city was truthful when it said that the Lafayette project wouldn’t compromise public safety, then there should be no need for a costly bond to build new facilities. If they’re telling the truth now, then residents should question why they were misled about the impact of Lafayette in the first place.
The Real Impact on Public Safety
At the end of the day, this bond proposal does little to enhance public safety. Despite what city officials claim, a new building without proper facilities like holding cells won’t fundamentally change how the police department operates. Officers will still transport offenders to Rockwall, and the proposed design of the new station won’t alter this core function.
More importantly, the current police force has shown that they can handle the job with the resources they already have. Throwing millions of dollars at a new building that doesn’t offer substantial improvements to policing practices is not a solution. It’s a costly distraction that diverts attention from the real issues—like hiring more officers or investing in equipment and technology that will actually improve public safety.
Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent
Fate’s city government has a history of poor financial decisions, and this $20 million bond proposal is no different. It’s not about public safety—it’s about saddling taxpayers with debt for a building that offers no real improvements to how the police department operates.
City Manager Michael Kovacs and his administration continue to waste taxpayer dollars on unnecessary perks, trips, and luxury vehicles, all while asking residents to pay more in taxes. The Lafayette project was sold as a safe and manageable development, but now the city is pushing a contradictory narrative that public safety requires $20 million in new infrastructure. It’s a clear case of either dishonesty then, or dishonesty now.
The residents of Fate deserve better. They deserve a government that prioritizes fiscal responsibility, transparency, and true public safety—without the burden of unnecessary debt. It’s time to say “no” to this reckless bond proposal and demand accountability from city leadership. Vote “no” on the $20 million bond and hold City Hall accountable for their past promises and their future actions.