The Magnolia Ministries—Texas Pastor Council, First Baptist Church of Magnolia, Magnolia Bible Church, and Believers Fellowship—issued a letter to Magnolia City Council members and City Administrator Paul Mendes on Dec. 12, threatening litigation if the city does not reverse the water and wastewater rates they implemented in April. The churches are represented by First Liberty Institute. Magnolia City Council members unanimously voted at their April meeting to implement higher water rates, revise the rate structure and add an institutional user category, which applies to tax-exempt, nonprofit or government entities, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. The new water rate has resulted in a water bill increase of up to 178 percent for churches in Magnolia, according to the letter. "We trust that the city council will reconsider its illegal institutional rate and instead charge Magnolia's churches pursuant to the city's commercial water rates and fees," said Reed Smith, counsel for First Liberty Institute, in the letter. "If the city fails to remedy these rates within 60 days of this letter, the Magnolia Ministries will pursue all legal remedies available to them, both under Texas RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] and otherwise."