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[2023 State of The City]

[00:00:05]

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO THE 2023 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

I'D LIKE TO START BY INVITING COUNCIL MEMBER RANDY ROBBINS UP.

DON'T YOU SIT DOWN, SIR, FOR THE PLEDGES.

SO IF YOU GUYS ALL COULD RISE.

START WITH THE AMERICAN PLEDGE.

TEXAS PLEDGE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBBINS.

AND TIP OF THE CAP TO ANYBODY WHO DID THE TEXAS PLEDGE WITHOUT PROMPTING.

WELL DONE. [LAUGHTER] SO MY NAME IS MAYOR JOHN HUFFMAN, AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO TONIGHT'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT.

THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR EVENING TO COME HERE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY.

AND LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE STATE OF THE CITY IS VERY, VERY STRONG.

SO TONIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY. TONIGHT, MAYOR PRO TEM SHAWN MCCASKILL AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KATHY TALLEY AND I WILL BE LAYING OUT WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A CITY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE NEXT YEAR.

AND LET ME ONCE AGAIN OFFER MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, THE VOTERS AND THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHLAKE, FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH WHAT'S YOUR CITY.

ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR.

AND I KNOW EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL FEELS THE EXACT SAME.

WE WILL ALWAYS SERVE YOU WITH INTEGRITY, WITH HARD WORK, AND WITH A DEDICATION TO THE IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHLAKE DESERVE EXCELLENCE FROM THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THEIR CITY STAFF, A LOT OF WHOM ARE HERE TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE ALSO JOINED ON THE DAIS EVERY OTHER TUESDAY BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RANDY ROBBINS, WHO GAVE THE PLEDGES, COUNCILMEMBER AMY TORRES-LEPP, COUNCILMEMBER RONELL SMITH AND COUNCILMEMBER RANDY WILLIAMSON.

AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE CITY.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WANT TO INVITE MAYOR PRO TEM SHAWN MCCASKILL TO THE PODIUM.

SHAWN. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY NAME IS SHAWN MCCASKILL, AND I AM PROUD TO SERVE ON SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL AS YOUR MAYOR PRO TEM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL HERE IN SOUTHLAKE IN 2015.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TOPICS I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TONIGHT, LOCAL ECONOMY, SCHOOL SAFETY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY OPINION IS THE STATE OF THE CITY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER.

AS FAR AS THE LOCAL ECONOMY DURING 2023 THE NEWS ON THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS HAS BEEN MARKED BY ECONOMIC HEADWINDS WITH INFLATION AND HIGHER PRICES ACROSS THE BOARD, INTEREST RATE INCREASES AND LABOR MARKET CHALLENGES.

SOME SAY THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS IN A RECESSION.

OTHERS SAY THAT A RECESSION WILL BE UPON US SHORTLY.

THE GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, IN SOUTHLAKE IS THAT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY HAS CONTINUED TO PERFORM VERY WELL DURING THESE NEW CHALLENGES IN 2023.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 CITY BUDGET WITH THE BIGGEST PROPERTY TAX RATE CUT PERCENTAGE WISE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. AND AGAIN, WE WENT BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

NOW, MAYOR HUFFMAN WILL SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN OUR PRESENTATION.

BUT OUR STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY HELPED MAKE THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE CUT A POSSIBILITY AND A REALITY.

WITH COVID 19 STARTING IN EARLY 2020, THE SOUTHLAKE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RESIDENTS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS, CAME TOGETHER TO LIFT UP OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

NOW, RATHER THAN OVERREGULATING CITY COUNCIL MADE THE DECISION TO DEREGULATE AND RELAX A LOT OF OUR LOCAL ORDINANCES DURING COVID, MAINLY TO HELP OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO SURVIVE.

AND THANKFULLY, THAT APPROACH WORKED.

LONG STORY SHORT, SOUTHLAKE LOCAL ECONOMY MADE IT THROUGH 2020 WITH AN INCREASE IN LOCAL SALES TAX REVENUE RATHER THAN A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE THAT WE WERE EXPECTING WHEN WE AMENDED OUR CITY BUDGET MIDWAY THROUGH 2020.

AND THAT GOOD NEWS HAS CONTINUED INTO 2023.

HERE ARE A FEW NUMBERS IN THAT REGARD.

IN 2020 SALES TAXES CAME IN AT JUST OVER $30 MILLION DOLLARS.

FOR 2023 AND 2024 SALES TAXES ARE PROJECTED TO BE CLOSE TO $40 MILLION DOLLARS, ALMOST A $10 MILLION INCREASE.

THE SOUTHLAKE PARKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHICH IS FUNDED WITH SALES TAX DOLLARS TO DEVELOP, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN OUR LOCAL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, IS PROJECTED TO RECEIVE OVER $10 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 A 1.5% INCREASE FROM 2023.

NOW HERE'S A BIG NUMBER.

[00:05:02]

TOTAL TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES FOR SOUTHLAKE WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME EXCEED $10 BILLION.

THAT'S 10 BILLION WITH A B.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

SMALL NUMBER AND WE'RE GLAD IT'S SMALL, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN SOUTHLAKE IS 3.4%, WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE RATE IN THE DFW METROPLEX AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

RETAIL OCCUPANCY.

CURRENTLY, RETAIL OCCUPANCY RATE FOR SOUTHLAKE IS 96.5%, WHICH IS EVEN BETTER THAN THE GOOD NUMBER LAST YEAR OF 95.5%.

NOW SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL IS IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE OWNERS OF TOWN SQUARE, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE ARE MANY NEW STORES AND MANY NEW BRANDS THAT ARE COMING.

WE CAN'T DISCLOSE ALL OF THEM YET, BUT KEEP ON THE LOOKOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THOSE WILL BE COMING SHORTLY.

THE NEWS IS GOOD.

LET'S MOVE ON TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROMISE AND OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY.

FOR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS PROTECT THE TRADITION ALSO MEANS TO PROTECT AND KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE WHILE THEY'RE ATTENDING SCHOOL.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, INCLUDES PROVIDING THAT PROTECTION AND SAFETY TO ALL OF THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COACHES AND STAFF WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS WITH OUR DRAGONS.

THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AND CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN IN A PARTNERSHIP AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCHOOL SAFETY STARTING BACK IN 1989.

THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE CREATED THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR SRO PROGRAM WITH POLICE OFFICERS AT EVERY CISD CAMPUS SINCE 2013.

AND THIS HAS BECOME THE MODEL SRO PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

IN 2018, CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE TO REVIEW NOT ONLY WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, BUT WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE IN THE FUTURE.

IN 2018 WITH AN ADDITIONAL $550,000 FROM OUR CITY BUDGET MORE SROS WERE PLACED AT CARROLL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE FOOTPRINTS OF THOSE TWO CAMPUSES AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

ALSO IN 2018, WE ADDED NEW SAFETY MEASURES FROM TECHNOLOGY TO HARDENING OF THE BUILDINGS WHICH WERE IMPLEMENTED TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS PROTECTED AND OUR DRAGONS SAFE.

WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO SUMMERS WORKING WITH CISD ON INSPECTING EVERY CISD CAMPUS TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOLS ARE READY FOR OUR KIDS AND EVERYONE WHO IS PART OF THE CISD FAMILY. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AGAIN APPROVED ADDING MORE SROS TO OUR TEAM FOR THE 2023 2024 SCHOOL YEAR.

ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN PROMISE YOU THAT OUR SROS ARE TRAINED AND PREPARED TO IMMEDIATELY FACE ANY AND ALL DANGERS TO OUR SCHOOLS HEAD ON TO PROTECT OUR DRAGONS.

NEXT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

COMMUNITY EVENTS CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, CONCERTS IN THE PARKS AND CHARITABLE FUNDRAISERS ARE HAPPENING EACH AND EVERY MONTH HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

IN 2023, SOUTHLAKE WILL HOST MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAN ANY PRIOR YEAR, EVEN PREDATING 2020, INCLUDING THE SPRINGTIME FAVORITE ART IN THE SQUARE.

THE RECENT CELEBRATE SOUTHLAKE STARS AND STRIPES ON JULY 3RD AND HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CHRISTMASTIME IN SOUTHLAKE HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER.

LATER THIS MONTH, WE WILL AGAIN HOST SOMOS SOUTHLAKE ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION IN TOWN SQUARE, WHICH WILL BE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, WITH GREAT FOOD AND GREAT MUSIC AND APPARENTLY CHIHUAHUA RACES.

COMING UP IN OCTOBER, SOUTHLAKE WILL BE THE PLACE TO BE FOR OKTOBERFEST STARTING ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13TH THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, AGAIN HOSTED BY OUR SOUTHLAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I SEE SOME OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE, AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE BUSY, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TAKING PART IN THE ANNUAL TAPPING OF THE KEGS THAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

AND PLEASE CHECK THE SOUTHLAKE CHAMBER'S WEBSITE FOR A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS.

ALSO IN OCTOBER, THE SOUTHLAKE FOUNDATION WILL AGAIN HOST THE ANNUAL DIWALI FEST, AND THAT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, ALSO IN TOWN SQUARE, WHICH CONTINUES TO GET BIGGER AND BETTER EACH YEAR.

SOUTHLAKE FOUNDATION IS VERY BUSY AND IN JANUARY THEY WILL BE HOSTING A FUNDRAISING GALA FOR OUR CARROLL ISD SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAM AT THE WESTIN HOTEL, WITH THE PROCEEDS BENEFITING OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS DRAGONS.

I SEE KUSH RAO FROM SOUTHLAKE FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE KIDS HERE IN SOUTHLAKE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUR YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES SUCH AS DRAGON YOUTH FOOTBALL, DRAGON YOUTH BASEBALL, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, LACROSSE, INCLUDING MIRACLE LEAGUE BASEBALL.

AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS WITH OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ENROLLMENT NUMBERS FOR OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE BACK TO PRE 2020 NUMBERS.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT YEAR IN SOUTHLAKE IN 2023 AND 2024 WILL BE EVEN BETTER.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO ENJOY ALL THE FUN THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.

[00:10:02]

NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATHY TALLEY, OUR DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, TO MAKE SOME REMARKS REGARDING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCASKILL.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS KATHY TALLEY AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE.

I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE 2020 AND HAVE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE FOR AN AMAZING, WONDERFUL 27 YEARS.

I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS AS STRONG NOW AS IT'S EVER BEEN, AND IT'S SO EXCITING AND THRILLING TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY GREAT.

HERE IN SOUTHLAKE WE HAVE MANY AMAZING CITIZENS WHO DO AMAZING THINGS AND IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO HONOR THEM WHEN THEY DO.

ONE SPECIAL GROUP, OF COURSE, IS OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.

THIS YEAR WE WANTED TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS.

LAST FALL, WE CONVERTED TWO PARKING SPACES IN THE HEART OF TOWN SQUARE TO VETERANS ONLY PARKING.

AND ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THEIR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, WE THOUGHT THE GESTURE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND A SMALL TOKEN TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY DO. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT A LOCAL FAMILY THAT SOUTHLAKE THAT A LOCAL FAMILY THAT SOUTHLAKE HAD AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER THROUGH A LOCAL FAMILY.

SORRY THAT SOUTHLAKE HAD AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF GRADUATING SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2023 WHO ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS AT MILITARY ACADEMIES OR ROTC PROGRAMS. SO WE ORGANIZED AND HOSTED SOUTHLAKE'S FIRST MILITARY ACADEMY ROTC SENDOFF CEREMONY, WHERE WE HONORED THESE 14 SENIORS WHO ARE COMMITTING TO SERVING THEIR COUNTRY AFTER GRADUATION.

THEY ARE AMAZING REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE.

I THINK OUR FUTURE IS IN GREAT HANDS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO AS A CITY IS PLAN FOR DESIGN AND MANAGE CONSTRUCTION FOR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, FROM ROADS TO WATER LINES TO PARKS TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

BUDGETING FOR AND MANAGING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TAKES A LOT OF STAFF TIME, AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ON CITY COUNCIL GET THEM RIGHT.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE IMPORTANT 114 FRONTAGE ROAD BETWEEN DOVE AND KING.

THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLEX PROJECT INVOLVING THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TXDOT AND TARRANT COUNTY, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE STRONG REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALLOW US TO ACCOMPLISH PROJECTS LIKE THIS FOR THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHLAKE.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF WATER AND SANITARY SEWER PROJECTS.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THOSE AS YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH OUR FAIR CITY.

AND THESE PROJECTS WILL IMPROVE IMPORTANT CITY SERVICES FOR FUTURE AND FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS.

AMAZINGLY AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY, WE ANTICIPATE CASH FUNDING FOR THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO BE OVER 23 MILLION.

BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF SOUTHLAKE HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE TO MANAGE THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CAPITAL PROJECTS TO PREPARE FOR.

WE'LL BE WORKING FOR THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE KIRKWOOD BRANCH BRIDGE ON NORTH WHITECHAPEL, A DISRUPTIVE BUT NECESSARY PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THE BRIDGE IS SAFE FOR THE FUTURE.

AND WE THANK DENTON COUNTY FOR GRANTING THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT AND JUST ASK EVERYBODY TO HANG IN THERE ONCE IT'S OVER, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

ONE OF THE MOST FUN PARTS OF OUR JOB ON CITY COUNCIL IS TO PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AROUND TOWN.

OUR CITIZENS ENJOY THE INCREDIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE DUE IN PART TO THESE BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACES AND WORLD CLASS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE PARKS AND REC USING VOTER APPROVED SALES TAX FUNDING.

AND WE AREN'T DONE YET.

LAST YEAR WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO BREAKING GROUND ON THE PICKLEBALL COMPLEX.

WELL, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT VERY SOON WE WILL BE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON THAT AMAZING FACILITY.

PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE COUNTRY, AND SOUTHLAKE IS THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS AMENITY TO OUR CITIZENS.

AND HAVING BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS, SOME ARE HERE TONIGHT, I'M JUST THRILLED.

I CAN'T WAIT. IN NOVEMBER, WE WILL ALSO BE BREAKING GROUND ON A LONG AWAITED FIELD TURF PROJECT TO IMPROVE BICENTENNIAL AND BOB JONES SOFTBALL COMPLEX.

THIS PROJECT WILL SEE FOUR BASEBALL FIELDS AND FOUR SOFTBALL FIELDS RECEIVE STATE OF THE ART, TURF AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS SO THAT OUR YOUNG SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL PLAYERS HAVE MODERN TURF TO ENJOY AND USE TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR GAMES AND OF COURSE, GET LOTS OF WINS FOR THE DRAGONS.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

AND SHAWN SPOKE TO THIS A LITTLE BIT RELATIVE TO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS AROUND THE BOARD REMAIN A MAJOR PART OF OUR CITIZENS EXCELLENT QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.

[00:15:03]

WE ARE A SAFE CITY WITH A LOW CRIME RATE.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A STRONG ORGANIZATION, PROVING REPEATEDLY THAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY DO SO WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THESE WORDS ARE NOT JUST PLATITUDES.

THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED TIME AND AGAIN THROUGH ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS TO WHICH THEY HAVE SUBJECTED THEMSELVES TO FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAS HONORED OUR SOUTHLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT THE GOLD STANDARD ACCREDITATION WITH EXCELLENCE. AND THIS HONOR HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2015.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE POLICE.

OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF ONLY 11 AGENCIES IN TEXAS TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON FIRE ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL.

BOTH AGENCIES SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO RIGOROUS ASSESSMENTS TO ENSURE SERVICE EXCELLENCE WITH STRONG PERFORMANCE, EVEN WITH THE CONSTANT THREAT OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS.

SOUTHLAKE WILL ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPRESENTS A FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT TO OUR CITIZENS, AND IN SOUTHLAKE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE STRONG.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

AS YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I JUST COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED.

AND I TREASURE IT EVERY DAY.

AND NOW, PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR HUFFMAN BACK TO THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER TALLEY AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCCASKILL.

IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBBINS YOU KNOW, JUST TO THE CITIZENS, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE COUNCIL WHO IS MAKING DECISIONS ON YOUR BEHALF EVERY DAY COULDN'T BE BETTER, TRULY COULDN'T BE BETTER.

IT'S MADE UP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND DEEPLY CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US AT ALL TIMES.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU, AS MAYOR, I AM SO PROUD TO SHARE THE DAIS WITH THESE COUNCILMEMBERS, AND YOU OUGHT TO BE PROUD AS WELL.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT A REALLY FUN SUBJECT, TAXES AND THE BUDGET.

SO WE'VE SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES WE HAVE AS COUNCILMEMBERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS TO BE GOOD FIDUCIARIES FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

AND A GOOD FIDUCIARY IS SIMPLY ONE THAT PUTS HIS OR HER OWN INTERESTS BELOW THAT OF THE TAXPAYERS THAT THEY SERVE.

AND IN SOUTHLAKE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON CITY COUNCIL AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON CITY STAFF APPROACHES THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS.

BUT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IS MORE THAN JUST A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.

IN SOUTHLAKE, IT MEANS CUTTING TAXES, REDUCING COSTS, MANAGING DEBT, AND PROVIDING CITY SERVICES WITH EXCELLENCE AND EFFICIENCY.

ULTIMATELY, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THAT MUNICIPAL SERVICE IS A SERVICE BUSINESS.

IT'S A PEOPLE BUSINESS.

WE BUILD ROADS, WE MAINTAIN WATER LINES, WE KEEP PARKS BEAUTIFUL.

WE INSPECT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WE PUT OUT FIRES, AND WE PUT BAD GUYS IN JAIL.

AND THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, IN MY OPINION, DOES IT BETTER THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY TRULY, PEOPLE TAKE NOTE OF HOW THE CITY DOES ITS BUSINESS, AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO MAKE US ALL PROUD.

BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MEANS CUTTING TAXES, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, AS EVERYONE, PROPERTY VALUES CONTINUE TO RISE.

WE MUST, AS A COUNCIL, CONTINUE TO DECREASE THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE YEAR AFTER YEAR TO DELIVER REAL TAX RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE IN 2015, ACTUALLY COUNCILMEMBER MCCASKILL CAME ON COUNCIL AT THE SAME TIME OUR TAX RATE WAS 46.2 CENTS WITH A 12% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

COUNCIL AT THAT TIME SET A POLICY OF TAX RELIEF.

CITY STAFF DELIVERED AND WE TOOK ACTION YEAR AFTER YEAR, FIRST RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO 20%, THEN WORKING TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.

SO YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS A CALCULATION OF A TAX RATE THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO SET IN ORDER TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR AS WE DID LAST YEAR FROM EXISTING RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES.

ESSENTIALLY THE RATE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR TAXES FLAT, AT LEAST FROM A CITY STANDPOINT.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE A GOOD STORY TO TELL HERE IN SOUTHLAKE, BECAUSE FOR FIVE BUDGETS IN A ROW, YOUR CITY COUNCIL HAS DELIVERED A TAX RATE BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH MEANS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IN SOUTHLAKE PAYS LESS TO THE CITY IN PROPERTY TAXES THAN YOU DID FIVE YEARS AGO.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN OUR FY 24 BUDGET, WHICH WE APPROVED FINALLY JUST A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO, SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL, ONCE AGAIN, CUT YOUR TAX RATE BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, DELIVERING ANOTHER MUCH NEEDED BLOW IN THE FIGHT AGAINST OUT-OF-CONTROL PROPERTY TAXES.

NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE PAYING MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE OUR EVALUATIONS FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONTINUE TO GO UP AND MOST TAXING ENTITIES AREN'T ABLE TO DELIVER THE SAME LEVEL OF TAX CUTS AS THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE.

AFTER ALL, YOUR CITY TAXES ARE ONLY 12% OR SO OF YOUR TOTAL TAX BILL.

BUT IF YOU NOTICE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THE NEWS OR WATCHING SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'RE SEEING A TREND.

[00:20:05]

YOU'RE SEEING A TREND OF CITIES AND ISD'S, INCLUDING CARROLL ISD AND COUNTIES, INCLUDING TARRANT COUNTY, THAT ARE CUTTING THEIR TAX RATE TO OR BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY SOUTHLAKE WAS A TRENDSETTER, RIGHT? BUT LET'S JUST LEAVE THAT IMPLIED.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE TAX CUTS COOL AGAIN, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, OF YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DELIVER TAX RELIEF HOWEVER WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR AND AS LONG AS THIS COUNCIL IS IN PLACE, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO DELIVER REAL TAX RELIEF TO ALL OF YOU.

NOW, BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ALSO MEANS REDUCING COSTS AND BEING PRUDENT OF OUR TAX SUPPORTED DEBT.

NOW, THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE IS VERY BLESSED TO BE IN THE FINANCIAL POSITION WE'RE IN, AND IT'S LARGELY DUE TO CFO SHARON JACKSON AND CITY MANAGER SHANA YELVERTON AND THEIR AMAZING LEADERSHIP. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE CITY PAYS CASH FOR ALMOST EVERY CAPITAL PROJECT WE UNDERTAKE, WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE IN THE MUNICIPAL WORLD.

COUNCIL MEMBER TALLEY ALLUDED TO IT.

$23 MILLION DOLLARS IN THIS BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO GO TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THAT'S $23 MILLION OF DEBT THAT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BACK.

AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY BECAUSE WE'RE IN A WONDERFUL FINANCIAL POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND WHEN WE DO TAKE ON PROPERTY TAX SUPPORTED DEBT, WE AGGRESSIVELY REPAY THAT DEBT.

AND BECAUSE OF OUR ROBUST ECONOMY AND OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HAS A TRIPLE A BOND RATING FROM ALL THREE RATINGS AGENCIES, ONE OF ONLY TWO CITIES IN THE ENTIRE STATE WHO CAN BRAG IN THAT WAY.

AND AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE DEBT REDUCTION AND STRONG FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY REPAY OUR DEBT AND MAINTAIN OUR EXEMPLARY BOND RATING.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SET THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND EFFICIENCY IN EVERYTHING WE DO AND ALL THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHLAKE DESERVE.

SO A NECESSARY PART OF THE GROWTH AND MATURATION OF EVERY CITY IS CHANGE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF CHANGE IN CITY STAFF.

SO WE'VE BEEN SO BLESSED BY THE FACT THAT MANY OF OUR SENIOR DIRECTORS AND DIRECTORS ON CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR MANY YEARS, IN SOME CASES MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

BUT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LOVE IT TO, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF ARE LASER FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE TRANSITIONS HAPPEN SMOOTHLY SO THAT SERVICES TO YOU ALL CONTINUE WITHOUT A HITCH.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR WE SAID GOODBYE TO LONGTIME SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, KEN BAKER, A GIANT IN THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO KNOW HIM AND HE WAS WITH US FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND DID WONDERFUL WORK.

MANY OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THE BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENTS, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL YOU SEE HAVE HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THEM.

BUT WE ARE VERY BLESSED THAT HIS LONGTIME DEPUTY, DENNIS KILLOUGH, STEPPED UP AND ASSUMED THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR.

AND DENNIS IS DOING AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL JOB IN THAT ROLE.

SO OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, CHRIS TRIBBLE, ALSO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

AT TUESDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING WE HONORED CHRIS AND HIS 17 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND WE THANK HIM ONCE AGAIN PROFUSELY FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT HE HAS MADE ON OUR CITY DURING OUR TENURE.

INTERIM DIRECTOR DAVID MILLER HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL.

HE'S HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT HE IS UP TO THE TASK.

ALSO VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A LONGTIME CITY STAFFER, PILAR SCHANK.

PILAR WAS ALSO JUST PROMOTED TO THE NEW POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, REFLECTING OUR COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ALSO RECOGNIZING PILAR'S DECADES OF EXCELLENT WORK IN THIS AREA.

SHE'S A TRUE PROFESSIONAL, AND THAT WAS A WELL DESERVED PROMOTION.

NO DOUBT THE CITY WILL BE FACED WITH OTHER CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, BUT YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT CONTINUITY OF OUR SERVICES, OF THE SOUTHLAKE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS IS OUR GOAL AND WE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.

SO AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, THE CITY HAS HAD SOME IMPACTFUL WINS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE LAST YEAR WE PROMISED TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR A NEW PUBLIC WORKS CENTER THAT WILL SERVE THE DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES TO COME.

AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE'VE DELIVERED ON THAT PROMISE AND WE HOPE TO BREAK GROUND IN FY 2024 ON THE BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING.

AND SO IN JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS, BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR PUBLIC SERVICE STAFF THE BUILDING AND THE CENTER THAT THEY DESERVED.

LAST YEAR, AS COUNCILMEMBER TALLEY MENTIONED, WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD SOON BE PLAYING PICKLEBALL IN BICENTENNIAL PARK AT THE NICEST FACILITY IN TARRANT COUNTY.

I THINK I CALLED IT THE TAJ MAHAL OF PICKLEBALL.

WELL, START WARMING UP SOUTHLAKE STRETCH OUT YOUR ARMS AND YOUR LEGS BECAUSE IT WON'T BE LONG TILL WE'RE CUTTING THAT RIBBON.

AND I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.

LAST YEAR WE WERE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE LONG AWAITED CARRILLON PARC, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT DIRT IS MOVING.

CREWS ARE BUSY AND AS WE SPEAK, INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING IN THE GROUND AND WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DEVELOPMENT, BEING A CROWN JEWEL IN OUR CITY FOR YEARS TO COME. AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, LAST YEAR WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE ON OUR LEGACY OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TAX RELIEF.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE JUST PASSED A BUDGET THAT DOES BOTH.

[00:25:03]

SO AS WE LOOK TO THE NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US THAT PRESENT BOTH CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE.

AND AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE ARE FACING A TRULY UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

DOMESTIC INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE, INTEREST RATES HAVE SPIKED AND THE RULING CLASS IN WASHINGTON, DC CONTINUES TO PRINT MONEY WE DON'T HAVE FOR PROGRAMS AND GIVEAWAYS WE DON'T NEED. AND THERE'S LITTLE WE CAN DO, UNFORTUNATELY, IN SOUTHLAKE TO IMPACT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

BUT WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN FOR YOU WHEREVER WE CAN.

WE WILL CUT YOUR TAXES AND DELIVER CITY SERVICES WITH EXCELLENCE.

WE WILL ENCOURAGE SMART ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAKE OUR ECONOMY THRIVE.

AND WE WILL BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US.

AN EXAMPLE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY AND FISCAL DISCIPLINE.

AND OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL NO DOUBT FACE MANY CHALLENGES.

SOME WE CAN ANTICIPATE AND SOME WE SIMPLY CANNOT.

BUT WE WILL OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES, AS WE ALWAYS DO, WITH STRONG, MEASURED LEADERSHIP, FISCAL DISCIPLINE, AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION WITH YOU, OUR RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS. AND I CANNOT THINK OF A PLACE MORE READY TO FACE THE CHALLENGES UNKNOWN AND KNOWN THAN SOUTHLAKE.

OUR ECONOMY IS RESILIENT AND DIVERSE.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

OUR BUSINESSES ARE THRIVING, AND OUR FAMILIES LOVE THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOU SHOULD REST ASSURED THAT YOUR CITY LEADERSHIP STANDS READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DELIVER SERVICES WITH EXCELLENCE, EVEN DURING THE MOST TRYING OF TIMES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SOUTHLAKE DESERVES.

THAT'S WHAT YOUR FAMILIES DESERVE.

SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

I HOPE YOU CAN SEE, LIKE I DO, THAT THE STATE OF THE CITY IS STRONG AND BATTLE TESTED AND READY FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE NEXT YEAR.

AND WITH PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.