[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.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBBINS.
AND TIP OF THE CAP TO ANYBODY WHO DID THE TEXAS PLEDGE WITHOUT PROMPTING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT.
THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
AND LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE STATE OF THE CITY IS VERY, VERY STRONG.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
[00:05:02]
TOTAL TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES FOR SOUTHLAKE WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME EXCEED $10 BILLION.SMALL NUMBER AND WE'RE GLAD IT'S SMALL, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO SCHOOL SAFETY.
AND THIS HAS BECOME THE MODEL SRO PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCASKILL.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL SINCE 2020 AND HAVE LIVED IN SOUTHLAKE FOR AN AMAZING, WONDERFUL 27 YEARS.
ONE SPECIAL GROUP, OF COURSE, IS OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.AND AS YOU KNOW, THESE WORDS ARE NOT JUST PLATITUDES.
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.
SOUTHLAKE WILL ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I JUST COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED.
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.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US AT ALL TIMES.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT A REALLY FUN SUBJECT, TAXES AND THE BUDGET.
BUT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IS MORE THAN JUST A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.
ULTIMATELY, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THAT MUNICIPAL SERVICE IS A SERVICE 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.
COUNCIL AT THAT TIME SET A POLICY OF TAX RELIEF.
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.
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.
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.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY REPAY OUR DEBT AND MAINTAIN OUR EXEMPLARY BOND RATING.
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.
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.
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO KNOW HIM AND HE WAS WITH US FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND DID WONDERFUL WORK.
AND DENNIS IS DOING AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL JOB IN THAT ROLE.
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.
I THINK I CALLED IT THE TAJ MAHAL OF PICKLEBALL.
AND I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.
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.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.
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.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.