Priorities for Cleburne

Responsible Management of Cleburne's Growth and Resources

There is a right way and a wrong way to grow. The caliber of residential development sets the stage for the level of positive or negative impact there will be as the growth. The nicer the homes, the higher the income. The higher the income, the higher the spending. the higher the spending, the better the economy. House quality is only one part of the the big picture though. Quality growth should include quality jobs. As your Councilman I will work directly with Community Development Department to make sure that our potential developers are held to the highest standards.

Expansion and Support of Cleburne’s Police and Fire Departments

I am a huge proponent of our first responders and I truly believe that they should be held in the highest regard. Our police department is in dire need of a facility upgrade. As your Councilman, I will make sure that our first responders are fairly compensated and well-equipped for the day to day hazards they face. I will also make it my priority to find a solution to provide our police officers with proper facilities. I believe that the well-being of our first responders directly correlates with the safety of Cleburne’s citizens.

Repair and Strengthening of City Infrastructure

As the City of Cleburne grows, so too will the burdens on local services such as roads, parks, fire and rescue, schools, water, sewer hookups, etc. As your Councilman I will make sure that impact fees continue to be assessed in a proper manner so that our tax dollars can be used on existing issues such as repairing roads and pipes as opposed to installing new ones. The existing citizens of Cleburne SHOULD NOT bear the costs of infrastructure imposed by new development.

Lowering Cleburne’s Property Tax Rate

Texas does not levy a state-level income tax, so our property taxes are astronomical. I am a huge proponent of consumption tax and while I cannot enact change at the state level, I can do my best to ensure a couple of things happen at the local level. As your Councilman, I will push for commercial development that provides jobs, rooftops, and sales tax revenues. I will personally work with our Tourism Advisory Committee and CVB to make sure we are using our marketing dollars where they will have the highest impact. Tourism provides hotel occupancy taxes and sales taxes that can help offset the City’s operating costs, which with a lower tax burden, will allow opportunity to lower tax rates. I will also focus on our substandard housing problem, which when properly addressed, will lower crime rates, provide a safer environment for our citizens, and increase property values, which in turn could provide an opportunity for lower tax rates.