Four Years of Building a City That Feels Like Home

As the year draws to a close, I've been reflecting on the road we've traveled together over the last four years. When I took office as your mayor, we set out to build a city that could be seen as an example across the nation for placemaking and investment in the future. We reset our city's mission to "Building a city that feels like home," and together, we've delivered on that promise.

Over this term, we decreased your property tax rate by 15% to the lowest it has been in at least 30 years. While most cities across the state raised taxes, some by more than 25%, we used our city's success to drive substantial tax reductions for Woodstock citizens.

We boldly invested in public safety, ensuring our police and fire departments have the people, tools, and training they need to keep us safe. With a 26% starting pay increase in the Woodstock Police Department and the decision to build two new fire stations (doubling our current count), we made the largest investment ever in our city's finest and bravest.

With 87% approval on the ballot, you supported the passage of a parks bond that meant tens of millions invested in parks and trails throughout our city. Building Little River Park is currently underway, which will double the amount of park space in Woodstock; the Noonday Creek Trail Extension is near completion; and several other trail segments to expand our growing network are on the way.

We didn't stop there. We tackled long-standing infrastructure needs head-on, modernizing critical roads, water systems, and stormwater management to meet the demands of a growing community. We completed the hub transformation, built the largest parking deck in Cherokee County, and adopted Woodstock's first-ever comprehensive transportation plan.

We made these investments while improving Woodstock's financial standing — so our credit rating increased, which lowers borrowing costs and reinforces a fundamental truth: this city is fiscally strong and well-managed.

But the most important thing we've built over these four years isn't found in any one project. It's a renewed sense of shared place and purpose. I see it in the way neighbors show up for each other, in the way our community rallies behind local businesses, in the smiles on the walking trails, the cheers at the amphitheater, and the small acts of connection that make Woodstock feel like home.

Leadership is about more than managing the present. It's also about preparing for the future. And while I'm proud of what we've accomplished, I'm even more excited for what's next. Challenges will continue to come our way, but we've laid the groundwork for Woodstock to thrive in the years ahead.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It has been the honor of my life. I'm proud of what we've built, and I believe now more than ever that Woodstock's best days are still to come.