City of Abilene’s 2024 State of the City address: Taxes, goals met, continuing needs & more
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – City leaders across Abilene came together for the annual State of the City address, the first one under Mayor Weldon Hurt’s leadership, Tuesday afternoon at the newly construction downtown hotel.
Mayor Weldon Hurt’s State of the City address
Mayor Hurt began his speech with gratitude towards some Abilene ISD students who were in attendance to record the State of the City address, which will later be made available on the city’s website.
City taxes
He then dove right into the city’s residential statistics as shown below:
Homeowners in Abilene ISD are paying about 2.3% in taxes, and Wylie ISD homeowners pay close to 2.2%.
City employment
Across Texas, the City of Abilene cited a 4.5% unemployment rate. Within city limits, the unemployment rate sits at 4%. Dyess Air Force Base was named the top employer in Abilene, with more than 14,000 employees.
Mayor Hurt said Dyess contributed around $3 billion to the Texas economy in 2021 and more than $500 million was spread across the Big Country.
Other major employers in Abilene include Hendrick Health, Abilene ISD, ACU, the city, and more.
Street Maintenance Fund
One key point of contention in the Key City is always going to be those fees added onto our water bills. Let’s talk about the street maintenance fund.
“26% of Abilene roads have been reconstructed or improved since the 2016 bond money began being used to improve our roads,” Mayor Hurt told the audience at the DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center.
UPDATE: Buffalo Gap Road construction to be completed fall 2024
2024 Street Maintenance Fund projects:
Neighborhoods including
Baker Heights
Canterbury Trails
Fairway Oaks
Pasadena Heights
West of Rose Park
Linear Projects
North 18th; Grape Street to Mockingbird Lane
South 7th; Danville to Pioneer drives
Corsicana Avenue; South 7th to Benbrook streets
Intersections
North 18th & Kirkwood
Antilley & Memorial
Southwest/ South 27th corridor
A new animal shelter
All Kind Animal Services took over operations across Abilene at the beginning of 2023 and since then, Mayor Hurt spoke to more than 6,500 animals being cared for, 2,800+ adoptions, and a 73% save rate of Abilene animals.
With $5.5 million in private funding and $6.1 million from the city, the Jane and Phil Guitar PARC is expected to open before the year’s end. All Kind said it will have a full on-site veterinary site and plenty of kennels.
All Kind also entered a partnership with the Abilene Police Department (APD) in 2023. Mayor Hurt reported that out of more than 10,700 animal-related calls to APD, 2,060 dogs and 554 cats were called. This includes nearly 400 animal cruelty or welfare calls, and 450+ aggressive animal reports.
Status update: Bond projects
Voters approved an $8 million fire station to serve the far south side of Abilene in November 2022. That project remains in the design phase for now, but is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.
In last November’s election, voters approved a $15 million bond. In addition to the $15 million from the taxpayers, the zoo has reportedly also secured $5.5 million in private funding. New improvements include habitats for rhinos, lions, meerkats and cheetahs, plus an amphitheater and 2-story cafe. This project is also still in its design phase, and is projected break ground next spring.
The last bond project Mayor Hurt touched on Tuesday afternoon was the two new recreation centers approved by voters last November. This $28 million project is, you guessed it, also in its design phase. The Cesar Chavez & G.V. Daniels Recreation centers will be replaced in succession. It’s unclear where we are in the design phase, but Mayor Hurt assured once ground breaks on one project site, it will be opened within 18 months.
5th largest employer in Abilene
With The City of Abilene employing a reported near 1,300 residents, Mayor Hurt said the city has introduced pay increases to all government employees and “longevity compensation” to its long-time employees. This is done in an effort to keep good employees and hire more like them.
The City of Abilene has about 25 open positions at the time of this article’s publishing.
Judge Phil Crowley’s State of the County address
After Mayor Weldon Hurt walked away from the podium, Taylor County Judge Phil Crowley took the stand, opening with a joke about lawyers.
Judge Crowley spoke to the county’s increasing need for ambulance services. As it stands now, the county has one full-time ambulance and one part-time. He said he hopes to enter a contract this September to add another full-time ambulance to better serve the 18,000+ residents across Taylor County – excluding Abilene which has an existing collection of emergency services.
Next, the judge touched on a proud accomplishment in a rather tough goal: Employment at the Taylor County Jail.
Taylor County hiring detention center personnel after months of unanswered job ads
“We went down from 23 vacancies to zero, and this is only the second time in the last 23 years that the Taylor County Jail has been fully staffed,” boasted Judge Crowley.
After months of unanswered job ads, Judge Crowley said it was increased employee compensation that led to those positions being filled, and the jail is now fully staffed.
“It is time for us to have competitive pay for all of our employees, but especially when it comes to public safety,” Judge Crowley added.
The third point Judge Crowley made during his address was ongoing renovations to the Taylor County Courthouse, originally built in 1915. He said that project, after years of planning, should be open to the public this fall.
DCOA’s Misty Mayo’s address
Third to present at Abilene’s State of the City address Tuesday afternoon was Misty Mayo, CEO and president of the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).
Mayo began her block by explaining what the DCOA does, “The DCOA’s mission is to create opportunities,” then announced a major win for her efforts. The DCOA was recognized as the international development corporation of the year for 2023 last October.
She continuously dedicated much of the DCOA’s success to Mayor Hurt, who was elected into office during the May 2023 election. Mayo told the audience Mayor Hurt’s commitment towards the city’s development has heartily helped the DCOA.
The DCOA reportedly tripled Abilene jobs over the last five years through its company partners like Dyess, Hendrick, Great Lakes, and more. Mayo added, “For every dollar invested into our community, it returned $47 to Abilene.”
State of the schools
Abilene, Wylie ISDs talk bond package updates in 2024 State of the City address
Chief Financial Officer for Abilene ISD, Dr. Joe Waldron, began the state of the schools address. With no bond projects going on at Abilene ISD right now, his address was kept rather short.
“Abilene ISD is honored to be the heartbeat of the City of Abilene,” Dr. Waldron said after telling stories of impacts between students and staff.
Wylie ISD bonds
Wylie ISD superintendent Joey Light took his place at the podium directly after Dr. Waldron. Beginning with a compliment to Judge Crowley on the surface level, he then shared his excitement for AFD’s station no. 9 coming soon to serve many Wylie district residents.
Supt. Light said his district has grown to new heights with 5,500 students and 750 employees across eight campuses in Abilene south side.
APPROVED! Voters welcome $240 million in upgrades to Wylie ISD, blocking 1 proposition to bond
In last November’s election, voters approved $240 million out of a possible $269 million 3-part proposition. The approved bond projects promises the following:
Adding 63 classrooms to the high school
Building a new elementary school
Expanding the east intermediate school
Bringing in additional buses
Upgrading outdated west campuses
Increasing number of devices for students and staff
Moving high school tennis courts to clear room for the additional classrooms
The additional classrooms at the high school will be used for career and technical education. It is unclear at this time where the district is in implementing the changes and additions, or an estimated date of completion.
Supt. Light told the audience its new Pup Academy, which opened the 2023-2024 school year, has led to significant employee retention and attracted new employees. There are 32 pups in attendance to date. The Pup Academy is a daycare service available to Wylie ISD teachers and staff at reduced cost as compared to other local daycares.
The City of Abilene’s entire 2024 State of the City address has been promised to appear on the city’s website within one week.
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