The City of Richardson held its annual State of the City Address January 25, highlighting the city’s achievements in 2022, including quick recovery from the City Hall fire, the lowest tax rates since 2006 and noteworthy progress in six signature live-work destinations or focus areas around the community. The annual address also featured the City’s strategic priorities for 2023, including multiple celebrations in recognition of Richardson’s upcoming 150th anniversary.

Mayor Paul Voelker and members of the Richardson City Council delivered the report as part of a free, open-to-the-public, in-person event at the Charles W. Eisemann Center in Richardson. The event was also available for live viewing virtually online.

The event also focused on the City’s continued commitment to community improvements and superior services and its drive for fostering innovation that continues to position Richardson as a premier place for residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The evening also honored the recent passing of former City Council Member John Murphy, who served from 1991 to 2011, and paid tribute to the many, municipal employees whose extraordinary efforts provided a speedy and efficient response to the Aug. 2022 fire at City Hall.

The City’s most significant 2022 areas of achievement included:

• A speedy and effective response to and recovery from the August 2022 fire at City Hall.
• The significant tax rate reduction in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget, rolling rates back to 2006 levels.
• The opening of the new Richardson IQ® HQ in the Richardson Innovation Quarter in September.

Looking ahead, priorities for 2023 and Richardson’s 150th anniversary include:

• An anticipated bond referendum to finance a replacement City Hall, built to last through the end of the century.
• 150th anniversary celebrations beginning in January 2023 and continuing over the next five months. A dedicated website and the City’s social media channels provide details on the various upcoming celebrations.

2022 Achievements include:

• Significant progress on construction, design, or completion of citywide infrastructure projects, specifically those approved in the 2015 and 2021 Bond Programs.
• Updated the City’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and began work on the City’s first Active Transportation Plan, which will create a vision for enhancing trails, bike lanes and other multi-modal corridors using existing infrastructure.
• City Council approved $305,000 in grants for almost two dozen local arts organizations, a 39% increase from COVID-impacted funds last year.
• City maintaining its 13-year-long “Triple A” bond rating, which was reaffirmed last spring by both Standard & Poor’s (AAA) and Moody’s (Aaa). The designation reflects the highest rating possible from each agency.
• Maintained Fire Department’s ISO-1 designation, ensuring property owners pay the best rates possible for fire insurance.
• Tax rebates for homeowners through the Home Improvement Incentive Program (HIIP), which has contributed $154 million to neighborhood revitalizations since its inception in 2007.