May 2, 2026
City Council General Election

Growth itself isn't the problem, losing alignment between growth and infrastructure is.

I would not support blanket moratoriums, but I would support slowing or conditioning approvals when roads, water, and public services are clearly not keeping pace. That means tying development approvals to measurable infrastructure readiness vs projections or assumptions.

Going forward, areas of focus include:

• Clear infrastructure benchmarks tied to approvals
• Stronger development agreements with defined timelines
• Better coordination with TXDOT and county partners before approvals are granted

We can grow responsibly, but only if there is discipline in the process and infrastructure is keeping up in real time…not playing catch-up after the fact.

Public safety is essential to quality of life, and staffing is a key part of that conversation.

Royse City has made visible investments in facilities and equipment in recent years. At the same time, maintaining adequate staffing levels as the population grows remains an ongoing challenge, especially in a competitive hiring environment for police, fire, and EMS.

A constructive approach would focus on:

• Working with department leadership to understand current staffing gaps and hiring constraints
• Evaluating staffing levels and response times alongside population growth
• Supporting long-term planning that aligns personnel needs with the pace of development

Public safety planning should be continuous and forward-looking, with decisions made in a way that supports both those serving in these roles and the residents who rely on them.

Development decisions have long-term impacts on the character and quality of life of a community.

The guiding principle should be straightforward: growth should enhance quality of life, not strain it.

Areas of focus include:

• Clearer standards within development agreements
• Greater transparency so residents understand what's being approved and why
• Consistency throughout the process, not just at the point of initial approval

Development is often described as a partnership, but from a city perspective it should remain grounded in protecting long-term community interests and maintaining alignment with infrastructure and services.

A consistent, disciplined approach helps ensure growth is shaped in a way that reflects the needs of residents.

Affordability is a key part of quality of life, and that starts with a disciplined approach to spending.

My general position is that the tax rate should be held or reduced, not increased. As the city grows, the focus should be on managing that growth responsibly and prioritizing spending in a way that reduces pressure on residents rather than adding to it.

I believe government should focus on core responsibilities, spend carefully, and avoid taking on obligations that outpace its ability to pay for them. That includes being cautious about long-term debt and prioritizing projects based on necessity rather than timing.

In practice, that can include:

• Focusing spending on essential services like infrastructure and public safety
• Evaluating projects based on long-term value and financial sustainability
• Setting aside funds over time to plan for future needs, rather than relying on reactive or short-term solutions

A consistent, measured approach to budgeting helps ensure the city can meet its obligations while minimizing unnecessary strain on residents.

Royse City already provides several ways for residents to stay informed and involved, including public meetings and direct access to council members.

One area that can be strengthened is how broadly and consistently information is shared. Expanding communication, within reason, can help ensure more residents are aware of decisions that may affect them and have a meaningful opportunity to stay engaged.

That can include:

• Making better use of existing communication channels to share updates more proactively
• Providing clear, timely summaries of upcoming items in a format that's easy to follow
• Encouraging feedback earlier in the process, before decisions reach a final stage

At the same time, representation isn't limited to who shows up at meetings. It's important that council members consider multiple perspectives and approach decisions in good faith, with a focus on what best supports the community as a whole.

A balanced approach—clear communication, accessible input, and thoughtful representation—helps ensure residents feel both informed and represented.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the voter guide. — Tim

Royse City's rapid growth has outpaced key infrastructure systems that are essential to maintaining quality of life. While I recognize that, in theory, development and infrastructure can be built in parallel, our current conditions suggest that growth has already exceeded the capacity of our roads, utilities, schools, and emergency services.

For that reason, I would support a targeted slowdown—not a blanket freeze—on new residential development approvals until specific infrastructure benchmarks are met. Specifically, I would advocate for:

• Infrastructure-based approval thresholds: New large-scale residential developments should be contingent on demonstrated capacity in key areas such as road throughput, water and wastewater systems, school enrollment capacity, and emergency response times. If those systems are operating near or beyond capacity, approvals should be deferred.
• Phased development agreements: Developers should be required to align build-out timelines with infrastructure delivery.
• Stronger developer participation: Growth should help pay for itself. I would support impact fees or public-private partnerships that ensure developers contribute fairly to the cost of roads, water systems, and public safety infrastructure.
• Prioritization of current residents: Our immediate focus should be on improving traffic flow, upgrading aging infrastructure, and ensuring reliable city services for those who already live here.
• Transparent growth planning: Establishing and publicly communicating clear capacity thresholds and infrastructure timelines will help residents and developers alike understand when and where growth is appropriate.

I do not support halting growth indefinitely—Royse City's growth is a sign of its strength. However, unmanaged growth that outpaces infrastructure is not sustainable.

In my first term, I would focus on three specific actions:

• Establish and fund minimum staffing and response time targets. We need clearly defined benchmarks for fire, EMS, and police — such as response time goals and staffing ratios per 1,000 residents. I would work with department leadership to adopt these targets and tie future hiring and budgeting directly to them.
• Accelerate hiring and retention of first responders. I would prioritize competitive pay, benefits, and career development to reduce turnover, while streamlining hiring processes to fill open positions faster. This includes planning ahead — hiring based on projected growth, not just current population.
• Invest in equipment and facilities based on growth patterns. I would support the timely addition of fire stations, patrol resources, and EMS units in high-growth areas, along with ensuring existing teams have modern, reliable equipment.

I would also ensure that new development contributes to these public safety needs through impact fees and development agreements, so growth helps fund the stations, equipment, and personnel required to serve new neighborhoods.

The current environment highlights a breakdown in alignment and clarity between the city and major developers. Without speaking to specific legal details, it suggests that expectations around infrastructure obligations, timelines, or responsibilities were either not clearly defined upfront or not consistently enforced. Situations like this are costly, time-consuming, and ultimately impact residents.

If elected, I would focus on strengthening that relationship in three key ways:

• Clear, enforceable development agreements from day one. Every major project should have precise language around infrastructure responsibilities, phasing, timelines, and financial commitments. Ambiguity leads to disputes.
• Tie development approvals to infrastructure delivery. Approvals should be phased and contingent on meeting infrastructure benchmarks — roads, water, public safety capacity, and schools.
• Improve coordination and accountability. City council, staff, and legal counsel must be fully aligned before agreements are finalized, and there should be regular check-ins to ensure compliance as projects move forward.

I would not commit to raising or lowering the property tax rate without a full, detailed understanding of the city's current financial position and future obligations. Responsible leadership requires making decisions based on complete and accurate information, not assumptions.

That said, my approach is clear: before considering any increase in the tax burden, I would ensure the city is using its existing revenue as efficiently and effectively as possible. In my first term, I would focus on:

• Conducting a thorough budget review to identify inefficiencies and lower-priority expenditures
• Prioritizing core services: public safety, roads and traffic flow, and water and wastewater infrastructure
• Aligning growth with financial sustainability through impact fees and development agreements
• Building a transparent, priority-based budget so residents can see exactly where their tax dollars are going

My goal would be to hold the line on taxes where possible, but more importantly, to ensure that every dollar collected is spent in a way that directly benefits residents.

Royse City does have established processes for residents to raise concerns, but for many residents they can feel difficult to navigate, time-consuming, or unclear. If elected, I would focus on:

• Clear, easy-to-understand communication. Residents should not have to search through technical documents to understand what's being proposed near their homes. I would support plain language summaries, clear timelines, and accessible online information.
• Earlier and more meaningful public input. I would advocate for earlier notification and opportunities for input before items reach final approval stages, so feedback can actually influence outcomes.
• Increased accessibility to leadership. I would make myself available through regular office hours, community forums, or direct communication so concerns don't get lost in the process.
• A more transparent decision-making process. When decisions are made, residents deserve to understand why — especially on zoning and development issues that directly impact neighborhoods.

There should always be a realistic, respectful path for residents to be heard — and just as importantly, to know they were listened to.

Royse City's growth brings opportunity, but infrastructure must keep pace. I do not believe the answer is simply to stop growth entirely, nor to approve development without adequate planning. I support a balanced approach where development and infrastructure move forward together, but only when there is a realistic and enforceable plan for roads, water capacity, drainage, and coordination with schools.

I would support reviewing each project based on whether current services can handle the impact and whether developers are contributing fairly to needed improvements. Growth should be managed responsibly so existing residents are not left paying the price for poor planning.

Public safety must remain a top priority in a growing city. In my first term, I would support a full review of current staffing levels, response times, equipment needs, and future population projections for fire, EMS, and police services.

From there, I would prioritize phased staffing increases, retention of qualified personnel, and long-term capital planning for vehicles, stations, and equipment. We owe our first responders the resources they need to protect our community safely and effectively.

Without commenting on active litigation, situations like this highlight the importance of clear agreements, strong oversight, and consistent communication between the city and developers.

As councilmember, I would support transparent development standards, accountability when commitments are not met, and careful review of agreements before approval. Growth works best when expectations are clear and both the city and developers are held to high standards.

I understand that property taxes are a major concern for families. I would support holding or reducing the tax rate whenever financially responsible to do so, while still maintaining essential city services and public safety.

My budgeting priorities would focus first on core services such as police, fire, roads, water infrastructure, and long-term maintenance. I also believe we should regularly review spending for efficiency so taxpayer dollars are used wisely.

Residents deserve a clear and realistic path to be heard on zoning and development issues. That starts with better communication: earlier notices, easier-to-find meeting information, online access to proposals, and clear explanations of how to provide input.

If elected, I would support improving outreach and making public meetings more accessible so working families can participate. Good decisions happen when residents feel informed and included in the process.