Liberty Hill Mayor’s Record Stands I
by Ann Marie Kennon
t is every citizen’s right to make assertions about an organization or individual on social and local media when concerned about appropriate governance. Likewise, it is also the right of elected officials to ensure corresponding facts are made public when necessary. Even when untrue, damage to reputation is real, and it is, perhaps, the duty of officials and media to ensure the truth is as loud as the rhetoric. In light of online and printed accusations against and denunciations of Liberty Hill Mayor Rick Hall, currently running for re-election, the Advocate acquired official documentation, witness affidavits, law enforcement reports, and investigative results to provide counterpoint on issues that may be of interest to Liberty Hill voters.
THE GOOD Among his proudest accomplishments, Mayor Hall is pleased that property taxes for Liberty Hill residents have been reduced for the past two years, even while the city has improved and added new infrastructure projects city wide. The city’s growth has brought new property and sales tax revenue, which has allowed local leaders to raise the bar on city improvement projects. Among the most critical: new parking lots, new water and sewer lines, which the mayor says the city struggled with for years, are in process. There is also a shared public use path in the city for walking, biking, and fitness. 4
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Following that, Mayor Hall estimates 80 percent of downtown roads will be resurfaced within 18 months. He adds, “Even with this volume of work, thanks to careful planning and good stewardship, Council was still able to lower [property] taxes for 2019 and 2020.” Lowering property taxes is something most municipalities are unable to do, particularly when they are also building up infrastructure. Mayor Hall explains, “It is the county that determines property valuations, and if not for our city council, the bills would be even higher. We should be happy to know that our homes and businesses are increasing in value every year. No one wants to move to a city where property is depreciating.”
