Henderson investments aim to improve quality of life

Henderson is known for its strategic planning, which has led to national recognition. The strategic plan, a collaborative effort that incorporates vital input from the city council, residents and businesses, underscores the integral role our community plays in shaping our city’s future.

One of the five strategic priorities adopted by the city council is community safety.

As a council, we guide the city on how to advance the quality of life for residents and our community overall through limited funds. Lately, I have been hearing a lot of questions about how the city is allocating its funding for projects and priorities.

It’s important that our residents know how our budget is regulated for projects and initiatives like community safety.

Certain funds are allocated to projects the city has recently undertaken that align with residents’ desires. Many of these new projects are being developed in Henderson’s five redevelopment areas to enhance residents’ quality of life while providing an economic boost. Long-term plans like the Downtown Investment Strategy are developed from community feedback and help us identify landmark and transformative projects.

For example, the former Fiesta site purchase and our early childhood education center development are funded through our Redevelopment Agency, a separate legal entity from the city with its own funding source. 

Projects like these are funded by separate revenue streams. Police have two dedicated revenue streams, while the Henderson Fire Department is funded entirely from the city’s general fund, shared among 20 other city departments.

That’s why the council voted to place Henderson Question 1 on the ballot, asking voters to decide whether to authorize funds for fire station renovations, equipment upgrades, and ongoing fire and emergency response operations of the Henderson Fire Department, paid for by new property tax revenue.

It should be noted that we are bound by legal limitations and cannot transfer money to different revenue streams. Funds derived from certain taxes must be utilized for their intended purpose.

As we balance the needs of our residents and community, we will continue prioritizing public safety while ensuring we advance other priorities identified by our residents and the city council.

The council is committed to our strategic priorities based on feedback from our community. Henderson has a culture of continuous improvement and was recently awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, one of five cities ever to have achieved this level of performance excellence. Henderson’s expertise in strategic planning resulted in our leadership of Southern Nevada’s first regional plan, and we will continue to set the standard for development and investment strategies in our state and beyond.

Those who live, learn, work and play in Henderson can be confident in the city’s motives and methods, and enjoy our premier quality of life.

Michelle Romero is mayor of Henderson.