Civic Insights with David Billings
I recently came across an insightful LinkedIn post by the City Manager of Ferris, Texas, and it struck me how directly it applies across Rockwall County. The post addresses a key question: how we build cities—and more importantly, how the choices we make today will shape our future. Too often, well-intentioned decisions made one vote at a time willunintentionally create burdens for years to come. Instead of becoming an integrated landscape, our cities become a hodgepodge of developments that lack a theme and fail to add to the character of the city.
Local government is more complex than it appears on the surface. Providing city services always carries real costs, and these are often overlooked by the public. In addition, local decision-making is frequently driven more by the loudest and most persistent voices than by the overall needs or opinions of the greater community.
As the Ferris City Manager wrote: “We are building cities to fail. Not with one reckless vote, but with a thousand flattering choices that feel good in the moment and cost us for years.”
We rarely see a single vote cast with the intention of harming a city. Yet over time, we witness the cumulative impact of hundreds of decisions — from informal momentum toward unchecked development, to deferring infrastructure funding to keep taxes artificially low, to failing to invest in quality-of-life initiatives like parks. While each choice may seem small on its own, together they undermine our ability to build and sustain a truly great city. To address this, we must require that all development and city council decisions clearly define their intended outcomes and fully account for both their direct and indirect costs.“We fund today with tomorrow’s permits and call it strategy. We cut ribbons on what is new and postpone caring for what is old. We celebrate openings and ignore ownership. It all works until growth slows, crews thin, and the bill for everything we have already built shows up with no one left to carry it.”
Relying on permits and development fees to fund core services — such as police, fire, streets, and utilities — is a recipe for disaster. It’s a mistake rooted in short-term thinking, because when that one-time revenue slows or stops, cities are left with a choice: raise taxes, cut essential services, or take on unsustainable long-term debt.
Growth itself isn’t the problem — cities need to grow to stay healthy. But real, smart growth means fully accounting for the long-term costs of streets, utilities, staffing, and operations. A bigger footprint doesn’t make a stronger city; a smaller promise kept does.
The Power of Quiet Leadership
“The hardest leadership is often quiet” and unceremonious. It is not about headlines, ribbon cuttings, getting social media attention, hiding in private social media groups, or being in front of cameras.
True leadership happens far from public view—at the desk, in late-night budget reviews, walking a water treatment plant, regularly answering citizens emails, walking the park, working with ISP’s to quickly restore internet service, or inspecting a street in need of repair. It is the countless hours spent planning, forecasting, and problem-solving without applause. For example, the City of Heath created a citizen-led finance group that meets in public to provide input for the city manager and city council. This is quiet leadership.
Quiet leadership is saying “yes” only when a project can be sustained for decades and “no” to flashy or politically convenient projects that cannot. It is planning for road replacement, street maintenance, and equipment recapitalization that few plan for today but everyone will need tomorrow. It is reviewing contracts, balancing budgets, and planning for staffing and operations long before growth arrives. Leadership is measured by what still functions after the crowd goes home, not by what looks impressive in the moment.
The Value of Small, Sustainable Victories
Too often, we chase the big deals—the ribbon cuttings, major development announcements, and high-profile projects. They feel excited, but a city’s long-term health is rarely built in those moments. Instead, it is forged in smaller, interwoven and consistent victories—the routine maintenance of streets and pipes, prompt replacement of equipment, careful staffing, and prudent budgeting.
These quieter wins rarely make the evening news or social media feeds, yet they are what keep a city running smoothly year after year. Sustainable growth is not measured by how fast a city can expand, or how shiny its newest projects are. It is measured by the city’s ability to maintain and improve what it already has. By valuing small, sustainable victories over flashy deals, local leaders create a city that lasts—not just for today, but for generations.
Collaboration Over Competition
Building a lasting city is not about competing ferociously with neighboring communities. True leadership recognizes that a thriving region benefits all cities. When development is thoughtful and well-executed, it raises the standard for everyone—a rising tide lifts all ships. Celebrating successes with neighboring cities encourages collaboration on infrastructure, services, and regional planning. Cities do not thrive in isolation; long-term success comes when community leaders build for the collective good, not just immediate local gain
Respecting Each City’s Unique Path
As the Rockwall County 2050 strategic plans show, each city in Rockwall County is unique, with its own character, history, and development potential. Not all cities will grow at the same pace, nor should they try to. Some may see rapid commercial expansion, while others prioritize preserving community character or strengthening existing infrastructure.
Effective leadership requires recognizing these differences and planning sustainable growth that works for each community on its own terms. True regional success comes from supporting each city’s unique path while fostering collaboration where it makes sense.
A Better Way to Grow
In Rockwall County, our 2050 strategic plan provides a clear roadmap to create a fiscally responsible county.
- Creates a culture of collaboration between the county, cities, and ISDs.
- Emphasizes integrated planning for existing and future facilities, neighborhoods, roads, parks, and more.
- Evaluates projects over decades, not months, and accounts for long-term operating and maintenance costs.
- Rejects flashy projects that fail fiscal analysis or lack sustainability.
- Make the math public: publish project backlogs, project timelines, and expected costs. When schedules slip, acknowledge it and openly reset the date.
- Create transparency and accountability to the public.
Only by working together can we preserve the community we love while keeping Rockwall County financially strong and sustainable.
About the Author
David Billings, retired Mayor of Fate, has served the community for over a decade. A longtime business leader in the telecommunication industry, Navy veteran, and resident of Rockwall County, he brings both professional and civic experience to his writing on government, budgeting, and local economics. He is a graduate of Leadership Rockwall, North Texas Commission Leadership Program, active in several Rockwall County non-profits boards, and the American Legion.
He is passionate about civic involvement in local government, maintaining transparent governance and thoughtful strategic planning to preserve a bright future for the regions.
