Civic Insights with David Billings
The National League of Cities Report – City Fiscal Conditions 2025 stated Cities are now navigating a more complex environment, one shaped by policy uncertainty and shifting economic conditions.
So, this got me thinking about Rockwall County cities.
Most of us know we should have emergency savings set aside. We are told to plan for the unexpected such as a medical bill that shows up without warning, a layoff, or an economic recession that turns certainty into anxiety almost overnight. None of us enjoy thinking about those possibilities. Planning for bad things is uncomfortable. But we do it anyway because not planning is far worse.
Cities face the same reality.
Just like families, cities must prepare for economic downturns, unexpected costs, and new rules handed down from above. In Texas, that includes state-imposed cost caps that limit how fast city expenses can grow. Maintaining reserves and engaging in long-term financial planning are part of that preparation. Healthy reserves signal responsible budgeting, common sense leadership, and an understanding that uncertainty will happen.
But here is the hard truth. Reserves are a band aid if we are lucky.
They help stop the bleeding during a short-term downturn. They buy time. What they do not provide is a long-term economic strategy especially in a prolonged recession. Eventually, reserves run out. And when they do, cities are forced into hard choices including reductions in core services.
We also need to be honest about this reality. Rockwall County’s economy does not exist in a vacuum. Our job growth, sales tax revenue, housing market, and tax base are tightly connected to the broader Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. When the regional economy slows, Rockwall County feels it almost immediately. Yet despite this reality, there remains a substantial opportunity for us to more fully participate in long-term regional planning and economic coordination with our DFW neighbors.
That disconnect matters.
The lake does not save us.
Across DFW, cities are thoughtfully planning for the next economic downturn and the next growth cycle that will follow. They are planning how to build and maintain infrastructure, fund safe and reliable roads, and diversify their economies with a ten-to-twenty-year horizon in mind. Yes, Rockwall County has a 2050 plan, but its implementation has been slow.
Across the lake, key decisions are being made now deliberately and strategically. The real question is whether Rockwall County is helping shape the future or simply reacting after the major decisions have already been made.
At the same time, cost caps from Austin could constrain how cities respond when the economy turns south. On paper, cost caps sound appealing. In practice, they limit flexibility precisely when flexibility is most needed. During a recession, cities face rising service demands, slower revenue growth, and increased pressure on public safety, infrastructure, and core services. Cost caps reduce a city’s ability to adapt, stabilize operations, or invest strategically when conditions deteriorate. It is like the 10 commandments on how to hurt our cities.
Reserves can bridge the gap for a while. But they are finite. Once gone, cities without a long-term economic plan are left with fewer options and very difficult choices.
There is also a wildcard that deserves honest discussion. The growing anti-growth movement. Often well intentioned, NIMBY opposition to responsible growth carries real economic consequences. Reasonable Growth pays for road repairs. Reasonable Growth delivers clean water, functioning sewer systems, and faster emergency response times. Reasonable Growth expands the sales and property tax base. Reasonable Growth supports jobs, attracts investment, and brings talent into the community.
If this trend continues, resisting reasonable growth without offering a viable alternative will result in stagnation, declining competitiveness, and higher costs for existing residents.
These are not ideological arguments. They are facts.
Every city should answer a basic question. How do we remain competitive in an increasingly crowded and fast-moving regional economy? Other cities are answering that question through planning, partnerships, and strategic investment. Rockwall County must decide whether it will do the same or continue relying on short-term fixes while long-term decisions are made around us.
At the Dallas Regional Chamber’s biannual State of the State event, Patrick said, “The real work of an elected official is to make sure that we create jobs, attract business, educate the public, and give every Texan a great opportunity to live the Texas dream and the American dream.”
How will Rockwall County function in a more competitive economic environment if we are not actively planning for it?
Reserves may buy time.
But if we do not plan our future, the future will plan us.
About the Author
David Billings, former 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.
