Four state legislators who represent parts of Collin County spoke about growth and infrastructure in North Texas during a summer panel.
What happened?
The McKinney Chamber of Commerce hosted a panel discussion June 18 called “The Future of Growth in North Texas: Policy Decisions Shaping Business, Infrastructure, and Workforce.” Legislators that were present for the panel include:
- State Rep. Jeff Leach, District 67
- Represents Allen, McKinney, Plano and more
- State Sen. Angela Paxton, District 8
- Represents Allen, Celina, McKinney, Plano, Prosper and more
- State Rep. Mihaela Plesa, District 70
- Represents Allen, Plano, Richardson and more
- State Rep. Keresa Richardson, District 61
- Represents Celina, Frisco, McKinney and more
Legislators discussed infrastructure needs, education, transportation, workforce development and housing affordability in North Texas. The panel was moderated by Barb Delk, business development director for the McKinney Chamber of Commerce.
To end the panel, Delk asked legislators what has to happen between now and 2036 so that North Texas continues to “grow and prosper.”
In their own words
Richardson said the area has to have property tax relief and that was going to be a “number one issue” in the next legislative session. Young families can’t afford insurance for their homes or their cars and they can’t afford the taxes, she said. Additionally, Richardson said they have to continue to bring businesses to North Texas.
“We are laying the groundwork for businesses to continue to move here,” she said. “We just have to get the infrastructure right.”
Plesa said when she looks to 2036, she sees the state as “being proactive, not reactive.” Plesa’s parents moved to the North Texas area in 1973. Plesa and her family benefited from “forward-thinking” groups that invested in infrastructure and education, she said.
“There were communities like this that were thinking about families like mine generations later,” she said. “So when I think of Texas in 2036, I think of those types of investments. I see the Texas miracle blooming.”
Leach said community and state leaders need to continue communicating and listening to each other.
“As long as we’re still able to do what we’re doing now ... then I think that we’re still—10 years from now—going to be sitting in the greatest county, in the greatest state, in the greatest country in the history of the world,” he said.
Paxton said she thinks the future is “very bright” but planning “doesn’t happen overnight.” Planning happens one decision at a time and one conversation at a time, she said.
“We do have to remember that if we’re going to get there, we have to get there together,” Paxton said.
