While it’s great to have Family City USA emblazoned on all of these things, I want to stress that Family City USA is not just a slogan but a guiding principle that shapes decisions and actions in the city of Orem. Our primary mission as your mayor and City Council is to create an environment where families can truly thrive.

To us, “Family City USA” signifies a commitment to enhancing the well-being of all families in our city. Every challenge and opportunity that crosses our path is met with a simple question: Does this benefit the families of Orem? In this way, “Family City USA” becomes not just a motto but a guiding light moving us toward a better tomorrow.

Our focus on helping families thrive stems from the fundamental understanding that the family unit is the cornerstone of any society. It is within families that values are instilled, shaping the future of our community. The strength of our society is inseparably linked to the health of our families.

The benefits of nurturing thriving families are both immediate and far-reaching. A United Nations report highlights the positive impact, including “higher life expectancy, reduced risks of mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Children from stable families demonstrate lower infant mortality rates, decreased susceptibility to drug addiction, lower engagement in criminal activities, higher academic achievements, and fewer unwanted teenage pregnancies. A stable family system is cost-effective, benefiting both its members and the state.”

Our dedication to fostering family well-being underpins recent initiatives and decisions made by the City Council. We strive to ensure that your hard-earned tax dollars provide maximum value. This summer, we unanimously passed a balanced budget that increased investments in public safety, parks and city facilities while imposing no new taxes and even reducing some fees. Our focus on efficiency has saved the city $1.1 million in operational costs over the year. If you add this to the fact that Orem has the lowest utility rates and some of the lowest property taxes in Utah County, you can see how we’re trying to help families thrive.

We’ve safeguarded family neighborhoods from high-density development by repealing the State Street Master Plan, eliminating the threat of 10,000 apartments on State Street. All new developments now require sufficient infrastructure and parking.

We’ve taken steps to preserve Orem’s public lands for future generations of Orem families by rezoning all publicly owned land in the city. We’re also planning for the long-term water needs of our families with the construction of a new 10-million-gallon water tank.

Additionally, we’re in the process of creating two new world-class parks, providing families with wonderful places to spend quality time together.

Our efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, as Orem was recently recognized as one of the top 100 livable cities in the U.S. out of 2,300 cities studied by Livability, an achievement that reflects our ongoing commitment to making Orem a true “Family City.”

We know that strong families will make for a strong Orem. Our dedication to ensuring Orem remains “Family City USA” isn’t just a slogan but a profound commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our community for many generations to come.