FAQs

How does the City decide which streets to repair?

The City Council approved use of a Pavement Management Company to evaluate all of the streets in our city every 2 years. All streets received a ranking based on condition — with 0 being the worst. Districts 1, 3, and 4 had the majority of low-ranking streets. This evaluation will be used for the City Council to approve the streets which will be repaired or replaced first. This list is available for viewing at the City Secretary's office. Even though we are repairing a number of our local streets each year, we are focused on major collector roads that carry the heaviest traffic.

In 2017, the city of Lancaster, hired a consultant to evaluate all of the streets and provide the cost to replace. The price tag was $700 million. In 2022 the price tag would be over $1billion. We are focusing on redoing our major artilerals and following our Pavement Management Company’s ranking as we budget each year for street replacement/ repair. Just the material cost to do one mile of road asphalt is $1 million. Concrete for one lane mile is $1 million. This amount does not include engineering, acquisition of right of way, moving infrastructure, or curbing and guttering.

Why do you, Carol Strain-Burk, serve on the city council?

I have a true passion for our city, as you can see by my past positive track record. During my tenure on the City Council, I have spearheaded many projects that my fellow council members and I have seen through to completion. My positive impact as an elected official is very visible all around the city. Lancaster is experiencing growth of our economic development, focusing on repairing or replacing our infrastructure, and the employment opportunities within our city are progressing. One of the ongoing efforts for me since 2019 has been the e newsletter about city happenings. I am the only city council person publishing a weekly Online newsletter for citizens of Lancaster. I have citizens contacting me from other areas requesting to be added. The statement “Communication is the life blood of any relationship” is very true. I have received positive feedback for my personal efforts to connect with my district.

Why are we getting so many warehouses?

In 2000 Lancaster was heavily dependent on sales tax. A major sales tax provider changed the way they did business and in the blink of an eye our city lost 40% of its budget. With the guidance of a professional economic consultant, the city council realized we needed to focus on growing our property tax. Reviewing our location surrounded by I20, I45, I35, and the future Loop 9, our position was prime for logistics development.

Since that year our value in property tax for commercial logistical growth is at 59% and residential is 41%. In 2000 the residences bore the majority of the burden of the property tax.

Warehouses generate real property tax, business and personal Property tax, and in some cases sales tax is also produced. The amount of property tax of commercial properties has allowed the city to reduce the tax rate to residents.

The tax rate in 2019 was $0.86000. Because of business and commercial development we have consistently lowered the tax rate since 2019. In 2024 the tax rate per $100 valuation was lowered to $0.604606. The commercial and industrial developments have also brought an estimated 23,000 jobs to the city of Lancaster.

Why is lancaster lacking in retail, restuarants, and entertainment venues?

The City of Lancaster is continually reaching out to retailer, restaurants, hotels and other entertainment venues to locate here. Our biggest obstacle is the average household income level of $58,000 for our community. These statistics are used not only by businesses but also home builders and developers. This tells retailers there is very little disposable cash to be spent on new businesses.

The statistics on income level is reported in many ways. Income statistics reported through our school system as related to some of their programs is having an adverse impact on showing the true level of income in relationship to disposable cash to be spent in our city.

When a prospective retailer looks at our community they pick a location and create an area of 8 miles to gather the spending of the people with in that area. If it does not meet their criteria then they do not pick our city. We also have property owners who do not want to sell or rent a location to a new business. A city can not make a business locate here. The business has to know the climate is economically sound for them to be successful in our city before making the investment.

Since the last update of this website we have added a number of new restaurant and retail opportunities. Starbucks on W. Beltline, Dutch Bros. Coffee on W Pleasant Run, Panda Express and Bojangles on I 35. Our historic downtown has blossomed with La Calle Doce, HUGS BBQ, Just Juice, Gelii Italian ice, Curios Marketkitchen, Lancaster Trading Cards, Boba Licious, Chee Chee Chacha Candy, The Local Exchange, Saviana Winery, and Ellas Event Center, Opening in 2025 in our DownTown will be KyotoBrew and the Lancaster Historic Theater presenting live entertainment. Of course we have our existing businesses as the Lovin Oven, John’s Trykes and Bikes, Dr. Rosellini, Cornerstone Credit Union, Town Square Barber, and Town Square Realty. Just approved on I 20 and Houston School is another Starbucks.

I personally have traveled to retail conferences locally and nationally over the past number of years to promote our city. Each time we provide them our improving statistics about our day time populations, increasing traffic counts, improving average income, and provide locations for them to visit.

Why do cities apply for grants?

Grants are actually part of your federal tax dollars being awarded back to qualified applicants through programs set up by Congress. The States administer and award these grants to qualified projects. Applying for state or federal grants allows a city to do projects that otherwise might not have been done due to lack of local funds. A city can make an application to get millions of grant dollars, thus allowing projects to move forward. A few of the projects funded by grants in our city include: airport improvements (a runway extension and a new airport terminal), city park, Bear Creek Nature Park, the Third St. bridge, the Red Oak Road bridge,Kellers Branch Bridge on E. Beltline, the future expansion of E. Beltline from Wilmer to SH 342, the landscaping on N. Dallas Avenue, the Downtown Museum and Visitors Center along with downtown landscaping and beautification projects.

How much are the City Council members paid for their services?

City Council members receive no compensation for their service. It is volunteer. Expenses are paid when members attend various seminars, professional meetings, and dinners. Mileage is also paid for meetings or functions out of the area if the member turns in their miles. Members are provided a cell phone to conduct city business and they must pay for any personal calls made on that phone due to new IRS regulations. Alternatively, a council member may pay for their own phone bill, which is what I do.

How long is the term for a Council Member and Mayor?

The Mayor and Council Members serve 3-year terms.

CAN THE CITY COUNCIL HIRE OR FIRE CITY EMPLOYEES?

No. The City Council can only hire or fire the City Manager and City Secretary. Council Members by the City Charter are not allowed to direct, hire, or fire any city employees. All directions must be funneled through the City Manager's office.

How is a campaign for an office financed?

Incumbents seeking re-election and individuals seeking election must fund their campaigns with personal funds or seek campaign contributions from individuals, business owners, developers, or special interests groups. In Lancaster particularly, contributions from developers or special interest groups are sometimes viewed as influencing future votes related to their projects or causes. All contributed monies over $50 and expenditures must be reported at required times prior to election. Financial reports for the upcoming 2019 election are due April 4 and April 26. I have received campaign contributions from local citizens. In the past, I have actually returned contributions to developers to avoid any possible conflict of interest in regards to future projects. I also have a personal savings account in which I deposit earnings from my personal employment that are used to fund the majority of my campaign.

WHY HASN’T THE WAREHOUSE AT 607 E. MAIN BEEN DEMOLISHED?

The owner of this warehouse stopped paying taxes in 2008. The building has asbestos in it. There are liens against this building by the IRS, a contractor, and all of the local governing entities. The cost estimate to the City for demolishing this building is $250,000. The City could not possibly recoup these expenditures because the other lien holders would be paid off first. The City Council has also been advised by the City Attorney that any action taken against the building would make the City liable in the future. Under these circumstances, it would not be responsible for the City Council to spend this amount of the taxpayers' money on such an endeavor.

DOES LANCASTER ISD COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY?

The City of Lancaster and the LISD have partnered on various items. The most significant happened in 2005, after approval by the citizens, when the City gave 100 acres of land just north of the City Park for to the LISD for the new Lancaster High School Complex. Also included in the agreement was the original 1928 school building on Centre Street, which is now home to the LISD administration. In exchange, the school district provided some sports fields and future park land to the City, along with a number of local agreements to share facilities. Overall, this was a win-win for LISD, the City, and the residents of Lancaster.