Mayor: In a State of the City address at the Rockford City Council meeting, the mayor said the city is “on the rise” but cautioned that federal and state funding shifts could threaten progress.

The mayor told the council and attendees that the city has increased its police budget by more than 58% over eight years, invested in public‑safety technology and expanded prevention and intervention programs. He credited the Family Peace Center — which he said is the only such center in Illinois — with serving more than 2,200 survivors and more than 500 children and said the center will move into a larger facility and expand partners to more than 35 organizations.

Why it matters: The address packaged the administration’s record — lower juvenile arrests, new workforce pathways and rising property values — while warning that cuts at the federal and state levels could force the city to absorb costs for programs that help low‑income and vulnerable residents.

The mayor pointed to measurable public‑safety gains: he said property crime and violent crime are down and juvenile arrests have dropped 21% in two years. He highlighted workforce training that places interns into skilled trades; he said one intern will become a journeyman this summer and will earn $49 an hour plus benefits.

On education, the mayor said the city will support Rockford Public Schools as it selects a new superintendent and highlighted early‑childhood initiatives, including nurse home visits through Alignment Rockford and a Rockford Promise scholarship program that now supports about 400 students with tuition assistance.

The address also covered economic development: the mayor listed local investments including a $400 million redevelopment at the Barber Coleman site, manufacturing expansions, and an Air Liquide renewable gas plant that converts landfill methane to renewable natural gas. He said the city approved a capital improvement plan with about $96 million in projects across neighborhoods and said property values have risen more than 50% since 2017 while the city’s property tax rate is at its lowest since 1984.

The mayor warned that recent federal and state actions are shifting costs to municipalities. He said the state has reduced local funding streams and proposed numerous unfunded mandates, and he urged local, state and federal representatives to advocate for Rockford’s funding needs.

The mayor closed by saying the “state of our city is strong” but that sustaining progress will require continued fiscal attention and collaboration.

Looking ahead: The mayor invited continued council and community partnerships to advance projects such as Davis Park redevelopment and the city’s broadband rollout.