Tupelo Mayor prepares for City of State address

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The mayor of the largest city in Northeast Mississippi is preparing to give his annual report on the high points from the past year, and goals for the year ahead.

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton’s fifth state of the city address will focus on the robust economy and how that impacts the All America City.

“The revenue growth is certainly a highlight, the residential and commercial construction boom in the city of Tupelo, those are really the two things and then of course, talk a lot about quality of life,” said Mayor Shelton.

The city continues to see record breaking sales tax receipts.

Late last year, Tupelo was named one of “America’s 100 Best Places to Retire” by Where to Retire Magazine, and Reader’s Digest named Tupelo one of the “15 Best Places to Move” in the United States.

“What I want to do is highlight those successes, use the address as an opportunity to give ourselves a pat on the back, but also hopefully to motivate us to keep pushing forward,” he said.

Mayor Shelton says the positive achievements are possible because leaders in government, business and the community are able to put their differences aside, and work toward common goals, such as neighborhood revitalization.

The city has purchased dilapidated housing and apartments, torn them down and made the land available for private developers and builders.

“Our job as elected officials and government employees is not to do everything, but to make Tupelo desirable for that private investment,” said Mayor Shelton.

The mayor will deliver his state of the city address at Tuesday evening’s council meeting.

This year, Tupelo council members in all seven wards will hold “State of the Ward” addresses.

In April, the Tupelo School District will hold a state of the school presentation.