 Hi, I'm Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. You don't need to know Fort Worth's population grew more than 30% since the year 2000 to see the effects of our city's unprecedented growth. We love having so many new neighbors. We see new buildings, new restaurants and new stores. We meet people bringing pieces of their home and culture to Cowtown to build a stronger and more diverse community. We also see the downside to so many people trying to get to the same places. We travel roads in need of major repairs and rebuilding. We also see heavy traffic due to limited transit options and a need for new roads. We face longer commutes to community centers and libraries as new development moves further away from established city facilities. We need more parks and public spaces near neighborhoods that encourage families to get out, get active and enjoy the city from something other than the desk chair. And we need to find ways to support and encourage economic development throughout our city and continue to make Fort Worth a safe place to live. Addressing these issues is the biggest challenge the city faces. How can the city find two billion for new infrastructure facilities and parks when it takes one billion a year to keep city operations running day to day? What we do is not all that different from what you might do at your home. We take out loans. Every year the city council and staff look at how much money the city is expected to bring in and they put together a balanced budget that funds everything from after school programming to trash collection. A portion of that budget however is dedicated to paying back our loans, known as bonds. To see where your bond dollars are going it's as easy as following the orange construction barrels. We've added more park land, constructed new city community facilities, libraries, fire stations and police stations. Any commuter can tell you where most of the money is going, road construction. We're turning more dirt in Fort Worth than ever before but this is the final push before our current bond dollars run out. That's why city council is planning to call for a bond election in May of 2014. But as we decide where that money is spent we must hear from you. Just like any household budget, everyone in Fort Worth needs a say in where the money goes. The city is bringing the bond project selection process to you with public meetings in each council district and through a new section on our website. Whether you go online or come listen in person, you'll learn about high-priority projects the city is looking to fund. You'll also have a chance to share your ideas for future projects and give your feedback on ideas offered by fellow residents. My city council colleagues and I will take that feedback and work with city staff to put together a list of projects for you, the voters to approve. Like I always say, it's your Fort Worth. Help us build the city you want to call home for years to come.