Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman emphasized long-term planning, financial discipline and deliberate growth during his 2026 State of the City address to the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. The address was given on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Lakeland Golf Club during the monthly Chamber luncheon. Centered on the theme “Building Lakeland on Purpose, Not by Accident,” Roman said the city must plan today for what Lakeland will look like 20 years from now. That includes planning roads and utilities ahead of development while protecting green spaces, property values and the character of existing neighborhoods.
Roman also highlighted Lakeland’s financial position, citing a $0.94 equalized property tax rate with no increase following the latest reappraisal. The city has more than $42 million in net equity, approximately $58 million in debt and more than $100 million in high school and infrastructure value. Lakeland also reported $6.95 million in audited cash reserves, nearly twice the city’s policy minimums. Education was another focus, with Mayor Roman highlighting Lakeland Preparatory School’s first graduating class this past May, the district’s Level 5 academic growth rating and the baseball team’s state championship, the school’s first major state athletic title.
Public safety and infrastructure also played a prominent role in the address. Roman pointed to the removal of troubled motel properties (The Econo Lodge and The Relax Inn) known for crime. One of those locations is where the new Lakeland YMCA Community Center is being constructed on Beverly Riviera Road. Roman also discussed the expanded law-enforcement presence through a new Shelby County Sheriff’s Office substation at The Lake District and the new Tennessee Highway Patrol District 4 headquarters being built off Highway 64. The city is also planning Fire Station No. 2 to provide additional coverage and help reduce response times as Lakeland grows. Throughout the presentation, Roman returned to the idea that Lakeland’s continued growth should be intentional, with current decisions designed to shape the community’s future rather than simply respond to change as it happens.
