‘Historic Transformation’
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos delivered the 2026 State of the City address last Wednesday at the McAllen Convention Center, presenting a vision of a city undergoing a “historic transformation.”
Speaking before a record crowd of more than 1,300 attendees, Villalobos unveiled a $578 million municipal budget and declared the “State of McAllen” stronger than ever under the twin themes of “Next is Now” and “Aquí se vive major” (Life is better here).
Villalobos is in the second year of his second term as mayor, having run unopposed last year.
Backing him, the city commission includes Commissioners Tony Aguirre (Dist. 1), J.J. Zamora (Dist. 2), “Rolly” Rios (Dist. 3), “Rudy” Castillo (Dist. 4), “Seby” Haddad (Dist. 5), and Pepe Cabeza de Vaca (Dist. 6).
The current city manager is Isaac “Ike” Tawil, who served as city attorney before “Roy” Rodriguez announced his retirement in 2024.
The Numbers
City data presented during last week’s address showed:
# Nearly $5 billion in taxable retail sales, producing almost $100 million in sales tax revenue, one of the highest totals in Texas for cities over 100,000 residents.
# More than $507 million in residential and commercial construction value, a 40 percent year-overyear increase.
# A 40-year low in crime, with 81.4 percent less crime than in 1995, reinforcing McAllen’s status as one of the safest major cities in Texas.
# Over $11.5 million in grant funding supporting housing stability and community programs.
# A $578 million city budget supporting services, infrastructure, and more than 120 capital improvement projects, while maintaining strong financial reserves.
“These milestones reflect disciplined planning, responsible budgeting and a relentless commitment to delivering results for our residents,” said City Manager Isaac J. Tawil. “McAllen is financially secure, strategically positioned for growth and focused on building opportunity for the next generation.”
Quality of Life Investments
During last week’s address, city leaders also highlighted quality of life, education, and infrastructure investments that have solidified McAllen’s reputation on a national scale, they said.
According to Mayor Villalobos, continued national rankings place McAllen as a top place to live, a top destination for in-bound moves, and a top city for first-time homebuyers, supported by one of the nation’s lowest costs of living.
This livability, as mentioned last week, is further bolstered by record enrollment and major medical and academic expansion at regional higher education institutions. Furthermore, the expansion of parks, libraries, environmental programs, and community events is now generating more than $75 million in economic impact.
A cornerstone of this year’s vision for the city is the continued investment in global gateways.
“The city is moving forward with a $200 million terminal expansion at McAllen International Airport following consecutive years of surpassing one million annual passengers,” said Villalobos.
To ensure long-term sustainability, during last week’saddress, McAllen also highlighted a $185-million groundwater desalination plant designed to secure the city’s water supply for the next 50 years.
Grand Finale
Last but not least, serving as the grande finale to last week’s city address, a major announcement for golf enthusiasts was also announced: In a significant expansion of the city’s recreational footprint, McAllen will develop a signature destination golf course to be located at 2701–3501 South Ware Road.
The start date, however, is yet to be announced. The project is situated directly west of the existing Champion Lakes Golf Course, effectively expanding the city’s golf offerings into a larger regional hub for sports tourism.
The new course will be co-designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa, now 44, who is widely considered to be the greatest Mexican golfer of all time.
Ochoa, born in Guadalajara, was the topranked female golfer in the world for 158 consecutive and total weeks (both are LPGA Tour records), from April 23, 2007 to her retirement on May 2, 2010, at the age of 28 years old.
With her help, the new facility will be a “shortcourse” concept featuring a diverse layout with holes ranging from under 100 to over 250 yards, providing a unique architectural addition to the local landscape.