Public safety is the top priority of government in protecting citizens and maintaining order. Effective public safety leadership will deter crime and foster trust within Sylacauga.  In providing a safe environment and atmosphere for all citizens to enjoy, we will create opportunities for social and economic activity that will, in turn, improve our quality of life in Sylacauga. I am committed to working hand-in-hand with the Sylacauga Police Department and Municipal Court in ensuring the safety of all citizens.

     Strong public safety policies will deliver effective emergency response operations for natural disasters, pandemics, and accidents. Having over 20 years of experience in developing, implementing, and improving emergency response plans in Sylacauga, I am committed to working with the Sylacauga Police Department, Sylacauga Fire Department, and Sylacauga Utilities Board in making Sylacauga the most well-prepared and safest city in Alabama.

    On the heels of surviving a worldwide pandemic, public health remains at the forefront of most communities. We are blessed in Sylacauga to have an infrastructure that has supported access to physical and mental health services for several decades. Entities such as the Coosa Valley Medical Center, Talladega County Health Department, and 24-hour Urgent Care facilities provide Sylacauga with clinical services and solutions in accessing and navigating our healthcare system.

     I am currently tracking the Rural Hospital Investment Program (RHIP) bill that passed 103-0 in the House. This bill is modeled after a similar bill in Georgia that has shown success in allowing individuals and businesses to support rural hospitals through a 100% income tax credit. I support this bill and encourage your support also. A healthy hospital in Sylacauga will not only help in educating our youth through keeping them healthy and in school, but when combined with the new EARTH project, will help in recruiting new businesses and industries to the area as well. If passed, this bill will work over time in improving our overall quality of life in Sylacauga, and that is something, I hope, we all should support.

Alabama Food Solutions, The Care House, Sylacauga Housing Authority, SAFE, and local faith-based organizations help support efforts in improving food security, access to services, and living conditions in Sylacauga. Our parks and recreation department provides beautiful parks, walking trails, and community events in providing a healthy lifestyle to promote physical and mental well-being. In short, our public health agencies work collaboratively with our schools and other community organizations in providing Sylacauga with the best possible healthcare, and I'm committed to advocating on behalf of these efforts to ensure a healthy future for all of Sylacauga!

     Public Finance encompasses all levels of government (federal, state, county, and municipal), but for time and length purposes, I will focus on public finances in Sylacauga.

     For fiscal year 2024, total revenues in Sylacauga were close to 29.9 million dollars. This number reflects the new sales tax increase from 8.0% to 9.5%, which accounts for roughly 54% of all revenues. Sales taxes combined with property taxes, licenses and permits, service charges, and appropriations from Sylacauga Utilities Board make up 90% of all revenues for the city.

     The new administration will inherit four line items for debt retirement that will total a little over 3.9 million in 2025. Over the course of the new administration's four-year term, debt retirement will be almost 4.9 million per year. Two of these four line items are the new 2024-A and 2024-B Warrants. The 2024-A Warrant totals nearly 8.4 million and will service the following projects: paving, drainage, Lake Howard and Louise Bridges, city hall waterproofing, Isabel Anderson Comer Museum, SFD fire station remodel, historical post office, city portion of the TAPP project, and the roof at 317 West 3rd Street. The 2024-B Warrant totals almost 28.6 million and is for the new Master Recreation Center.

     If the economy remains steady, keeping our sales tax revenues steady, the city will operate from roughly a 25 million dollar yearly budget (total revenues minus debt retirement). However, if the economy slips into a recession, we must be prepared for lower revenues coming in to city hall to budget. In my professional career of handling public tax dollars, I have prepared short-term and long-term budgets. I have prepared zero-based, conservative, and aggressive budgets, depending on the need. I learned to prioritize projects based off public safety, public health, and infrastructure needs. In my 32-year career, I never misspent or misused a taxpayer's penny. I sought professional training and certification in finance in becoming a Certified Local School Finance Manager, and if I am elected will become a Certified Municipal Officer through the Alabama League of Municipalities.

     On Tuesday, August 26th, vote for Sylacauga's financial security. Vote Matt Hubbard for mayor.

     Infrastructure is a commonly misunderstood and/or confusing topic, but in a city the size of Sylacauga, it can be categorized into 4 areas: transportation, utilities, communications, and municipal facilities.

     Transportation infrastructure includes roads, bridges, sidewalks, walking paths and public transit. Sylacauga's 2024-A Warrant will provide the city with an estimated 3.25 million in new paving projects and another 1.35 million in bridge repairs at Lake Howard and Lake Louise. If elected, I am committed to ensuring these projects stay on schedule and within budget in providing the safest roads for our drivers and access to our public lakes for all of Sylacauga to enjoy.

     Utilities infrastructure includes clean drinking water, wastewater management, electricity, power lines, substations, and natural gas supplies. The Sylacauga Utilities Board manages the majority of the utility infrastructure in Sylacauga. The 2024-A Warrant will provide close to 2.3 million in drainage upgrades with another $300,000 added to this effort through the TAP project. If elected, I will work with the Sylacauga Utilities Board in ensuring our utilities infrastructure remains efficient, effective, and responsive in times of natural disasters. I will also work with the new city council and ALDOT in ending our downtown flooding concerns. I will propose a matching storefront improvement grant for our downtown businesses that incudes flood prevention measures as well.

     Communications infrastructure includes internet, cell service, telephone wires, and cables. As a retired educational leader, I am committed to ensuring all of Sylacauga has access to high speed and high quality internet. As a former emergency planning team member for Sylacauga, I know the critical nature of reliable cell service. In times of natural disasters, active shooters, or scenes of an accident, first responders must have reliable communications to do their jobs. I am committed to ensuring our communications' infrastructure is up-to-date, protected, and reliable for whatever event may come our way.

     Municipal Facilities infrastructure includes schools, parks, recreational venues, libraries, museums, hospitals, clinics, and all government buildings. The 2024-A Warrant will provide Sylacauga's City Hall with $650,000 in waterproofing improvements,  the Isabel Anderson Comer Museum with $300,000 in repairs, and the Sylacauga Fire department with $175,000 for a Phase II remodel. The 2024-B Warrant will provide almost 28.6 million for the Master Recreation Center project that includes the new swimming pool. As Executive Director of Operations for Sylacauga City Schools, I became a certified Public School Facility Accessor and Planner. I created 1-year and 5-year plans for capital improvement projects like these, and, if elected, will continue to do the same for our great city moving forward.