MERIDIAN, Idaho — Meridian Mayor Robert Simison delivered the 2026 State of the City address on Wednesday afternoon.
The annual address began at 3:29 p.m. at the Galaxy Event Center at Wahooz and highlighted Meridian's recent accomplishments, ongoing projects, and priorities for the coming year.
Throughout his address, Mayor Simison repeatedly referred to Meridian as a city on the rise.
Watch: Drones, development and taxes: Key takeaways from Meridian's State of the City address
"Not just growing — rising. Rising in the quality of our services. Rising in the ambition of our projects. Rising in the caliber of people who choose to live, serve and build their lives here. Rising in fiscal discipline, public safety, parks, downtown, and partnerships. Rising, even as we navigate real challenges. Rising, because that is who Meridian is — and who Meridian has always been. We have never waited for greatness to find us. We go out and build it ourselves," stated Simison.
Simison went on to demonstrate that the hallmarks of a successful city lie in responsible growth, strong infrastructure, public safety, and operational discipline. The mayor referenced the recently approved 2026-2030 Strategic Plan as incorporating all of those hallmarks.
Simison also discussed a proposed 3% property tax increase for 2027, which he supports.
"If we are going to continue delivering the services this community expects and deserves, then this is necessary for our long-term health," said Mayor Simison of the tax hike.
Watch the full Meridian State of the City address below —
Police say funding for Meridian's drone program came from eliminating vacant positions within the department, allowing the agency to invest in technology aimed at improving public safety and response times.
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said the drones are already proving valuable during high-risk incidents by providing officers with real-time information before they arrive on scene.
"We were able to use that drone to follow that suspect and monitor the suspect, as well as witness the suspect placing his firearm on the dashboard of the vehicle before he ultimately surrendered," Basterrechea said. "We were able to relay that information to officers in real time, which obviously helped keep our officers safer."
Police say the drones are helping improve response times and situational awareness, often arriving on scene before officers. City leaders also noted that the Meridian Fire Department has experienced faster response times since implementing new dispatch technology last year.
He Mayor Simison then discussed artificial intelligence and how the city is "examining how AI tools can help us operate more efficiently and serve you better, "adding that all decisions regarding AI will be made transparently.
Over the course of the nearly hour-long address, Simison touched on library renovations, transportation projects, wastewater treatment facilities, West Ada Schools, and the burgeoning business community.
He even touched on the deficiencies of the latest legislative session, saying lawmakers "made decisions that genuinely hurt our businesses, residents, and cities." He went on to explain that the legislature failed to fix funding mechanisms for cities while also failing to address issues like Kratom and rat infestations.
Despite those challenges, Simison promised the crowd that Meridian will adapt.
Before closing out his speech, the Meridian Mayor took time to honor the contributions of Idaho College of Medicine CEO and President Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, as well as the late Idaho statesman Dirk Kempthorne.
"The State of the City is Rising — and I am confident our future is as bright as the vision we share to be the West’s premier community to live, work and raise a family," concluded Mayor Simison.
The event was hosted by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce and presented by Blue Cross of Idaho.
