What Does It Mean for Leander?
Last weekend, Cedar Park voters re-elected their mayor, approved a slate of candidates running on density in the name of affordability, and passed Charter updates that include pay for council members and the mayor. The democratic process worked exactly as it should. But what happens in Cedar Park does not stay in Cedar Park, and as your Leander Councilman, I think it is worth taking an honest look at what these decisions could mean for our community.
Why Should Leander Care?
What does our neighbor’s election have to do with us?
A lot, actually. Cedar Park’s growth and policy choices ripple north. Their elected officials carry influence into our region, and the decisions they make today shape the conversations we will have in our own elections next year. Leander is on the cusp of major decisions about how we grow, and we should be paying attention to what is unfolding right next door.
Does Density Equal Affordability?
This is the question of the moment. The simple answer is no, not necessarily.
Look right here in Leander. We have apartment complexes that are not affordable by any reasonable definition. We have partnered with two complexes specifically working on affordability, and even those run about $1,800 a month for a family earning at least $60,000. That is more affordable than market rate, but it is not what most families picture when they hear the word “affordable.”
Building more apartments does not automatically lower prices. Affordability requires intentional policy, real partnerships, and honest conversations about what working families can actually pay.
Does Density Make a City Safer?
Both Leander and Cedar Park have consistently ranked among the safest cities in Texas, and that is a status worth protecting. According to SafeWise’s 2025 report, Leander ranks 29th statewide, and SmartAsset recently named Cedar Park the safest suburb in the Austin metro for 2025. We are doing well, but density brings new public safety pressures that any growing city needs to plan for honestly.
Research from organizations like the National Crime Prevention Council suggests apartments can carry higher burglary risks than single-family homes, while other recent data shows the picture is more complex. What is clear is this: more density means more residents, more activity, and more demand on police, fire, and emergency services. Cedar Park has done a remarkable job attracting business and incentivizing growth, and I trust they will continue to invest in public safety as their density grows. The question for Leander is whether we want to follow that same path or chart our own.
What About the City’s Bottom Line?
Surely density helps the city financially, right?
It is more complicated than it looks. Yes, more residents means more property tax and sales tax. Yes, concentrated infrastructure can be more efficient to deliver. But the costs of density (more public safety needs, more social services, more wear on roads and utilities) are real and often hard to quantify until the bills arrive.
We do not have to look far for a cautionary tale. Austin continues to raise taxes to fund expanding social services, often at the expense of public safety. Will we be different? Will we be smarter? Those are nice things to say. They are not a plan.
I am personally fine with a measured level of density. As Leander works through our Comprehensive Plan, I will continue to advocate for the plan we already have and for reducing density where it makes sense.
Should Council Members Be Paid?
Cedar Park said yes. I respectfully disagree, and here is why.
Many residents are surprised to learn that Leander council members are not paid. We are not, and in my opinion we should not be. When I was first elected, I asked another council member what was actually required of me. The answer was simple: show up and vote at the meetings.
Everything else, including attending events, sitting on boards, representing the city at conferences, is our prerogative. I serve as Liaison to the Parks Board and as Chairman of the TIRZ Board because I want to. I do not need a paycheck to motivate that. That is why I ran.
Why I Oppose Council Pay in Leander
The evidence is all around us. Once elected officials are paid, they tend to look for ways to grow government to justify their compensation. Over time, they become partners with the city administration, often unintentionally, at the expense of the taxpayer.
Think of government as a healthy tug of war between three parties:
- The citizens are the voters who fund and live with the outcomes
- The elected officials are the people chosen to represent them
- The administrative state is the staff who run the day to day operations
There should be tension between these groups. Each has its own interests and its own role to play. When elected officials become aligned with the administrative state, the citizen loses their advocate. That is exactly what we want to avoid.
Where We Go From Here
Leander has something special. We are growing fast, but we have a chance to grow with intention rather than just momentum. The Comprehensive Plan is our roadmap. Public safety is our foundation. Servant leadership is our standard.
Cedar Park made their choices last weekend. As we look toward our own elections next year, I hope Leander has the common sense to keep what is working. Paid council members will not give us better government. It will give us more expensive government, with the same or worse results.
We can do better. Leander always has.
Let’s keep Leander, Leander.
Michael Herrera, Leander City Councilman
