Mayor Amy Bublak’s State of the City address on Thursday was more of a rally for Turlock than a traditional political speech. The mayor touted the city’s success in balancing the budget, expanding road repairs, providing sustainable drinking water and supporting economic development.

“In recent years, Turlock has faced difficult tests, but those challenges revealed something enduring about our city. When we choose shared purpose over division, we do more than overcome adversity. We move forward together. Together, we honored the trust residents placed in us, restored focus… and built a stronger foundation for Turlock's future. And through every challenge, one promise has remained constant. Wherever you live, whatever stage of life you are in, whenever you need your city, we are here for you. We have you covered,” Bublak said.

The mayor started her speech with stewardship, touting the fact that since 2020, Turlock has balanced every budget while increasing the reserves from $9.8 million to $35 million. She also pointed to the citywide sales tax Measure A, of which 52% is allocated to roads and 48% to public safety and parks.

“Responsible stewardship matters most when it strengthens the services residents rely on, and now nowhere is more important than public safety. In the most recent reported period, violent crime declined 12.5%,” said Bublak.

They mayor said that thanks to the city council’s good stewardship, both the police and fire departments are fully staffed.

“Behind that progress are families who feel safer and officers who are better supported,” she said.

Bublak transitioned to highlighting the city’s first comprehensive roads program, something she has been an advocate of for a long time.

“Not long ago, a resident told me that a repaired street had changed more than their daily drive. It meant fewer worries when taking an aging parent to an appointment, a safer route for neighborhood children, and renewed confidence that city government was listening. Her experience reminds us that public service is measured not only in miles paved or dollars invested, but in the everyday difference those decisions make in people's lives,” she said.

Since the launch of the expanded roads program with Measure A funds, the city has completed 24 miles of road repairs, with 25 more underway.

“Approximately $60 million is committed to safer, more reliable streets. The Gear Road rehabilitation project was approved nearly $6 million below estimate, preserving funds for added street improvements,” she said.

The mayor talked about the award-winning regional surface water project that provides reliable drinking water to both Turlock and Ceres residents and the hundreds of thousands of dollars saved since the City of Turlock started administration of the facility in-house.

“Our regional approach does not stop at drinking water,” she said.

The mayor talked about a program that not many may know about — recycled wastewater.

“When you flush our wastewater system gets to work. It treats that water to a high standard and gives it a productive second life, supporting agriculture west of Turlock. Around here, even wastewater works hard and gives back. This practical partnership conserves resources, supports agriculture and helps every drop serve our community,” she said.

The mayor talked about “responsible growth,” and the city’s commitment to making it easier to do business in the city.

“Our goal is not growth for growth's sake; it is responsible growth that creates jobs, strengthens neighborhoods, expands opportunity, and preserves the character that makes Turlock home,” she said.

She highlighted city incentives that helped 45 businesses open and create more than 100 permanent full-time jobs, a fairer property tax agreement that was negotiated with the county and the new businesses that are now calling Turlock home. The 30-acre Turlock Marketplace shopping center alone is expected to add 14 to 18 tenants and support approximately 350 jobs, she said.

“Our economic development strategic plan focuses on keeping employers, attracting new industries, strengthening downtown, and connecting responsible growth with needed infrastructure and service,” Bublak said.

While the majority of the mayor’s speech was a highlight reel of Turlock’s success, she also acknowledged that the city is not perfect.

“We will not always get everything right, but when we fall short, we will listen, take responsibility, and make every reasonable effort to correct that mistake. In those moments, I hope we can extend one another grace. Ask questions before drawing conclusions, and remember that even when that outcome is not what someone hoped for, a sincere effort may still have been made to help,” she said.

The mayor promised that by the end of 2026, the city council would have a report for the public on three commitments: road program delivery, public safety and emergency readiness.

“The progress we celebrate belongs to all of you in safer neighborhoods, stronger finances, renewed roads, reliable water, growing businesses, and more responsive city workers, we have come far, but our work is not finished. Turlock's next chapter will not be written by city hall alone. It will be written by residents who stay engaged, support local businesses, care for their neighborhoods, and serve one another and hold their leaders accountable.”