Olive Branch Mayor touts top-tier financial health, economic growth
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. – Olive Branch boasts the highest bond rating of any municipality in Mississippi and an assessed property value of over $1 billion, placing it in an elite financial position, Mayor Ken Adams announced Wednesday.
During his “State of the City” address to the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce, Adams painted a picture of a city experiencing robust financial stewardship, declining crime rates, and significant economic and community investment.
The cornerstone of the mayor’s address was the city’s fiscal health. Olive Branch holds an Aa2 bond rating, the highest in the state, and a total assessed property value of $1,090,973,224.
Adams highlighted that Olive Branch is one of only two cities among Mississippi’s top five most populous—along with Jackson—to surpass the $1 billion assessed value mark. Notably, Olive Branch achieves this with a smaller population (47,365) than Gulfport, Southaven, and Biloxi, which all have lower assessed values.
“This strong financial position is a testament to responsible management and a thriving economic base,” Adams told the business community.
This stability has allowed the city to go 11 consecutive years without a property tax millage increase. Adams announced that for 2025, the city will implement a millage decrease, maintaining the lowest municipal millage rate in DeSoto County.
Key Highlights from the Address:
Economic and Community Development
The city has facilitated over $562 million in new commercial and industrial investment in the last four years. Adams also celebrated securing $25.6 million in grants and partnering with DeSoto County Schools to secure the site for the new Career Tech East campus.
To support this growth, the city has launched a new online portal (www.obms.us/apply) for business licenses, building permits, and code reporting, aiming to streamline processes for business owners and developers.
On the community front, Adams celebrated the city’s achievements as a Certified Main Street Community and Certified Retirement Community. He pointed to record-setting attendance at community events like the Mardi Gras Parade, Independence Day Celebration, and the Light the Way Festival.
Public Safety Investments
Mayor Adams reported a steady decrease in assaults, burglaries, and thefts within city limits over the last four years. He also stated that there have been no homicides inside the City of Olive Branch since 2022.
He credited these statistics to significant public safety investments, including:
- The purchase of 3 new fire trucks and 2 ambulances.
- New turnout gear and breathing apparatus for firefighters.
- Deployment of 26 license plate reader cameras.
- City-wide body-worn cameras and upgraded in-car video for the police department.
- A robust drone program.
An “Era of Growth”
Adams detailed a list of major infrastructure and quality-of-life projects, part of what he termed an “Era of Growth.” These include $16 million in water and sewer upgrades, a new Animal Shelter, Fire Station #6, a new Public Works facility, and expansions at the Olive Branch Airport.
For recreation, the city is adding a new pickleball complex, expanding its soccer facilities, and building a new frisbee disc golf course.
Challenges Ahead
The mayor’s address also included a candid look at the city’s challenges. He expressed concern over future grant funding, citing “gridlock” in the state legislature and federal “shutdown mode.”
He also noted that the city’s large geographical size—over 56 square miles—creates significant infrastructure demands, specifically naming the need for improvements to Highway 305 and the Craft Road Bridge over I-22. Adams also cited rising labor costs and “social media misinformation” as key hurdles the city must navigate.
He concluded by urging the community to get involved, participate in public meetings, and “challenge misinformation” by following the city’s official social media channels.
