On May 22, the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted the 13th Annual State of the County Address presented by The Nehemiah Company. Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare sat down with Mike Gerro, chair of the Greater Arlington Chamber, to discuss what changes had been made in the past year and to highlight goals for the upcoming year.

In his almost 18 months in office, Tarrant County has seen an $8 million budget cut, a 10% homestead exemption and a tax rate below the no new revenue rate, O’ Hare shared.

One of his main priorities in the upcoming year is to request the legislature to fund a feasibility study to bring a mental hospital to Tarrant County. 

O’Hare said there is no question of a need for a psychiatric facility in the county, but the study is needed to advocate for the facility. 

“I don’t know that there’s a more challenging issue that people face today in America – the mental health issues,” O’Hare said.

There are currently nine hospitals for mental health in the state that are operated by Texas Health and Human Services, along with one residential youth center. The closest facility is in Wichita Falls, which O’Hare said has a long waitlist.

Until a mental hospital is built in the county, O’Hare is pushing for law enforcement to utilize the Mental Health Diversion Center, which is available for non-violent individuals with mental illness.

O’Hare said he wants to continue to encourage a culture of responsible spending and to bring more commercial properties to Tarrant County over the next year.

“We’re poised to see Tarrant County explode, but we want to make sure we manage that growth well,” he said. “There’s lots of exciting things happening in Tarrant County. If you want to move to Texas, this is the place to come.”

At the beginning of the presentation, O’Hare shared his excitement for the 2023 World Series Championship by the Texas Rangers. He said the county is working to prepare for the influx of people for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where nine games will be played in Arlington.

“What’s going on in Arlington is remarkable,” O’Hare said. “It’s fun. Sports bring us together. Entertainment brings us together, and big concerts are just a blast.”