Temple's State of the City 2026: Data center, water and budget

During Temple's State of the City address, Mayor Tim and City Manager Brynn Myers addressed citizen concerns regarding the water demands of a new data center slated for Synergy Park. Mayor Tim clarified misconceptions about data center water consumption, stating they do not 'pour out millions of gallons a day,' and emphasized Temple's abundant water and electricity resources, which make it a 'hotbed' for data centers, generating significant revenue even with abatements. City Manager Brynn Myers announced a new aquifer storage and recovery project, designed to store water underground during periods of high availability for use during times of higher need, such as summer. She explicitly stated this project is for residents and will not be used by the new data center. Beyond data center discussions, leaders highlighted Temple's projected growth of 30,000 residents in the next nine years, necessitating increased public safety resources, including new fire and police positions and equipment. Myers noted that this population growth is crucial for offsetting revenue lost from new property tax breaks passed by the Texas legislature, requiring careful city management to ensure well-planned development.