BOISE — Mayor Lauren McLean took to the podium Wednesday afternoon, facing a large crowd in the Boise Centre as she reflected on both the city’s progress and struggles.

This year’s State of the City address marks her seventh year in office following historic growth in housing, investments in pedestrian safety and tensions with state-level government.

“As Boiseans, we know what we want and need for the city we love,” McLean said. “And yet, session after session, the legislature’s overreach takes away tools to help deliver for Boise — on housing, transportation, the fundamental principle of local control.”

A strained relationship between the city of Boise and the legislature has been made apparent with bills that seemingly targeted the capital city.

Passed this legislative session, HB 561, better known as the flag bill, comes after previous attempts were made to outlaw the Pride flag on city and county property in the 2025 legislative session. Skirting around the ban, McLean and City Council continued flying the flag due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms and despite demands from the Idaho attorney general.

Adjusting yet again, the city now has flagpoles wrapped with Pride colors.

McLean also pointed to legislation that threatened Boise’s local nondiscrimination ordinance, likely referring to HB 557 which sought to bar local governments from enacting anti-discrimination policies. The bill passed the Idaho House but was tabled before a vote in the Senate.

“Local business owners and leaders showed up to make the case that opportunity and prosperity go hand in hand with welcoming everyone,” McLean said. “From local restaurants and breweries to Realtors and creatives, hair stylists and counselors, I want to thank you all for advocating with us, for our community.”

A Boise resident of 30 years, McLean reflected on when she first moved here as a newlywed. With the area now seeing rapid growth, she admitted, “the math gets harder.”

“We find efficiencies, trim where we can, ask our team to bring us their best ideas — because nobody knows more about how to do more with less than the people doing the work every day,” she said. “We’re pursuing every grant, every external partnership, every philanthropic opportunity that gets us further than our city budget alone allows.”

McLean said these budgetary constraints aren’t unique to Boise and that she has been working with other mayors to address local control.

Idaho cities have reported budget difficulties over the past few years stemming from HB 389 since its passage in 2021. The controversial bill aimed to provide property tax relief for residents and limited local governments’ abilities to increase their budgets.

In the 2026 legislative session, the city of Boise opposed HB 842 which was intended to address these issues. As stated on the city’s website, “Instead of addressing the continued arbitrary caps for overall budget growth … HB 842 will remove cities’ ability to collect forgone (taxes) and allow for a ballot initiative process to reduce municipal budgets. Both components of the bill do not address Boise’s needs for growth to pay for itself.”

HB 842 ultimately failed in a 28-41 vote in the Idaho House.

On a positive note, McLean boasted the city’s housing investments. Since she took office in 2020, 10,000 new homes have been constructed along with 1,250 affordable units and 250 permanent supportive homes for formerly-homeless residents.

“I’ve said from day one that everyone who works in Boise should be able to live in Boise,” McLean said. “So we set goals, cultivated partnerships, got creative and made significant investments.”

It has been two years since the city committed to a partnership with the Idaho Community Foundation. Through $7.5 million in seed funding for the Supportive Housing Investment Fund, Boise aimed to invest in 95 permanent supportive housing locations. Since the initial seed fund, the money has been doubled, reaching $14 million with community partners matching the investment.

Another hot topic addressed by McLean was pedestrian and traffic safety. Concerns have been highlighted since the death of 8-year-old Mora Gerety on Harrison Boulevard this past November.

In collaboration with the Ada County Highway District, the city will be implementing “quick build safety projects” in neighborhoods.

“Think painted lines, asphalt art, and low-cost temporary infrastructure that slows traffic and saves lives,” McLean described.

The first of these projects will be on Nez Perce Street and the Northview-Ustick Bikeway.

On the enforcement side of safety, McLean said the Boise Police Department has increased traffic stops by 55%.

“Folks want drivers to slow down, to stop at red lights, and for our officers to stop them when they don’t,” she said.

Looking forward, McLean reiterated her devotion to the city’s future.

“I choose Boise, and I know you do too,” she said. “Now more than ever, we must show up. Invest. Fight for the version of this city that calls our kids home.”