City Recognized by Money Magazine as Best Place to Retire

SUGAR LAND, TX -- Money Magazine recently recognized the City of Sugar Land as the
“Best Place to Retire” in the South.

“One critical factor to consider: how much of a bite local taxes will take out of your nest egg,” wrote Sarah Max, of Money Magazine. “This year we went in search of the tax-friendliest small cities in the
country—places big enough to have the amenities that retirees prize, such as access to great health care and recreation, but still affordable and compact enough to be manageable.”

Sugar Land’s strong focus on economic development and tourism enables the City to provide quality services while maintaining one of the state’s lowest tax rates. An example cited by the evaluation team was
the transformation of the historic 26-acre Imperial refinery into Imperial Market, a redevelopment project that will include shops, offices, restaurants, a boutique hotel and a cinema – as well as the
now-open Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center and the future Sugar Land heritage museum and visitor center.

Excerpts from Money Magazine’s review of Sugar Land follow:

• “Sugar Land offers a relatively low cost of living with a high quality of life. The healthy business base—major employers include Minute Maid and First Data—translates to some of the lowest property taxes in a state where such taxes can run high.”
• In addition to Constellation Field, large amounts of green space and high-quality health care: “The opening of Sugar Land Town Square in the mid-2000s gave the city a much-needed downtown hub. It’s now home to city hall, restaurants, and stores. A new performing arts venue, the Smart Financial Centre, will open early next year.”

The City has achieved its sustainable, strong local economy through an aggressive, focused economic development program that creates opportunities for new business investment and jobs. Sugar Land now has
more than 64,500 jobs and is home to high-profile regional and international corporations housed in more than 25 million square feet of commercial space, including more than 15 Fortune 500 companies with a
significant presence. Further, Sugar Land’s assessed commercial valuation has more than doubled in just over a decade—increasing by over $2 billion.

“Our selection as the top destination in the South is another indication that using revenue from tourism and commercial sources to reduce property taxes for our homeowners has been a successful strategy,” said
City Manager Allen Bogard. “We are proud that Money Magazine has recognized what we already know – Sugar Land is one of the country’s premier destinations to live, work and play.

Image: National Guard Officers Association via Flickr