5 Things Municipal Governments Can Do Before Year-End to Finish Strong

As the year draws to a close, municipal governments across Texas and beyond are settling into their new fiscal budgets. Most cities adopted their 2025 budgets in October, which means now is the time to put that funding to work efficiently, strategically, and with measurable impact before the calendar turns over. The last few months of the year present an ideal opportunity to wrap up key infrastructure projects, improve compliance standings, and set the foundation for a smoother, smarter year ahead.

At LSPS Solutions, we work with municipalities every day to help them modernize operations, stay compliant, and make better use of limited resources. Based on our work with city managers, public works directors, and utilities teams across Texas, here are five high-impact initiatives local governments can tackle before year-end.

1. Restore and Protect Critical Infrastructure: Fire Hydrant Restoration

It’s easy for fire hydrant maintenance to get pushed down the list of priorities during the year. Yet aging or inoperable hydrants represent both a public safety risk and a liability exposure for municipalities. The end of the calendar year, when budget lines for capital improvements or maintenance are available, is the perfect time to catch up.

Fire hydrant restoration doesn’t always require replacement. Many hydrants can be fully restored to like-new condition through targeted cleaning, sandblasting and painting. LSPS Solutions’ fire hydrant restoration program helps cities restore large numbers of hydrants quickly and affordably, often at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Our teams handle the full process, from inspection and tagging to refurbishment, ensuring your fire protection assets are fully functional, compliant, and documented.

This work isn’t just cosmetic. A comprehensive restoration program improves community safety, extends asset life, and demonstrates proactive maintenance for residents, insurance underwriters, and emergency services. For many municipalities, it’s one of the most visible and appreciated end-of-year improvements you can make.

2. Get Ahead — or Catch Up — on Regulatory Compliance (LCRI, LCRR, and Beyond)

The regulatory landscape for water systems has changed dramatically in recent years. With the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) now in effect, most public water systems must have completed their service line inventories, or be in the final stages of compliance. Many deadlines have already passed, and the EPA’s upcoming updates will only add more reporting and documentation requirements.

For municipal governments, this is not the time to delay. Non-compliance can result in enforcement actions, funding restrictions, or damage to public trust. The good news is that these requirements can be met efficiently with the right tools and partnerships.

LSPS Solutions specializes in helping cities achieve and maintain regulatory compliance. We assist with the data collection, mapping, and reporting required under LCRI and LCRR, as well as other state-specific programs from agencies such as the TCEQ. Our team can perform a readiness assessment, verify data integrity, and prepare the documentation you’ll need for your next audit or reporting cycle.

End-of-year is also a strategic time to allocate water or infrastructure funds toward compliance efforts. By finishing strong on these requirements now, municipalities can enter the new year with fewer administrative headaches and a stronger compliance posture, ready for new projects instead of scrambling to catch up.

3. Use AI to Optimize Internal Operations (Free Efficiency & AI Audit from LSPS)

AI isn’t the future, it’s already transforming how forward-thinking municipalities operate today. From predictive maintenance and automated reporting to faster response times for citizen service requests, AI can dramatically improve efficiency and transparency across departments.

However, many local governments struggle to know where to start. That’s why LSPS Solutions offers free Efficiency and AI Audits for municipalities. During this assessment, we review your existing workflows, from permitting and inspections to utility billing, maintenance, and customer communications, to identify opportunities for automation and AI-driven improvement.

Examples of what we often find include:

• Duplicate data entry across systems that can be automated through integrations.

• Manual spreadsheet processes that could be replaced by smart dashboards.

• Slow internal communication loops that can be accelerated by AI assistants.

• Unstructured documentation that can be instantly searchable through machine learning.

  
  

Our team doesn’t push technology for its own sake; we focus on measurable results, saving time, reducing costs, and improving employee satisfaction. For cities that choose to move forward, LSPS can help implement tailored AI solutions that align with your existing systems and staff capabilities.

With new budget funds approved, now is an ideal time to plan and pilot these changes. A short audit today could lead to significant savings and process improvements before the next fiscal cycle.

4. Review and Update Asset Management Plans

Many cities develop asset management plans once, only to leave them untouched for years. But these plans are living documents and updating them annually helps ensure capital planning decisions reflect current realities.

End-of-year is the perfect moment to review these plans while data from the past twelve months is still fresh. Public works departments can re-evaluate pavement condition scores, water and wastewater asset performance, and facility maintenance priorities. Integrating new technologies such as GIS and digital twin modeling can further enhance decision-making for 2026 and beyond.

At LSPS Solutions, we encourage cities to use this period for what we call a “strategic reset.” By combining updated asset data with cost trends and replacement forecasts, municipal leaders can make smarter budget adjustments and avoid costly surprises. Even small improvements in planning accuracy can lead to major savings over time.

5. Strengthen Communication and Transparency with the Public

Residents notice when their city ends the year with momentum. Whether it’s newly restored hydrants, cleaner parks, or faster service response times, visible progress builds trust. The months leading up to the new year are a great opportunity to communicate accomplishments and reinforce transparency.

Consider publishing a short year-end report highlighting key projects completed, compliance milestones achieved, and efficiency initiatives underway. This not only demonstrates responsible governance but also helps residents understand where their tax dollars go.

Cities that adopt AI-based citizen communication tools can streamline this process even further. Automated updates, interactive dashboards, and chat-based interfaces make it easy for residents to access real-time information about projects and policies.

The Bottom Line

Municipal governments face constant pressure to do more with less. But with the right priorities and partners, the end of the year can become a powerful springboard for success, not just a time to close the books.

By focusing on visible infrastructure improvements, ensuring regulatory compliance, and investing in smarter internal processes, cities can finish the year strong and start the next one ahead of schedule.

LSPS Solutions stands ready to help municipalities at every step — from fire hydrant restoration and regulatory compliance to AI-driven efficiency audits that uncover hidden opportunities for improvement.

If you’d like to discuss how your city can make the most of its year-end resources, schedule a free consultation today or request your complimentary AI and Efficiency Audit. Together, we can help your city operate more efficiently, remain compliant, and serve residents better in 2026.