During the 2025 Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Fort Worth, the City of New Braunfels received a 2025 Municipal Excellence Award in public safety for cities over 25,000 in population, recognizing the City’s newly implemented Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program.
The New Braunfels Fire Department created the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program to reduce the strain on the 9-1-1 system by helping high-frequency callers access appropriate care. Through home visits and local partnerships, it cut 300 calls and saved $240,000 in its first year. Funded in partnership with the McKenna Foundation, the program aims to improve community health while preserving emergency resources for critical situations.
TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenges of municipal governance. Innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching higher service levels are all daily occurrences in Texas cities and deserve recognition. This awards program seeks out the best of these programs to honor. Awards are given in two population categories (under 25,000 and over 25,000) and five areas (city spirit, communication programs, management innovations, public safety, and public works).
TML is a voluntary association of 1,171 Texas cities. Guided by its purpose statement—Empowering Texas cities to serve their cities—the League provides support and services to city governments. The City of New Braunfels is a member of TML, and this is the first Municipal Excellence Award the City has earned.
To learn more about the New Braunfels Fire Department MIH program, please visit www.newbraunfels.gov/mih. To learn more about TML and the Municipal Excellence Award, please visit www.tml.org.