It’s that time of year again. Every elected official from the president down to the speaker of the New York City Council steps up to their respective podiums to make a speech about the “state of” whatever jurisdiction they’re in charge of. These types of addresses are an opportunity to set a clear agenda and rally support for it.

On Feb. 3, it will be Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión’s turn, when he will make the fourth and final address of his first term in office.

In an election year, when most of the media will be focused on the mayoral race, it will be more important than ever for Carrión to speak clearly, simply and loudly.

We have a few suggestions for how Carrión can make the most of the state of the borough.

Make it much shorter. Last year’s speech at Evander Childs High School was 21 pages and close to two hours long. Much of the crowd began to file out long before Carrión finished. We understand the need to speak to all constituencies and the temptation to list every single accomplishment. But if no one is there to hear it, what’s the point?

Emphasize just a few goals. Does anyone really remember what the borough president’s major goals in last year’s speech were? Maybe something about education? Something else about jobs? This is not to say Carrión didn’t have anything important to say about these and other issues. He did. But they were muffled by an endless laundry list of initiatives, grants and programs. This speech should be about major projects. If it addresses, say, 10 big issues, it is more likely to resonate with Bronxites and the media.

For instance, we think Carrión should stress the development of the Kingsbridge Armory, since it so clearly fits in with his education and economic development goals. Last year, he detailed the plight of the borough’s desperately overcrowded high schools. This has serious consequences as our ongoing coverage of the crisis at Walton High School demonstrates. The armory and the school space it could provide could help solve this problem.

Be clear. We know that Yankee Stadium and Harlem River development are important to the borough president, but what are the details of his proposals? This is a chance for Carrión to flesh out his ideas in these areas.

 The borough presidents have much less power now than in the days when they sat on the old Board of Estimate. Their main tool now is the bully pulpit. When Carrión hops into his on Feb. 3 at Lehman College, he stands more of a chance of getting his message across if he keeps it short and sweet and loud and clear.