Garland Voters Decide Whether to Keep a Tax Rate That Adds 27 Public Safety Jobs

Garland voters are deciding whether the city may keep the property tax rate it adopted in August. If Proposition A passes, the city says the extra money would pay for 10 more police officers, nine more firefighters, eight more 911 dispatchers and other spending. If it fails, a lower rate takes effect and the City Council would have to trim the budget.

The ballot says "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE," even though Garland's overall rate goes down either way. Here is what is actually being decided, based on the city's election ordinance and the October-November Garland City Press.

Why there is an election

On Aug. 17, the council adopted a rate of $0.679900 per $100 of taxable value for 2026-27. That is $0.036646 above the city's voter-approval rate of $0.643254, as defined in the Texas Tax Code. When a city adopts a rate above that line, the Texas Tax Code requires voters to approve it. The city newsletter says the council voted unanimously to call the election.

Last year's rate was $0.689746. So the total rate falls whether Proposition A passes or not. The newsletter explains that the ballot still has to carry the tax-increase warning because voters are being asked to approve a maintenance and operations rate above the voter-approval level.

How the rate breaks down

The city's rate has two parts. The maintenance and operations rate pays for day-to-day services: police, fire, 911, streets, parks, libraries and payroll. The debt rate pays principal and interest on bonds and certificates of obligation.

• Operations: $0.288657 last year; $0.320000 if Proposition A passes; $0.283354 if it fails

• Debt: $0.401089 last year; $0.359900 either way

In other words, the debt rate is falling by about 4 cents. The city wants to move about 3 cents of that into operations. A "no" vote would hand most of that drop back to taxpayers.

A Garland Police Department shoulder patch, photographed in 2012. Photo: Dickelbers / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

What it means for a typical bill

The newsletter uses Garland's average home, with a market value of $335,552 and a taxable value of $290,096 after the city's 11% homestead exemption. Its city tax bill would be $1,972.36 if Proposition A passes and $1,866.05 if it fails. That is a difference of $106.31 a year, or $8.86 a month.

Compared with last year at the same value, that homeowner would pay $28.56 less with Proposition A and $134.87 less without it. The city notes that each owner's bill depends on taxable value and exemptions.

Where the money would go

The adopted budget sets aside about $7.2 million of the added operations revenue for specific items, according to the newsletter:

• 10 police officer positions and four vehicles

• Nine firefighter positions and firefighter overtime

• Eight 911 dispatcher positions

• Three animal services technician positions

• $554,500 for library materials

• $396,855 for city-produced special events, including Juneteenth, Fall Fest, Día de los Muertos, a sensory-friendly Christmas event and 12 concerts

• $765,821 for parks maintenance, landscaping and park security

The ordinance also lists roadway construction and maintenance, city services and competitive pay for public safety and city workers among its purposes. If voters say no, the city says the council would amend the budget, most likely cutting from the items above.

Voters can weigh those items separately in their own minds. Police and 911 staffing is one thing. Festivals and concerts are another. The ballot does not let them choose, so it is all or nothing.

How to vote

Early voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Garland straddles Dallas and Collin counties, and residents can find sites through their county elections office. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. See our guide to the final week of early voting, and compare how Bastrop ISD is handling its own tax rate election.