Garland’s unofficial vote backs tax rate, budgeted 30 hires

Garland voters approved Proposition A in the Nov. 3 special election, allowing the city’s adopted property-tax rate of $0.679900 per $100 of taxable value to take effect. The city reported 51% approval in a Nov. 4 notice and called the results unofficial. The Richardson-Garland Herald reported a 51%-49% split and an unofficial margin of about 1,300 votes.

The rate comparison has two different baselines: the adopted rate is below last year’s rate, but above the lower rate that would have applied if voters rejected the measure.

The tax figures in the table are rate-based calculations at a constant $100,000 taxable value, not estimates of any individual bill. A property’s bill depends on its taxable value and exemptions. The adopted rate is 0.9846 cents per $100 below the 2025-26 rate, while it is 3.6646 cents above the failure-rate scenario. So approval did not raise the adopted rate above last year’s; it allowed a rate higher than the fallback to take effect.

Budget links the vote to 30 positions i

The election was required because the adopted rate exceeded the city’s voter-approval rate under Texas Tax Code Section 26.07(e). The ballot described the measure’s purposes as increasing police, fire, 9-1-1 and parks staffing; funding roadway construction and maintenance; maintaining or enhancing city services; and supporting competitive pay.

The adopted budget assigns about $7.2 million in additional maintenance-and-operations revenue to specified positions, programs and expenses. The 30 listed positions are 10 police officers, nine firefighters, eight 9-1-1 dispatchers and three Animal Services technicians. The budget also lists four police vehicles and firefighter overtime.

Other listed allocations include $554,500 for library materials and resources, $396,855 for city-produced events, and $765,821 for parks maintenance, city landscaping and parks security. The city said that if the proposition failed, the lower voter-approval rate would take effect and the council would consider budget amendments.

The Herald reported support for the measure from Vote Yes Garland PAC, the Garland Chamber of Commerce and the Firefighters Union. It also reported that City Manager Mike Betz said the council would consider opening public-safety positions at its next meeting following a yes vote. The city said it would report as positions are filled and budget investments take shape.