Frequently Asked Questions

  • Voters are deciding whether the City Council’s 2026-27 adopted rate of $0.679900 will take effect. If Proposition A is not approved, the voter-approval rate of $0.643254 will take effect. For each $100,000 of taxable value, the difference between the two rates is approximately $36.65 annually. The 2026-27 adopted budget allocates the additional revenue associated with the adopted rate to identified positions, operating expenditures, programs and reserves. See Appendix H of the 2026-27 Proposed Operating Budget.

  • If the election passes, the tax rate would be $0.679900. If the election does not pass, the tax rate would be $0.643254. These rates are approximately 1 cent and 4.6 cents lower than the 2025-26 rate of $0.689746, respectively.

  • CITY OF GARLAND PROPOSITION A - THIS IS A TAX INCREASE

    Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.679900 per $100 valuation in the City of Garland, Texas for the current year, a rate that is $0.036646 higher per $100 of valuation than the voter-approval tax rate of the City of Garland, Texas, for the purpose of increasing staff for the police department, fire department, 9-1-1 dispatch department and parks department, increasing funding for roadway construction and maintenance, maintaining and enhancing levels of city-wide services and competitive pay for public safety and city personnel. Last year, the ad valorem tax rate in the City of Garland, Texas was $0.689746 per $100 valuation.

  • State law requires a ballot proposition seeking voter approval of a tax increase to display the phrase "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE" in capital letters at the top of the proposition text. It applies to this proposition because voters are being asked to consider an adopted M&O rate that is above the voter-approval M&O rate. For 2026, the voter-approval M&O rate is $0.283354 and the Council-adopted M&O rate is $0.320000.

  • For a representative Garland residence located in Dallas County and Garland ISD, the City’s rate constitutes approximately 29% of the combined rate imposed by applicable taxing entities. The taxing entities and percentages applicable to a particular property may differ depending on its location. This Tax Rate Election will only impact the City of Garland’s portion of your tax bill.

  • No. If your taxable home value rises, your bill can rise even when the tax rate is lowered. Check your appraisal notice for your actual taxable home value.

  • The City of Garland is only responsible for setting its tax rate, not your appraisal value. That’s set independently by the County Appraisal District. 

  • The City estimates that the 2026-27 adopted rate would produce approximately $10,637,001 more in M&O revenue than the voter-approval rate. The 2026-27 adopted budget allocates approximately $7,167,740 of the additional M&O revenue associated with the adopted rate to the following positions, expenditures and programs:

    Animal Services

    • $47,559 for three new full‐time Animal Services Technician positions

    • $22,733 for ongoing operating funds

    Code Compliance

    • $139,566 for one new full-time Operations and Special Projects Administrator position

    Fire

    • $1,128,160 for nine new full-time Firefighter positions

    • $594,400 for Firefighter overtime

    Library

    • $554,500 for books, digital resources and materials

    Municipal Court

    • $56,045 for Magistrate services

    • $18,773 for ongoing operating funds

    Parks & Recreation

    • $675,821 for parks maintenance and City landscaping

    • $347,155 for Parks vehicle replacements

    • $165,970 for one new full-time Field Supervisor position plus 1 new vehicle

    • $90,000 for parks security

    • $10,500 for the Wildflower Planting Program

    Police

    • $2,098,762 for 10 new full-time Police Officer positions plus 4 new vehicles

    • $756,424 for 8 new full-time 9-1-1 Dispatcher positions

    Special Events

    • $396,855 for the following City-produced special events: Art Made Here, Asian American Heritage Festival, Juneteenth, Fall Fest & Guzzler Run, Día de los Muertos, Sensory-Friendly Christmas and 12 Music Made Here concerts

    Transportation

    • $48,990 for ongoing operating funds

    • $15,527 for Crossing Guard salary market adjustments

    The remaining $2,563,535 of the additional M&O revenue is allocated for General Fund reserves to fund unforeseen operational expenses, emergencies and increased costs in the future.

    Please note: Based on historical collection rates, the City assumes a property tax collection rate of 98% and assumes an additional percentage due to historically high valuation appeals, leading to approximately $905,726 of unbudgeted potential revenue.

    If voters do not approve Proposition A, Section 26.07(e) of the Texas Tax Code will reduce the City’s property tax rate to $0.643254, and the City would receive less in M&O revenue than anticipated in the adopted budget. The City Council would then consider and adopt any budget amendments necessary to account for the reduced revenue. Those amendments will most likely affect the positions, programs, services and operating expenditures listed above, as well as other available budgetary resources or expenditures.

  •  The Annual Budget Documents page on the City’s website details the entire 2026-27 budget adoption process, and Appendix H of the 2026-27 Proposed Operating Budget document lists an itemized breakdown.

  • The Tax Rate Election will not impact the funding or completion of projects previously approved by voters. The City of Garland would continue paying debt associated with voter-approved projects while reducing the portion of the tax rate needed for debt as older obligations are paid down.