Garland officials outline proposed November tax-rate swap that would add public-safety staff and return about 1¢ to homeowners

Mayor Dylan Hedrick and city financial staff spent the town-hall meeting explaining a proposed tax-rate “swap” the council is expected to call on Aug. 17 and ask voters to approve on Nov. 3.

Allison Lisonbee Steadman, Garland’s chief financial officer, told attendees the proposal would reallocate the tax rate percentages between debt service (I&S) and maintenance and operations (M&O). “4¢ of our debt service payments in, 3¢ moves to running the city our daily operations, and 1¢ comebacks to you at a lower rate,” she said. Steadman explained state law constrains how the city can use each portion of the rate and that the ballot must include language stating “this is a tax increase” even when the overall rate falls.

Officials said a yes vote would sustain current services while funding specified new positions: 9 additional firefighters, 10 additional police patrol officers, 8 emergency dispatchers and expanded animal-care staffing, plus park security and continued library and special-event support. City Manager Mike Betts said the swap would “allow the city to dedicate more of its property tax rate to running the city so we can maintain services and the facilities residents use every day.”

Steadman framed the measure as a response to rising costs and a structural cap on revenue growth at roughly 3.5% per state law, and said Garland faces a long-term purchasing-power gap without changes. She gave a projection to 2037 showing about a $50,000,000 shortfall in real purchasing power if current trends continue. Mayor Hedrick reiterated the procedural calendar the city has posted: the council will call the election on Aug. 17, the voter-registration deadline is Oct. 5, early voting is Oct. 19–30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

The mayor and finance staff emphasized they will provide factual information once the election is called and said residents should review the full ballot language and use the city’s calculator (to be posted online) to estimate individual impacts. Hedrick asked residents to “do the math” and noted the measure is intended to preserve public-safety staffing and services while the city pursues longer-term commercial growth to rebalance the tax base.