Every year following months of development, deliberations and public meetings, the Garland City Council adopts a new operating budget and tax rate that will impact more than 2,300 staff, nearly 250,000 residents, and all of the City's businesses and visitors.

The fiscal year 2024-25 budget, which was approved Sept. 3, focuses on sustaining City services in a commitment to building the stage where residents can live their best lives. The budget also ensures new facilities are adequately staffed and funded. New facilities scheduled for completion in 2024-25 include the West Garland Library and Holford Recreation & Aquatics Center.

"In Garland, our greatest resource is people - people who work here, live here, open businesses here and more," said City Manager Judson Rex. "I believe the fiscal year 2024-25 budget provides a high value to our entire community. It allows us to continue the excellent quality and level of service we strive for in the City."

The $1.04 billion budget includes:

• Enhancement of infrastructure and maintenance through an $8 million increase to annual streets and alley program funding, for a total of $41.6 million to be guided by the street and alley assessment currently underway. The budget also provides for continuation of the Transportation signs and markings improvement program.
• Public safety needs by supplementing equipment for Fire, including personal protective equipment, medical equipment and a new hazmat vehicle, as well as new investigation software for Police.
• Two new positions and increased funding to operate the expanded Holford Recreation & Aquatic Center amenities and one new position to assist with staffing the new West Garland Library.
• Funding to implement Snip-N-Tip, a transformative trap-neuter-return initiative designed to manage and care for community cats in our city.

The tax rate will remain unchanged for 2024-25 at 68.9746 cents per $100 in property valuation. It remains Garland's lowest tax rate since 2007-08. For the City's average single-family home (market value $322,000) with the 10% homestead exemption, annual City property taxes will be $1,568 per year, $131 per month.

There is an average residential rate increase of $4.32 for water ($1.66), sewer ($1.51), trash collection ($.50) and stormwater ($.65). The electric rate remains unchanged.

For more information, visit the 2024-25 proposed operating budget website and watch the Sept. 3 City Council meeting. The City of Garland's 2024-25 fiscal year begins Tuesday, Oct. 1.