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Downtown GarlandPhoto: Randy Colborn · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Garland

How is Garland run?

Garland’s city government spent $305.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,270 per resident. Water and other utilities ($369.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

6:00 pm · Garland Central Library, 625 Austin Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$305.8M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,270
In 2022: $1,088, less than 56% of 16 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.4B
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
2,169
full-time · 287 part-time · March payroll $17.5M
Typical tax bill
$4,263
1.57% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Garland is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer63% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Garland Independent School District with 2 other towns.Split between districts4 State House and 2 U.S. House districts cover Garland; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Garland’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · Council Chambers, City Hall 200 N. 5th St.City Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Work Session Room, City Hall 200 N. 5th St.City Council Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct31
    GeneralSaturday · 8:00 amNotice of Potential Quorum - Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) Class #45 - Graduation Burn DayAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct30
    GeneralFriday · 7:00 pmNotice of Potential Quorum - Garland ISD - Football Game - North Garland vs. LakeviewAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct30
    Animal Services Advisory CommitteeFriday · 1:00 pm · Work Session Room, 200 N. Fifth Street GarlandAnimal Services Advisory Committee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,270 per resident a year, or $3.48 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 51%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 14%Sales taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 6%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the state 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $227.7 million; interest on debt $58.5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $961.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,088 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Garland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,088 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,166, and the middle half spent $905–$1,364. Garland spent less than 56% of them.

Middle half of the group, $905–$1,364Median $1,166Garland

Includes sewer and trash ($50.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
16

Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Garland itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Garland reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$259.2 million
2023$279.2 million
2024$305.8 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,088 · 2023: $1,154 · 2024: $1,270.

City staff
2,169

full-time in March 2025, up from 2,053 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,263 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.57% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Sunnyvale$8,926
Sachse$6,873
Richardson$6,482
Rowlett$5,867
Dallas$5,075
Garland$4,263
Texas$4,232
Mesquite$3,859
$4,263
typical bill a year
1.57%
effective rate
$270,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Garland’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Garland’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Garland →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Garland

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See garlandtx.gov for Garland’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Garland yet.garlandtx.gov ↗
Who works for Garland

One full-time city employee for every 111 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (240,854).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police490 + 85 pt
Water & other utilities371 + 9 pt
Fire304
Parks & libraries200 + 146 pt
Sewer & trash171 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings129 + 15 pt
Roads & transportation121 + 4 pt
Health & welfare55 + 9 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections52 + 11 pt
Housing & development10
Other266 + 6 pt
2,169
full-time
287
part-time
$17.5M
payroll for March 2025
$209.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$94,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
384
sworn police officers
297
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Garland had 8.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 13 of the 16 Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.7: Garland had more than 62% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Garland Independent School District

Garland’s K–12 school district, shared with Rowlett, Sachse. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Garland →
$13,440
per pupil · TX $12,815
51,659
students
$1.1 billion
long-term debt

Of the $13,440 per pupil, $7,578 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 42%State 41%Federal 17%

Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.

Also serving Garland

Richardson Independent School District · $12,395 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Garland’s votes are counted by county

Texas reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Garland alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Dallas County’s results.

President · Dallas County’s results853,336 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat59.9%511,027 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican37.8%322,468 votes

Others: 2.3% (19,841 votes).

Most votes in Dallas County: Kamala D Harris

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Garland lies in Dallas County; the rest in Collin County, Rockwall County. Every 2024 race in Dallas County is on the county’s page.

Dallas County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Garland

From town hall to Washington

Garland sends 4 representatives to the Texas House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: garlandtx.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Texas HouseGarland is split between 4 districts
    Rhetta BowersAngie ButtonLinda GarciaAna-Maria Rodriguez Ramos
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Bob Hall
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Lance GoodenJulie Johnson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Garland compares with the towns next door

Garland spent $1,088 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $802 to $1,585. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Dallas: $1,585 per resident (2022)Sachse: $802 per resident (2022)Rowlett: $1,043 per resident (2022)Richardson: $1,394 per resident (2022)Mesquite: no reported 2022 figuresSunnyvale: $1,582 per resident (2022)DallasSachseRowlettRichardsonMesquiteSunnyvaleGarland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Sachse$802$6,873
Rowlett$1,043$5,867
Richardson$1,394$6,482
Sunnyvale$1,582$8,926
Dallas$1,585$5,075
Mesquiteestimate$3,859
Garland$1,088$4,263

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Garland’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitegarlandtx.gov ↗

Questions about Garland’s government

How much does Garland spend per resident?

About $1,270 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,088 was less than 56% of 16 Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Garland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,263 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see garlandtx.gov.

Who runs Garland’s government?

See garlandtx.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Garland yet.

How did Garland vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Garland alone. Dallas County, where 100% of Garland lies, voted Harris 59.9%, Trump 37.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Garland?

2,169 full-time and 287 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $17.5M (about $209.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Garland in the state legislature?

Garland is split among 4 State House districts, so your address decides. The Texas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 2 (Bob Hall). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Garland?

The next posted meeting is General on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm in Garland Central Library, 625 Austin Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Garland’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →