Deborah Morris for Garland

10/16/2026

Don’t get caught by surprise! Review all the decisions which will be made for you next week by your local elected officials.

City Council is meeting next week. See what’s on the agenda!

City Council Work Session - 6 p.m. Monday, October 19, at City Hall (200 N. Fifth Street)

View the Work Session agenda: ⁠https://garlandtx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1406/files/agenda/3294

City Council Regular Meeting - 7 p.m. Monday, October 20, at City Hall (200 N. Fifth Street)

View the Regular Meeting agenda: ⁠https://garlandtx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1585/files/agenda/3302

Upcoming Boards & Commissions meetings can be found on the Public Meetings calendar at https://www.garlandtx.gov/

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

Did you know that Dallas and Collin County registered voters can cast a ballot at any of their County's early voting or Election Day polling locations?

We've got a list of all the Garland sites at https://www.votegarland.com/. Don't forget, early voting starts Monday, Oct. 19!

10/14/2026

“More than 75 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits will get a 3.6% increase in their monthly checks in 2027, the Social Security Administration said Wednesday while announcing the annual cost-of-living adjustment.”

NEW | Here’s how much Social Security recipients can expect in 2027 after this year’s cost-of-living adjustment: http://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/cola-social-security/507-198cee73-fa67-440e-980c-a1ce8f117b22?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WFAA

10/14/2026

Preparing for early voting next week? Start by printing and reviewing your sample ballot:

Dallas County Residents:
https://www.dallascountyvotes.org/voters/ballot/

Collin County Residents:
https://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/sample-ballots

IMPORTANT:
Just to add more confusion to a long and already confusing ballot, in Dallas County you will see TWO ‘Proposition A’s: one a Dallas County proposition to increase County taxes to provide $100M/year more in homeless services, and the other the Garland Proposition A to set a new [reduced] combined city tax rate.

Details about the Garland proposition: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19YsQU5UMR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Details about the Dallas County Proposition: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DwvvFeNh5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/14/2026

FYI, just noticed this. A write-in candidate has now filed for this position, so it’s no longer uncontested:

“[Eric] Reed’s name is not printed on the 5-page long ballot because he is a write-in candidate. Voters must type his name on the touch-screen ballot or write it on a paper ballot on the line below Givens.”

Dallas County voters will be able to write-in the name of a second candidate for district attorney.

10/14/2026

10/14/2026

TOMORROW: Wed Oct 14! Registration opens at 9 AM sharp, and the trees go fast. Here’s the link:

https://www.gpltexas.org/Home/Components/News/News/218/17?backlist=%2fhome

10/13/2026

Looks like this Saturday, Oct 17th.

We are ready to serve our community at MFM The ROC located at 3375 Edgewood Dr., Garland, Texas 75042 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. This coming Saturday 17th. We will have our clothes closet open too! Blessings!

10/13/2026

Talking this morning with my friends at Radio Ritmo Latino about Garland’s upcoming tax rate election, why it’s confusingly labeled as a “tax increase” despite the tax rate actually going DOWN, and what “yes” or “no” votes will practically mean for Garland voters.

Why is it labeled a “tax increase”? Because it only considers one part of the combined tax rate (Maintenance & Operations). That part of the rate is going up, but the council lowered the other part of the rate (Debt Service) by more, so the overall tax rate will actually be lower than it was this year no matter how you vote.

Specifically…

A “yes” vote will drop the overall tax rate by 1-cent per $100 DCAD valuation, while funding 10 new police officers, 9 new firefighters, 8 new 911 dispatchers, 3 new animal service techs, increased parks security and maintenance, updated library resources, and ongoing special events funding for the Garland Guzzler/Fall Fest, Dia de los Mu***os, Asian American Heritage Festival, Juneteenth, Art Made Here, Sensory-Friendly Christmas, and 12 live music concerts.

A “no” vote will drop the overall rate by 4.6-cents per $100 DCAD valuation but fund none of the additional public safety personnel or other personnel, services or resources listed above.

What exactly will that mean for your wallet? Use this personal tax calculator to compare the tax dollar difference between “yes” and “no”, and make your own decision about your priorities:

https://www.votegarland.com/tax-impact