Mayor Dylan Hedrick, for re-election in 2027
Moving Garland AheadReal results. More to do.
In this term, Garland lowered its city tax rate while adding police, firefighters and 911 dispatchers, brought H-E-B and Joe V's Smart Shop to town, and adopted a ten-year plan for where the city goes next.
Three results from this term
Tax rate
A lower city tax rate and more public safety, at the same time
On November 3, Garland voters approved Proposition A. The city tax rate is now $0.679900 per $100 of value, about one cent below last year's $0.689746, and this year's budget adds 10 police officers, 9 firefighters and 8 911 dispatchers. Cities rarely manage both at once.
Growth
H-E-B is coming to north Garland. Joe V's Smart Shop is coming to south Garland.
Residents asked for an H-E-B for years. In May 2026 the City Council approved agreements for a full H-E-B on 21 acres between Crist Road and Firewheel Parkway along the George Bush Turnpike, and a Joe V's Smart Shop that will bring a long-vacant property at Centerville Road and LBJ Freeway back to life.
New stores like these grow the commercial tax base, which is how Garland takes pressure off homeowners over time.
Planning
A plan for the next ten years, and one for the next twenty-five
In June 2026 the Council adopted Garland on the Rise, the City's 2026–2036 Strategic Plan, and this year's budget is the first one built around it. The draft of Garland Forward 2050, Garland's first new Comprehensive Plan since 2012, is now before the Council.
More to do
Each of these is a start, not a finish line. A second term is about carrying them through.
Put the plans to work
Carry out Garland on the Rise and finish adopting Garland Forward 2050, so every budget and zoning decision points the same direction.
Housing and neighborhoods
New homes around Downtown and the Wedge, and real help for people fixing up the homes we already have.
Streets and infrastructure
Keep the 2025 Grow Garland Bond street work moving and hold the City to its street-condition goal.
More retail and restaurants
Build on H-E-B and Joe V's with the kind of businesses residents now drive to other cities to find.
Work Session Notes on Substack
Since 2023 I've written plain-language summaries of what's on the City Council agenda and why it matters, before the vote happens.
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