GARLAND — After multiple budget workshops in preparation for setting a town budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, town board members set a public hearing date to allow residents to share thoughts on the fiscal plan before they adopt it.
Residents can mark Monday, June 15 on their calendars to attend the public hearing at 6:30 p.m at town hall, officials noted during the June 1 meeting of the board.
“My overall thinking right now is that I’m glad we seem to have a budget behind us,” Garland Mayor Ralph Smith Jr. said. “We’re going to get it posted and, of course, it’ll be in town hall for viewing. Any comments or questions about it the citizens can feel free to call me and I’ll entertain them. I’m glad that’s done; I think our town clerk (Samantha Hobbs) did a good job putting together our budget. It was her first one and it took a little work, but we made it work. The big part of that is we’ve done this with no tax increase on the citizens.”
Board officials proposed to keep the property tax at .48 cents per one hundred dollars of assessed evaluation of property. Garbage rates will increase by a dollar for both residents and commercial usage. The garbage rate for in-town residents will rise to $14, while commercial rates are $15. For those that live outside the town and only have garbage, the amount will rise from $45 quarterly to $50. Customers who live outside of Garland but use town water will pay $15.
Some of the other proposed changes to the budget included an increase in zoning permits for commercial use from $100 to $200, yard sale permits were decreased to $5 for businesses and residents, with residents allowed five yard sales a year, and an unlimited number for businesses. Water and Sewer starting rates will be at $600 each, but a final price will be based on the cost of materials and labor. Cemetery plots for both out and in-town residents will now be $600 for both.
The total general fund for the 2026-27 budget ordinance is expected to be $591,710.
Near the end of the board meeting, town officials went into closed session at 6:49 p.m. to discuss personnel. The session lasted for seven minutes before members reopened the session at 6:56 p.m. The purpose of the session was for the board to discuss hiring a town employee for maintenance work along with upkeep to the town’s cemetery.
After opening the session, board member voted to hire Kevin Whitteg for the job.
“(Kevin), knows how to run every piece of equipment that we have,” Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Melvin explained. “With that being said, his schedule will present him to be available. That’s pretty much why we thought he would be the best candidate. He’ll be cutting our graveyards out there, helping with the maintenance of the lawn care of the park and recreation ballparks. Downtown, he’ll be trimming bushes and hedges we have around, and he’ll also clean the DMV office.”
Hobbs added that hiring a town employee was cheaper than going with a contracted organization. Commissioner Shavonia West backed Whitteg as someone who has personally witnessed the work he’s done in the past.
“He does this type of stuff for the community, he’s local,” West said. “I, as a business owner, have hired him for years doing tasks.”