August 3, 2026 Newsletter
August 3, 2026 – Volume 20 Number 31
Highlights:
* City council to meet Tuesday; including the second reading of the low-income apartments that were reconsidered and are now approved because half of the council members who voted both times CHANGED their vote.
* Council also ready to approve over $1.5 million for Balfour Apartments in 380 grant agreement.
* EDC meets Thursday.
* Comprehensive Plan Town Halls start.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, August 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 2:30pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, August 6: EDC meeting, City Hall 3rd floor, 101 W. Abram Street, 4:00pm.
Thursday, August 6: Comprehensive Plan District 2 Town Hall, Southwest Library, 3311 S.W. Green Oaks Boulevard, 6:00-7:00pm.
Monday, August 10: Comprehensive Plan District 1 Town Hall, Texas Rangers Golf Club, 701 Brown Boulevard, 6:00-7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 11: City Council afternoon budget meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm.
Thursday, August 13: Budget Town Hall, South Police Center.
Thursday, August 13: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Tuesday, August 18: Comprehensive Plan District 4 Town Hall, ACTIV, 2061 W. Green Oaks Boulevard, 6:00-7:00pm.
Wednesday, August 19: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
Monday, August 24: Comprehensive Plan District 5 Town Hall, Wellspring on Main, 2201 W. Main Street, 6:00-7:00pm.
Wednesday, August 26: Budget Town Hall, City Council Chambers.
Thursday, August 27: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Monday, August 31: Comprehensive Plan District 3 Town Hall, Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, 6:00-7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 2: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The Arlington City Council will meet this Tuesday, August 4 for a full slate of meetings. There are no committee meetings. The afternoon meeting starts at noon but goes straight into executive session. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will start no sooner than 2:30pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting opens at noon, but goes into executive session. The open portion will begin no sooner than 2:30pm.
The executive session portion of the agenda includes:
1. possible settlement of 1815 E Mayfield Drive
2. possible acquision of right-of-way for a public street
3. possible acquisition of real property for Affordable Housing
4. potential purchase of property at 2901 E. Abram Street.
5. deployment and implementation of security measures to city facilities
6. offers of incentives to business prospects.
The open portion of the afternoon meeting includes two work session items, four informal staff reports, appointments to boards and commissions, evening agenda items, external committees report, and future agenda items.
The two work session items are
1. FY2027 Budget (presentation will probably be posted sometime on Tuesday)
2. Enhance Mobility (presentation).
The four informal staff reports are
1. Election Activities at municipal polling places (report , attachment). They are planning to implement Bob Duncan election sign regulations at every municipal voting location. This will allow campaign signs in only a very small location, being very dense, so they can't be read anyway. [Commentary: Though some will say it is great, I think this is awful.]
2. Candidate Filing Fees and petition requirements (report).
3. Mayor and city council compensation (report)
4. Adopt-A-Median Program (report , attachment).
The appointments to boards and commissions (attachment). Link on Saturday required a sign on and password, left here should they update the requirement.
Evening Meeting
The agenda for the 6:30pm evening meeting includes 25 consent agenda items, three public hearings, and two ordinances (first reading).
Consent agenda 7.12 is the second reading of the low-income apartments along US Highway 287 that were reconsidered and then approved when HALF of the eight council members voting in both votes CHANGED their vote (staff report). [Commentary: Is there a stench in Arlington?]
Consent agenda item 7.14 is naming/electing a mayor pro tempore and a deputy mayor pro tempore (staff report , resolution). The proposed resolution lists Mr. Gonzalez as the mayor pro tempore and Ms. Hunter as the deputy mayor pro tempore.
Consent agenda item 7.24 is to allow the Balfour Apartments (for which the zoning PD just barely passed council, as even Dr. Odom-Wesly opposed – a very extreme rarity) to obtain more taxpayer funding ($1,550,000) through a 380 Grant Agreement (staff report). This was evidently the reason behind the expanding of the TIRZ forever and ever...
The first public hearing is to amend and restate the project plan and finance plan for the Downtown TIRZ (staff report). [Commentary: In June the council extended the TIRZ even though it was not nearly expiring, meaning the taxpayers have to continue to wait to see any benefit of the millions of dollars the TIRZ has taken away from the general fund. So, this goes and modifies the plan, supporting big government getting more funds and increasing spending.]
The second public hearing is for case PD25-18, which is to allow for small-lot homes on currently zoned single-family at 1605 Wilma Lane (staff report). The planned development (PD) allows for 24 tiny lot (2550-4000 sq. ft., the standard is 5000 sq. ft) two-story single-family homes. There are nine deviations listed.
The third public hearing is for case PD25-21, which is to allow for townhomes on currently zoned single-family at 1013 North Mesquite Street (staff report). The planned development (PD) allows for four two-story buildings of 2-or-3 units. There are two deviations listed.
The two ordinances are for amending the FY2026 Budget (staff report , ordinance) and appointing the Senior Associate Municipal Judge (staff report , ordinance).
Council Leftovers
The City of Arlington proposes a total project investment of an estimated $24,000,000, combining federal, state, local, and private resources for the acquisition and demolition of an existing two-story, 81,205-square-foot dilapidated motel structure at 1220 W. Division Street built in 1965 and comprised of 72 rooms. So far, they have determined they will use approximately $3,850,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds. Part of the city/local funds included is $2.85 million of Arlington Housing Finance Corporation funds. Anyone's guess on the specifics of the rest of the funding?
Following demolition, the city intends to construct a new permanent supportive housing community consisting of a minimum of 70 units. The new development will provide safe, service-enriched housing for chronically homeless individuals, veterans and their families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. The primary objective is to expand the supply of affordable, supportive housing and promote long-term housing stability for residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
So, has anyone divided that out? $24,000,000 / 70 units = $342,857/unit [cost of a house???].
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article on the Arlington homelessness issue and the mention of this project by the mayor. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/21/arlington-to-boost-permanent-housing-for-homeless-as-feds-slash-funding/ .
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The next EDC meeting will be this Thursday, August 6. The agenda can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/august-6,-2026.pdf . The agenda includes:
minutes (June 18),
standing reports (financial , real estate),
outstanding project updates,
foreign direct investment roadmap (presentation),
Arlington film and media incentive program (presentation),
public hearing/action item (for matching funds for Business Innovation Research and Development (BIRD) program (staff report),
executive director's report (presentation),
and an executive session
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on the new proposed project plan and finance plan based on the millions more they stole from the general fund to fund the TIRZ so its projects do NOT need to compete against general fund projects, like funding our police and fire personnel.
On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-18, at 1605 Wilma Lane. They wish to change zoning from RS-7.2 to a planned development for RS-5 (small lots) on 2.919 acres.
On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-21, at 1013 N. Mesquite Street. They wish to change from RS-7.2 to a planned development for RM-12 (townhomes) on 0.924 acres.
On Thursday, August 6, the Economic Development Corporation will hold a public hearing on the use of taxpayer funds for a weakly defined matching funds grant program.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, July 29. There were no zoning case public hearings to be heard. The agenda can be found at: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/arlingtontx/9827e94c36738822cb721065a1654e100.html . The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5508?view_id=10&redirect=true .
AISD School Board
The school board met this past Thursday, July 30. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=750100 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_HN4VpjtCs . The district's review of the meeting is at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/read-highlights-from-school-board-meeting-on-july-30/ .
AISD Cut 307 Positions
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/07/30/arlington-isd-cut-307-positions-parents-say-the-losses-go-beyond-the-classroom/ .
AISD Budget approved
Following consideration of the adoption of the 2026-27 Budget (presentation , very high level overview), the budget was approved, 7-0. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/17/arlington-isd-trustees-adopt-nearly-60m-budget-shortfall-amid-declining-enrollment/ .
Sixth Grade to Move to Junior Highs in 2027
Moving sixth grade to the junior highs was approved, 5-2, with Wilbanks and Fowler opposed (presentation). Bianca Rodriguez-Mora of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/18/arlington-isd-moves-6th-grade-to-junior-high-level-despite-parent-concerns/ .
AISD Employees will NOT get raises
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article from this meeting stating how employees will NOT be getting raises [but will be getting gains in health insurance benefits] at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/05/arlington-isd-employees-will-not-see-a-raise-as-district-fights-budget-shortfall/ .
Demographer's Findings
The school board had a workshop on Thursday, May 21 regarding the demographer's findings for the district. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/24/as-enrollment-declines-arlington-isd-leaders-signal-potential-school-closures/ .
Article on the STEM issue/cuts
It has been reported that the AISD leadership administration has met with staff telling them there will be cuts in positions because of the budget shortfall. That budget went into effect July 1. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: Positions eliminated as Arlington ISD reorganizes to address $9M shortfall | Fort Worth Report .
A Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report explores the possibility of the AISD joining the pay-for-performance teacher program offered by the state. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/07/arlington-isd-considers-texas-pay-for-performance-teacher-program/ .
AISD saw a jump in their accountability scores because of their challenge of some of the STAAR testing results. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/09/arlington-isd-sees-2025-academic-accountability-bump-after-staar-appeal/ . Also an AISD article may be found at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/updated-district-and-campus-accountability-ratings/ .
The AISD enrollment is expected to fall below 50,000 students at some point, maybe as early as the 2026-2027 school year. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/03/arlington-isds-enrollment-projected-to-drop-below-50000-next-year/ .
The AISD Board and Superintendent have established written goals, including student improvement on the STAAR testing. The Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/01/arlington-isd-school-board-sets-goals-and-expectations-for-new-school-year/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.802200
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Lewisville ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.] An article by Jacob Sanchez in the Fort Worth Report confirms that the Arlington ISD pays the highest salaries in Tarrant County [ https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/17/teachers-in-this-tarrant-county-school-district-earn-the-highest-salaries/ ].
OTHER NEWS
Stadium Extension
[Commentary: Just because they believe it is legal to approve the stadium extension without the public voting, it is neither the correct nor transparent thing to do. If you talked about the finances with officials back in 2016, they would point to the ability to pay off the Cowboy bonds early, giving them the ability to build the second stadium. They would also suggest that there would be a good chance bonds would be paid off before 2048.]
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = tom.ware
district 5 (central/east) = brittney.garcia-dumas
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = jason.shelton
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - dwilban.aisd@gmail.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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