This is a time for coming together
This time of year, perhaps more than any other, is a time for coming together.
On Veterans Day, some of us came together at cemeteries to pay tribute to those who served in our armed forces.
At homecomings, some of us are coming together at our high schools and colleges to reminisce about the experiences we shared.
And at Thanksgiving, we will come together at dinner tables across the country to express our gratitude for food, friends and family.
In all three instances, we find a way to put aside our political leanings and emphasize instead some grander cause that enriches us all.
Patriotism. Memories. Gratitude.
It’s my sincere wish that, as we press toward the new year, we will continue to focus more on what unites us as Americans.
Love for country. Love for family.
The ability to profess our faith as we please and the ability to express our thoughts as we please.
May the coming holiday season bring to you, and those you care about, peace, prosperity, and a newfound sense of connectedness to those around you.
Best wishes,
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
Es probablemente tiempo de unirnos más que nunca.
En el día de veteranos, muchos visitamos cementerios o juntos brindamos tributo a aquellos que sirvieron en las fuerzas armadas.
En reuniones escolares, muchos nos juntamos con compañeros de colegio y recordamos experiencias compartidas en años pasados.
Más aun, en el Día de Acción de Gracias nos juntaremos en todo el país para dar gracias por nuestras familias y amigos.
En estas instancias haremos a un lado las tendencias políticas y empatizaremos las cosas que nos enriquecen y que nos hacen mejores individuos como la gratitud, el patriotismo y los recuerdos.
Es mi más sincero deseo que al acercarse el nuevo año, continuemos enfocándonos en todo aquello que nos une como americanos: El amor por nuestro país y nuestras familias, la habilidad de prosperar, nuestra fe, y la habilidad de expresar nuestros pensamientos y opiniones.
Que esta temporada festiva, te traiga a ti y a tus personas más queridas paz, prosperidad y unión.
Un Abrazo,
Dra. Elba Garcia
Comisionada del Condado de Dallas Distrito 4
- Published in Veterans Day
Su voto cuenta. Your vote counts.
So many residents of Dallas County tell me they are tired.
You work and work and feel like you never get ahead. You’re tired of seeing your children’s schools receive fewer resources every year.
I understand.
You tell me you cannot bear what is going on with our immigration system and how our Dreamers do not have a solid future.
You know what is happening on the Mexican border. You have seen the families being separated and children put in cages.
These acts tear our hearts and wear on us all. This is not a great America. This is a sad and frightened America.
So what do we do?
We pick ourselves up and we vote. We vote early through November 2 or we vote on Election Day, November 6. We no longer stand back and let sad and frightened people be elected. We stand up and let our voice be heard all the way to the State House in Austin and to the halls of Congress in Washington, DC.
It is time. Su voto cuenta. Your vote counts.
Vote.
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County, Elections
Stop The Political Shell Games
Stop The Political Shell Games: Everyone Needs To Help Solve Texas’ Property Tax Problem
Texas has seen unprecedented property value growth in recent years. At the same time, property owners have seen their property taxes rise. This has created a frenzy among state lawmakers in Austin over how to “save” taxpayers from their local governments. That’s because it’s easier for lawmakers to blame someone else for problems they create, rather than address the statewide problems it is their responsibility to solve.
Texas lawmakers need to focus on how to use our booming economy to fix the longstanding problems of inadequate school funding and the high rate of uninsured Texans driving up costs in our public hospitals. But all the grandstanding by state officials about local property taxes doesn’t fix anything.
Let’s not forget the Great Recession that the country and Texas experienced in 2008, and the impact it had on local government services.
From 2008 to 2012, Texas saw a dramatic drop in property values. Naturally, this caused a drop in property taxes collected when local governments held tax rates steady and cut services to make ends meet. Holding tax rates steady in both the good and bad years makes the statement that local government must feel the same pressures as the people it represents.
The goals of cities and counties are to increase the quality of life for our citizens. We are the ones bringing investment to our communities. We are the job creators and the economic engines of this great state. The progress we have made as a state is because of local government, not in spite of it.
When you cut through the noise from Austin, what the state is proposing is that cities and counties never increase property taxes and the services they provide. They ignore that the state mandates we provide most of our services, many of which should be the state’s responsibility. Each session, the Legislature mandates that counties provide more services, while telling them to do it with less revenue.
Not once during the recession did leadership in Austin advocate for the effective tax rate. The state sat idly by as cities and counties made the tough decisions, cutting services and struggling to balance budgets, just like taxpayers.
Under the state’s plan, local governments would adopt the effective tax rate every year. That means a county or city would bring in the same revenue each year, and taxpayers would pay the same amount. This sounds great, as long as property values are going up, because it means tax bills don’t.
But when property values drop, tax rates would go up to maintain the same level of revenue. When that happens, state “leaders” will flip-flop and argue against the effective tax rate. The new sound bite coming from Austin and local media will be “local governments raise tax rates as the economy worsens.”
If local leaders are spending too much, hold us accountable at the polls. What we hear from the majority of our constituents are requests for more services: more police and better roads. Over the last 10 years in Dallas County, we have seen increased costs for unfunded mandates from the state, such as indigent defense and minimum standards for jail operations and mental health services. The list goes on and on.
Dallas County spends $145 million per year on unfunded mandates and underfunded programs that should be funded by the state. The simple fact is, if the state stopped pushing its responsibilities and unfunded mandates onto county governments, Dallas County could lower its tax rate 25 percent. That would be an extra $105 back in the pocket of the average homeowner.
The difference between the political grandstanders in Austin and local government is we deliver what the state requires and what the people request. We don’t have the luxury of passing the buck. Dallas County does so while minimizing tax increases on the average homeowner to $7.89 a month over the last 10 years when adjusted for inflation.
Over the same period, Austin has forced school property tax increases on Texans while pointing fingers at school boards. When adjusted for inflation, the average homeowner in Dallas ISD pays $580 more a year in property taxes than in 2008. In the last 10 years, the state’s share of school spending dropped from 48.5 percent to 42.4 percent, and school funding from property taxes increased from 51.5 percent to 57.6 percent.
The latest budget proposal from the Texas Education Agency would slash another $3.5 billion per year from the state’s education budget, resulting in local school property tax increases of 6.8% per year, or 14% over the next two years.
It’s time for state leaders to focus on Texas problems and leave local issues to local governments. Inadequate school funding, record numbers of uninsured Texans, crumbling infrastructure and keeping our highways out of the hands of toll companies — these are serious problems that require serious solutions.
But don’t tell local governments we have to carry our load and your load. Texas taxpayers can no longer afford these political shell games.
Read this opinion piece at The Dallas Morning News
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Help Me Move Dallas Forward
New trails. Better roads. Restoring the historic Records Building and reducing deferred maintenance. I am producing results that benefit EVERYONE in Dallas County.
Any campaign contribution you can make is deeply appreciated. Let’s keep working to improve the quality of life here for you and your family!
Help us keep moving Dallas County forward.
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Dallas County District 4 Updates
Please read our Dallas County District 4 newsletter to review all we have accomplished on behalf of taxpayers.
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Special Saturday clinic for back-to-school immunizations
As the clock ticks down towards the start of classes, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) expects parents will soon be rushing to get their children the immunizations they need.
To help parents prepare for the upcoming school year, DCHHS is holding a special back-to-school immunization clinic Saturday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free clinic will be held on the first floor of the main DCHHS building located at 2377 N Stemmons Freeway in Dallas.
Appointments are not required for this event; however, parents and guardians should prepare to bring immunization records for walk-in immunizations.
“Vaccine-preventable diseases still exist in our communities, therefore, it is our goal to support a healthy environment for children in the classroom,” said Ganesh Shivaramaiyer, DCHHS interim director. “Immunizations are routinely offered; however, this special Saturday clinic allows parents yet another opportunity to get their children the immunizations they need.”
Dallas County residents from birth to age 18 in the following categories are eligible to receive free immunizations Aug. 11 under the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC):
- • Medicaid eligible
- • Uninsured: a child who has no health insurance coverage
- • American Indian or Alaskan Native
- • Enrolled in CHIP
- • Underinsured (as defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services)
Parents and guardians should review immunization records and consult with a primary care provider or a public health professional to determine needed vaccinations. Review Texas minimum state vaccine requirements for students grades K-12.
Get more information on the DCHHS immunization clinic and upcoming immunization events.
- Published in Dallas County
¿Necesita ayuda para pagar sus recibos para enfriar calentar su casa?
¿Necesita ayuda para pagar sus recibos para enfriar calentar su casa?
Llame al (214) 819-1848.
El propósito del Programa Integral para Asistencia de Energía (CEAP) es ayudar a hogares con bajos ingresos, particularmente aquéllos con los más bajos ingresos que pagan una alta proporción del ingreso del hogar para cubrir sus necesidades energéticas inmediatas.
- • Más
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Need help paying utilities or heating and cooling your home?
Need help paying utilities or heating and cooling your home?
Please call (214) 819-1848.
The purpose of the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is to assist low-income Households, particularly those with the lowest incomes, that pay a high proportion of Household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.
- • More
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Campión Trail Expansion Update
Irving’s Campión Trail is the focus of a lot of work and planning.
A connection to Coppell’s trail system is just months away from opening. In the longer term, leaders are also looking at ideas to connect the north and south sections of the Campión Trail.
Watch the video by Irving Community Television Network featuring Commissioner Garcia to find out about other trail projects that will give more recreational opportunities to residents.
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
- Published in Dallas County
Free back-to-school vaccinations
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is offering families a weekend opportunity to get school-aged children immunized at New Light Church’s Back-To-School Bash Saturday, July 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. The free event will be held at 9314 Elam Road in Dallas. Parents must bring their child’s immunization records.
“Preparing to go back to school is a great time to catch up on vaccinations,” said Dr. Christopher Perkins, DCHHS medical director/health authority. “This fall, don’t let your child’s seat in class be left empty. Get your children the vaccinations they need for school now.”
During the event participating vendors will also offer free school supplies and giveaways to help parents check off their back-to-school to-do list.
Immunizations are also given at each of the DCHHS clinic locations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday. The immunization clinic located at 2377 N Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, is open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Appointments aren’t necessary. The cost is $10 for the child’s first visit and $5 for returning patients. Waivers are given to families in need.
Parents and guardians should review immunization records and consult with a primary care provider or a public health professional to determine needed vaccinations.
- Published in Dallas County