Council to begin annually appointing TIF board chairs after state tax‑code requirement noted

City staff told the Garland City Council on Monday that state tax law requires annual council appointment of chairs of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) boards and outlined a process for the first cycle of appointments.

A staff presenter said the city will follow the Texas Tax Code requirement (chapter 311 provisions on TIF administration) and begin an annual appointment cadence so councilors will name TIF board chairs with terms beginning Jan. 1. The presenter described a proposed process: staff will gather expressions of interest from current TIF board members, present candidates in a council work session for discussion and then place appointments on the regular meeting agenda for a formal vote.

Why it matters TIF boards influence redevelopment decisions and investment in designated catalyst areas. Council members asked staff to poll current TIF board members about interest in serving as chair and to bring nominees to the work session so the council can deliberate. Councilors also said they want candidate qualifications and a clear statement of chair duties ahead of interviews.

Next steps Staff said it will ask TIF board members if they want to be considered, schedule candidate appearances for a work‑session discussion and include formal appointment votes at a regular meeting; staff recommended completing the first appointments in the December/January cycle so chairs’ terms begin Jan. 1. The presenter also noted that TIF 2’s chair position has been vacant since a 2021 resignation and that the council will address that vacancy under the new process.

Ending note Councilors asked staff to develop a concise set of suggested qualifications to guide appointments and to gather candidate interest before the scheduled work‑session deliberation.