The Highland Park Town Council proclaimed Sept. 2026 as Library Card Sign-Up Month during its Aug. 11 meeting.
Library Card Sign-Up month promotes the importance of having access to a library and highlights the services available to cardholders. A limited-run of a special library card design will be available in September.
Also during the meeting, the Town Council:
- Set a Sept. 1 public hearing on the property tax rate.
- Referred to the Zoning Commission a request to allow modifications to the shopping center and associated parking in the Shops of Highland Park.
- Approved an amendment to town building regulations intended to reduce the amount of dust and debris from masonry work. Concerned resident David Bagwell voiced his concerns regarding this amendment — which he said didn’t go far enough — highlighting the dangers of repeated silica inhalation, a cause of silicosis, which is an incurable, progressive, and potentially fatal lung disease.
During a study session, the Town Council:
- Discussed the Highland Park On-Demand Pilot Program, the locally controlled microtransit program operated in partnership with Via which was launched following the Town’s withdrawal from DART. Director of Policy Development and Strategic Initiatives Letecia McNatt spoke of the increasing ridership in the program’s four-vehicle fleet. She said that Highland Park Village and Mockingbird Station have been the most popular pickup/dropoff destinations. The possibility of future fee-based rides was raised.
- Reviewed the Proposed Budget and Plan of Municipal Services for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Director of Finance John Samford noted that the proposed budget will raise more than last year’s budget by $939,616, which is a 4.6 percent increase. Of that amount, $219,247 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year. The Town’s proposed property tax rate for FY27 is 19.1888 cents per $100 of valuation, which is 3.7% lower than last year’s property tax rate of 19.9296 cents. Estimated taxable property values are growing at approximately 9.0% for FY27, primarily because of increased reassessments.
Author
Josh Hickman
Josh Hickman is a national award-winning journalist, visual artist, sometime musician, and author of seven books. His writing For People Newspapers often focuses on arts & culture, local small businesses, local history & government, and interesting personal stories. His paintings include a commission for Dallas County and a donation to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
