June 22, 2026 Newsletter
June 22, 2026 – Volume 20 Number 25
Highlights:
* City Council to “reconsider” the low-income apartments that failed at the last meeting.
* City Council set to approve several low-income housing polices and financial support.
* AISD approved their 2026-27 $60 million deficit budget on Tuesday.
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
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.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, June 23: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 9:00am, 2:45pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Saturday, July 4: 250 Years. Happy Birthday America.
Wednesday, July 15: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
Wednesday, July 29: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
Thursday, July 30: 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 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
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.)
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.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The Arlington City Council will meet for a full slate of meetings this Tuesday, June 23. The first of three committee meetings is at 9:00am. The afternoon meeting starts at 12:30pm and goes into executive session. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will begin no sooner than 2:45pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.
Committee Meetings
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee will meet at 9:00am to discuss multi-family inspections (presentation) and the Knox development update (presentation). [Commentary: Evidently the developer building the [Knox] low-income apartments has a funding gap, so the city is looking at several options including waiving its development fees to help out. So, the budget, which already has a deficit, will waive some of its revenue to help out, while the rest of us have to make up the difference. What part of low-income apartments makes Arlington great???]
The Arlington Housing Finance Corporation will meet at 10:30am to discuss agenda items (agenda). They will receive two program updates (single-family bond program and the Mayfield Park Apartments transaction) and are expected to approve four resolutions. Resolutions:
a. filing with the Texas Bond Review Board for the qualified bonds and credits.
b. approving the delegation of bond issuance authority to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
c. authorizing the issuance of $55 million in bonds (Mayfield Park Apartments).
d. designating signature authority to many accounts.
[Unfortunately, the detailed information is not readily made available to the public.]
The Economic Development Committee will meet [in secret] at 11:30am to discuss offers of incentives to business prospects. You do not need to rush to get there; you are not invited.
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting starts at 12:30pm and goes into executive session to discuss:
1. landfill lease agreement,
2. sidewalk agreements with 301 & 305 E. Division Street,
3. personnel (council appointees), and
4. offers of incentives to business prospects.
The open portion of the afternoon meeting will begin no sooner than 2:45pm. This portion of the agenda includes three work session items, four informal staff reports, and [many] appointments (list).
Work session items:
1. Innovate Arlington Comprehensive Plan (presentation).
2. Stormwater Program update (presentation).
3. Council Priority – Strengthening our communities (presentation).
Informal staff reports:
1. Election activities at municipal polling places (staff report).
2. Health Services and programs in Arlington (staff report).
3. Commercial motor vehicle parking update (staff report).
4.City Wise software (staff report).
Evening Meeting
The agenda for the 6:30pm evening meeting includes 43 consent agenda items, five public hearings, and a reconsideration of the low-income apartments that failed at the last meeting.
Consent agenda item 11.11 is for $2,118,970 for the dredging of Green Oaks Boulevard Pond (staff report , map)
The first public hearing is a Specific Use Permit (SUP26-01) for a daycare at 911 S. Davis Drive [St. Albans] (staff report).
The second public hearing is for the addition of the Caravan Court Hotel to the Arlington Tourism Public Improvement District (staff report).
The third public hearing is for a public easement at 1516 W. Green Oaks Boulevard [Lake Arlington Golf Course] (staff report).
The fourth public hearing is for gas well permits (GW26-005) at 4151 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (staff report).
The fifth public hearing is for gas well permits (GW26-006) at 4801 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (staff report).
The reconsideration of the low-income apartments at 6700 (plus other numbers) US 287 Highway, PD26-03 (staff report). There are at least four deviations. Lance Murray of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/22/affordable-housing-pre-k-development-clears-arlington-zoning-hurdle/ . [Best use of this land – low-income apartments???] It is not compliant with the Comprehensive Plan or the US 287 Corridor Plan.
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 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 EDC met last Thursday, June 18. The agenda can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/june-18,-2026.pdf .
The agenda included:
minutes (May 28);
standing reports-
A. financial (report)
B. real estate (retail market);
open session-
A. project updates
B. opportunity zone update (presentation);
one action item-
A. collateral assignment of Anthem (old Lincoln Square) development (staff report)
executive director's report (presentation);
executive session-
A. offers of incentives to business prospects
B. deliberations regarding real property.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, June 17, P&Z 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 (usually townhomes) on 0.924 acres.
On Tuesday, June 23, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP26-01, at 911 S. Davis Drive. (They wish for a daycare center.) on 2.454 acres.
On Tuesday, June 23, the city council will hold a public hearing on the boundaries of the Tourism Public Improvement District (PID). They are adding the Caravan Court Hotel.
On Tuesday, June 23, the city council will hold a public hearing on an access easement at the Arlington Golf Club (required by Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code).
On Tuesday, June 23, the city council will hold a public hearing on new gas well permits, GW26-05 at 4151 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
On Tuesday, June 23, the city council will hold a public hearing on new gas well permits, GW26-06 at 4801 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
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.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
P&Z Commission
P&Z met last Wednesday, June 17. They have NOT put the recorded video online at the time of this writing. I will need to report on the results next week. The agenda can be found at: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/arlingtontx/e0fc015ac9a51593fa4e23bc2f1788660.html .
The only zoning case scheduled to be heard was PD25-21 at 1013 N. Mesquite Street (staff report). They wish to build ten attached townhomes on 0.924 acres.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met last Tuesday, June 16. That agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=746717 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zXCURaLinM . The Board Brief by Mr. Chapa can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sgjrzxAwfs .
All trustees were present. In executive session they discussed personnel, potential and pending litigation, roles, and responsibilities and legal duties for trustees.
The open portion of the agenda had a recognition, open forum for agenda items, appointments, six committee and staff reports, public hearing, three action items, consent agenda, open forum for non-agenda items, and end-of-meeting reports.
(1:42) Appointments were approved.
Rylee Russell-Bruton – Assistant prinicipal Rodriguez Jr. High.
Micheal Ball – Assistant prinicipal Rodriguez Jr. High
Tamandria Johnson – Assistant prinicipal Sam Houston High
Rito Herrera – Assistant prinicipal Sam Houston High
(12:44) Open forum for agenda items. Speakers were opposed to the move of six graders to junior highs.
The six committee and staff reports:
(32:18) 1. Finance and Academics committee report.
(32:49) 2. Results Driven Accountability (RDA) report (presentation). About 46:24 it was opened to the board.
(57:16) 3. Proposition C report (presentation). The superintendent went over four options (do nothing, bond interest pay for some, another bond by itself (Nov '26, deadline is close), or a later bond). About 1:08:33 it was opened to the board.
(1:35:49) 4. First reading of AE(local) policy educational philosophy (attachment). About 1:40:20 it was opened to the board.
(1:49:23) 5. First reading of EH(local) policy curriculum design (attachment). About 1:50:40 it was opened to the board.
(1:55:53) 6. Key Progress Measure – Culture (presentation). About 2:00:47 it was opened to the board.
(2:04:59) The public hearing is on the 2026-27 Proposed Budget and Tax Rate (presentation , taxpayer impact statement). There were no public speakers.
Action items with the agenda change of putting the public forum for non-agenda items between the two.
(2:31:57) 1. Consider 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/ .
(2:54:20) Public forum on non-agenda items saw one speaker.
(2:58:45) 2. Consider approval of the grade level configuration of Elementary and Junior High schools (presentation). About 3:08:11 it was opened to the board. Moving sixth grade to the junior highs was approved, 5-2, with Wilbanks and Fowler opposed. 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/ .
(3:42:12) Consent agenda. Nothing was pulled or discussed. It was approved, 7-0.
(3:43:02) End-of-meeting reports.
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/ .
The specially called school board meeting for Wednesday, June 17 was canceled.
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 starts 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
Arlington Pride 2026 Canceled
Taylor Sansom of the UTA Shorthorn has an article at: https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/after-4-years-of-celebration-arlington-pride-2026-is-cancelled/article_233676f4-0a56-4d7d-84ac-fa57aa0f2fb1.html .
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) = barbara.odom-wesley
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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