Special Texarkana Board Meeting: FY2026 Funding and Commissioner Appointment - June 17, 2026

The Texarkana Board of Commissioners met in a special session on June 17, 2026, to appoint a new commissioner and finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 funding allocations for community events and organizations. The board processed a series of funding requests, rounding specific amounts for uniformity. All votes cast during the meeting were unanimous.

Discussion Items

• Appointment of Commissioner: The board unanimously approved a motion to appoint Diane Patterson as a new commissioner.
• FY 2026 Funding Allocations: Commissioners reviewed annual funding requests. The board discussed rounding specific line items to whole numbers for consistency:
  • Winner's Circle: Final allocation of $58,000. The board debated rounding the $57,666.67 request up to $70,000 but opted against exceeding the requested amount and settled on $58,000.
  • Scholars: $22,500 (requested $25,000).
  • Casa: $3,000 (rounded from $2,666.67).
  • Main Street Texarkana: $11,000 (rounded from $10,666.67).
  • Partnership for the Pathway: $5,500 (rounded from $5,416.67).
  • Track: $6,000 (rounded from $5,666.67).
  • Airport: $64,000 (rounded from $63,333.33).
  • Other approved funding included Link TXK ($7,500), Chamber of Commerce ($3,000), City Beautiful Commission ($7,083.33), Southwest Wrestling Promotions ($2,000), Four States Auto Museum ($8,416.67, discussed rounding to $8,500), Gifts, Gifts and Talents Career Fund ($10,000), and Rhythm and Blues/Hype Con/Glory Wrestling events ($3,750).
  • Funding requests for Hospice of Texarkana and Miss Texarkana Latina were approved at $0.

Key Outcomes

• Diane Patterson was sworn in as a new commissioner. (Motion carried unanimously).
• FY 2026 Funding Approved: The total funding package for 2026 was announced as $286,450. The board voted unanimously to accept the allocations.
• The meeting adjourned following the conclusion of the funding vote.