Dallas CFO Summarizes Budget Amendments Approved in Sept. 6 Council Meeting

Dallas City Council members submitted 63 amendments last week to City Manager T.C. Broadnax’s proposed $4.63 billion budget in an effort to provide more efficient services and further cut the property tax rate.

Budget and tax rate adoption is set for Sept. 20.

During Wednesday’s meeting, there were amendments to amendments, and the conversation got a little convoluted over the course of a seven-hour discussion. As promised, Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland submitted a summary memorandum Friday afternoon.

It’s reprinted below in its entirety.

FY 2023-24 Budget Amendments

TO Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

Thank you for your participation in the budget amendment discussion and straw poll process on Wednesday, September 6. Five amendments received majority support through the process and were incorporated into the budget ordinance prior to approval on First Reading. The approved amendments are attached. As required by the City Charter, the ordinance, including amendments, will be advertised in the City’s official newspaper as well as additional multicultural publications.

The table below provides a summary of amounts included in the budget ordinance and
the impact on each from the approved amendments.

• The decrease in the General Fund is the result of three amendments that reduced expenses and lowered the property tax rate by 0.36¢. When added to the 0.65¢ reduction included in the City Manager’s recommended budget, there is a total tax rate reduction of 1.01¢ which lowers the current tax rate from 74.58¢ to the proposed rate for FY 2023-24 of 73.57¢ per $100 valuation.
• The decrease in Grants, Trusts, and Other Funds is the result of $1.0 million reduction for IT Governance projects offset by $0.75 million increase for the Lawn Equipment Transition Program.
• The increase in Capital Funds is the result of moving funds from the General Fund into a Capital Fund to spend on additional Street Maintenance.

The City Council may make additional amendments up to the point of final reading and approval of the budget on September 20. Please submit any new amendments to me and/or Mr. Broadnax by the end of day Thursday, September 14, and we will distribute them to all City Council Members on Friday, September 15.

During your September 20 meeting, (1) a tax rate public hearing will be held, (2) new amendments may be considered, and (3) a suite of budget-related items will be presented for your approval including the tax rate ordinance, budget ordinance, fee ordinance, and personnel classification action resolution.

If you have any questions, please contact me or Janette Weedon, Director of Budget and Management Services.

Jack Ireland

Chief Financial Officer