Dallas, We Have a $1.25 Billion Bond on The May 4 Ballot, And There’s No Money For City Hall
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Following a lengthy debate over how to divvy up funds on a May 4 bond election ballot, Dallas City Council members agreed Wednesday to let voters decide on the following amended proposals:
- Streets and Transportation increased from $500 million to $521.2 million.
- Parks and Recreation increased from $310.5 million to $345.27 million.
- Libraries increased from $43.5 million to $43.53 million.
- Housing increased from $24.4 million to $26.4 million.
- Economic Development increased from $65.8 million to $72.3 million.
- Homeless Housing increased from $8.5 million to $19 million.
- Flood Protection and Storm Drainage remains at $52.1 million.
- Public Safety remains at $90 million.
- Cultural Arts Facilities remains at $75.2 million.
- Information Technology remains at $5 million.
The deteriorating Dallas City Hall and Stemmons Municipal Center propositions remain at $0 and were deleted from the ordinance. Some discussion occurred around how the city should have budgeted for things like water infiltration, electrical upgrades, fire suppression, HVAC, generators, and City Hall maintenance through the general fund if those items are so desperately needed.
The $1.25 billion bond election will be held May 4. Watch Wednesday’s Dallas City Council meeting here.
Debate Over City Facilities, Information Technology
The approved bond proposals were submitted by District 6 Councilman Omar Narvaez.
“This is probably the best bond package I’ve seen in a long time,” Narvaez said. “Why? Because it addresses some equity issues … It’s not perfect, but it’s the first one to have [equity].”
District 7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua floated an amended proposal that allotted funds to City Hall but took them out of Information Technology. City leaders said last month that small amounts such as $5 million slated for IT aren’t traditionally approved by voters in a massive bond. If the IT proposal were rejected by voters, it would prohibit the city from using other funding mechanisms to make necessary upgrades for about three years, officials said.
“What I’m trying to do is be fiscally responsible and fair and balanced,” Bazaldua said. “I realize a lot of times when we’re up here it turns into a pissing contest. That’s the reality of it. That’s unfortunate. I get that politicians are going to politick, but at some point, we should be looking to find the spirit of compromise. I guess it’s a little frustrating to see so many comments that are talking out of both sides of their mouths.”
Bazaldua’s amendment failed for lack of support, and the councilman cast the lone vote against Narvaez’s proposal.
Housing Bond Falls Short of $200 Million Request
Councilman Chad West said he was disappointed that the housing category was “inadequately funded.” While elected officials originally agreed to $61 million for housing, bond counsel advised that some housing projects would have to fall under the economic development category, per state law.
“The allocations proposed by the [Community Bond Task Force] and staff were red meat that got attacked and pulled apart by various interests of councilmembers, leaving the housing allocation in particular inadequately low,” he said.
Housing bond funds have been widely debated, as advocates fought for $200 million. District 12 Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn recently pointed out that there are more than a dozen local, state, and federal programs that allocate funds to housing. In Wednesday’s meeting, the council approved seven housing projects that will add more than 1,000 units — affordable and market rate — to the local stock.
“Week in and week out, we are actually creating a significant amount of housing through the channels that are already available to us,” Mendelsohn said. “This is happening all the time at the council level.”
West said he will continue to champion a “housing element” on top of the North Oak Cliff Library.
