City Hall Roundup: Budget, Bonds, and Back to School
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Officials are getting back into the groove of things at Dallas City Hall. Council members returned from their July recess last week to find some weighty decisions waiting for them, and the next several weeks promise plenty more debate over dollars, debt, and priorities.
But amid the billion-dollar figures and looming budget fights, there were also a few reminders of the good things local government can accomplish.
Bond Battle Brewing
Council members are considering putting a nearly $1 billion bond package before voters this November, but some of them are already threatening to campaign against it.
On Wednesday, staff briefed the city council on a proposed trio of propositions: $443 million for public safety facilities, $17 million for fleet maintenance facility improvements, and $500 million in pension obligation bonds for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System.
Public safety bond dollars would address several major projects, including an $82 million funding gap for the long-promised police training center at UNT Dallas. It also includes $149 million for a separate training complex at Dallas Executive Airport, $150 million for police evidence storage and crime lab facilities, $22 million for Fire Station No. 4, and $40 million to relocate the city’s 911 and Emergency Operations Center from City Hall.
The proposed $960 million package comes barely two years after voters approved a $1.25 billion bond program. Taking on additional debt could delay some projects from that earlier package, potentially pushing funding for certain improvements as far back as 2030. Concerns were also raised over the cost of issuing more debt and bundling polarizing initiatives.
“I’m adamantly opposed to this,” Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7) said. “I think it is absolutely fiscally irresponsible and I can’t wait to campaign against this if this council supports it and sends it to the voters.”
Questions were also raised about the pension obligation bonds. The city would seek voter authorization now but wait for favorable market conditions before potentially issuing the debt. The strategy could reduce pressure from rapidly increasing pension contributions on the general fund, but it hinges on investment returns outperforming borrowing costs.
“The worst-case scenario is that it does not save the city any money and it actually costs the city money,” CFO Jack Ireland said.
Lumping the new police academy together with a facet of City Hall relocation also proved a flashpoint. Council Member Cara Mendelsohn (District 12) suggested bundling the projects could jeopardize funding for an academy that has already experienced years of delays and escalating costs.
“The way to show a commitment to success of the academy is to make it an independent proposition, which I believe will pass,” Mendelsohn said.
Council members must decide on Wednesday, August 12, whether to call an election.
Staff Proposes Another Record-Breaking Budget
City Manager Kimberly Tolbert released a proposed $5.66 billion budget on Friday. If adopted, it would be Dallas’ biggest budget yet.
The proposed operating and capital budget for FY 2026-2027 marks a significant increase from the current year’s $5.2 billion spending plan, with nearly all additional spending going toward the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue.
As previously reported by CandysDirt.com, officials have been working to overcome a roughly $50 million gap between expenditures and projected revenues, noting that tough choices and a possible reduction in headcount could be in the cards.
“This budget is about more than balancing the numbers, it’s about building the future of Dallas,” Tolbert said.
Some 296 positions were identified for elimination in the proposed budget. Most of those jobs are in library services. However, no library branches would be shuttered under the plan.
“Our team identified efficiencies, leveraged technology, and strengthened partnerships to maximize resources and ensure taxpayer dollars are invested where they achieve the greatest results,” Tolbert said.
Budget priorities include public safety, street repairs and improvements, and other core services. Staff is also calling for another slight reduction in the city’s property tax rate. The proposal would reduce Dallas’ property tax rate for the 11th consecutive year, trimming it by 0.1 cent from 69.88 cents to 69.78 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
We’ll be getting into the specifics tomorrow, but keep in mind this is just a proposal. Residents will also have multiple opportunities to weigh in. Budget town hall meetings are scheduled across the city from August 11 through August 25. Click here to see the finalized schedule.
Budget workshops and public hearings are on the city council’s calendar, too. Council members will discuss Tolbert’s proposed budget on August 11. It’ll be refined by officials in the following weeks, before a final budget and property tax rate get adopted on September 16.
Back to School Fair Turns 30
Dallas families descended on Fair Park on Friday for the 30th annual Mayor’s Back to School Fair, where thousands of students received free supplies and access to other resources ahead of the new school year.
The event drew registrations from more than 5,600 families representing 12,800 students. The fair featured 183 booths offering backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, health screenings, immunizations, and other services.
“For three decades, the Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair has shown how far our community — including individual residents and business and nonprofit supporters — will go to serve our neighbors,” Mayor Eric Johnson said.
Participating organizations included Dallas ISD, Dallas College, UNT Dallas, SMU, Dallas Works, Communities Foundation of Texas, and Workforce Dallas, among others, along with dozens of sponsors. Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, which has sponsored the fair in each of its 30 years, marked the anniversary by donating 200 laptops to high school seniors.
“The Mayor’s Back to School Fair is a great example of how the people of Dallas routinely step up when there’s a need,” said Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde. “Our students succeed in Dallas ISD despite many coming from homes where they don’t always have enough money for what they need. Even something as simple as a backpack. That’s why this is so important.”
The Mayor’s Back to School Fair was held in Fair Park’s Centennial Hall and Automobile Building following an opening ceremony outside the Hall of State.
Cooling Assistance for Seniors
As North Texas continues to endure the summer heat, Dallas Fire-Rescue is teaming up with a nonprofit to get free air conditioning units into the homes of low-income older residents.
The effort is part of The Senior Source’s annual Beat the Heat campaign, which provides assistance to seniors and people with disabilities who do not have functioning air conditioning. For the 2026 campaign, the organization provided Dallas Fire-Rescue’s MEDIC 1 program with 100 window A/C units and 50 box fans for distribution.
“Through our MEDIC 1 program, our team does more than answer 911 calls — we deliver follow-up support to ensure our most vulnerable community members are safe in their own homes,” DFR Chief Justin Ball said in a news release. “Partnering with The Senior Source allows us to immediately resolve critical cooling needs before a medical emergency occurs.”
MEDIC 1 pairs a DFR paramedic with a crisis coordinator to respond to low-acuity calls while helping residents address needs that extend beyond immediate medical care. Through the partnership, personnel can identify households at elevated risk from extreme heat.
“Extreme heat is a silent emergency for vulnerable elderly residents who lack adequate cooling,” said City Manager Kimberly Tolbert. “This program is an example of how public/private partnerships matter and can support the city in addressing resident’s needs.”
The free program is available to Dallas residents age 60 and older who need cooling assistance, as well as adults age 50 and older with a disability. Residents can call 311 and request to apply for the Beat the Heat Program through DFR.
