Allocated Dallas County budget features $2 million dedicated to addressing homelessness concerns, yet falls short of the desired sum solicited by some parties.
Dallas County Approves New Budget with Emphasis on Homelessness and No Jail Funding Changes
Dallas County has approved a new budget worth over $828 million, which takes effect on Oct. 1. The budget, which includes more than $6 million set aside for reallocation throughout the year, maintains the county's property tax rate the same as last year.
However, there are some significant changes in the allocation of funds. Commissioner John Wiley Price's funding requests for jail operations were included in the budget, but no new requests were made for jail operations this year. This decision has raised concerns among some commissioners, particularly Commissioner Andy Sommerman, who expressed worry about the large amount of money being spent on the jail while little is being invested in preventing homelessness and crime.
In response to Sommerman's concerns, the county has allocated an additional $2.5 million for homelessness programs. Commissioners also approved $2 million for specific homelessness programs, including Housing Forward and Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center. However, it has not been specified who promised the funding for these programs, and it appears that not the full amount was received from the Dallas County commissioners.
Commissioner Price, a supporter of homelessness programs, emphasized the need for metrics to show the effectiveness of these programs. In line with this, Commissioner Sommerman has requested a report to track the progress of homelessness programs and their funding.
It is important to note that the county is receiving $141 million less in federal help for COVID-19 economic stimulus than last year. This reduction in funding may impact the county's ability to allocate resources to various programmes, including homelessness initiatives.
Finally, it should be noted that an owner's rate could still increase due to state law changes, even though the county's property tax rate remains the same as last year. This means that while the county's budget remains stable, individual property owners may see an increase in their tax bills.
In conclusion, the new Dallas County budget focuses on addressing homelessness while maintaining the status quo for jail operations. Commissioners are actively seeking ways to measure the effectiveness of homelessness programs and are working to secure additional funding for these initiatives. The budget's implementation will be closely monitored to ensure it meets the needs of the county's residents.
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