Dallas City Council passes a $5 billion budget with lower taxes, aiming for financial restraint by decreasing expenses
Dallas City Council Approves 2025-26 Budget with Key Changes
The Dallas City Council has approved the final budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which starts on October 1 and runs through September 30, 2026. The approved budget totals $5.5 billion, a significant increase from the previous year.
One of the notable changes in the budget is the reallocation of funds. Mayor Eric Johnson proposed two amendments that were included in the final budget. One of these amendments aims to cut funding for the city's state lobbying team, reducing spending by around $339,000 and eliminating funding for the entirety of next year. The city manager and council will determine when to restore this funding.
The other amendment reallocates funds that were originally earmarked for the Skillman Southwestern Branch Library. This move will cut funds for the library by around $386,000, potentially putting the library at risk of closure. However, these ARPA funds will be used to support the Park and Recreation department's aquatics programs in the Southern Sector instead. It's important to note that the funds for the Southern sector aquatics programs are one-time use, meaning they will not be guaranteed in following years.
The Skillman Library has been at risk due to its small size, low performance, and close proximity to the Vickery Park Branch Library. The person intending to reallocate the funds from the Skillman City Library in the 2025-26 final budget to the Aquatics programs in the southern district is not specified in the provided information.
In addition to these changes, the budget includes around $1.97 billion for the city's general fund. This budget balances resident priorities such as street infrastructure and public safety while reducing the tax rate for the 10th consecutive year. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert made this statement.
City staff have considered closing at least nine of its community pools due to aging, with a recommendation made in the 2015 Aquatic Facilities Master Plan. Council Member Jaime Resendez voiced his opposition to the reallocation, stating it does nothing to provide long-term, sustainable funding to South Dallas' community pools.
On a positive note, Dallas residents will pay lower property taxes in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with the new tax rate being 69.88 cents per $100 valuation, a decrease from the current rate of 70.47 cents.
During Wednesday's meeting, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn spoke in favour of council members fostering relationships with state legislators. An amendment proposed by Council Member Paula Blackmon aimed to reallocate ARPA funds toward the library, allowing it to be open eight hours for three days a week.
These changes reflect the city's ongoing efforts to optimize city services, consolidate duplicate services, and reimagine how the city does business. The city council's decisions will undoubtedly impact the lives of Dallas residents in the coming years.
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