DALLAS — Dallas’ budget has jumped in the last seven years, with the nearly $5 billion proposed 2024-2025 budget being the largest in at least 16 years.
The nearly $5 billion proposed budget seeks to make up for a projected $38 million budget shortfall driven in part by additional pension obligations.
The budget proposed for 2024-2025 calls for devoting $78 million more to the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue -- hiring an additional 250 police officers and 63 firefighters, and putting $42.8 million toward equipment and fleet for first responders. All other departments within the general fund would see a decrease in funding by a combined $13.5 million.
Here’s how the budget compares to previous years:
The $1.9 billion general fund proposed for 2024-2025 is $65.1 million – 3.5% more than in fiscal year 2024.
See a look at how the money has been allocated among departments in the general fund in the past:
The proposed budget for 2024 also sees the property tax rate cut by 3.10 cents from 73.57 cents to 70.47 cent per $100 valuation, which city officials tout as the largest single-year tax rate cut in Dallas’ modern history. The proposed budget also increases the property tax exemption for residents who are age 65 and over or living with a disability from $139,400 to $153,400.
The budget also calls for:
- Increasing the minimum wage for city workers from $18.50 to $19.25 per hour in FY 2024-25
- Funding to contribute to the city's effort to cut unsheltered homelessness by 50% by 2026
- Increased contributions to the city’s pension obligations
- Closing the Skillman Southwestern Library in Northeast Dallas
- $124 million in funding for TPW projects including street improvement and maintenance of approximately 676 lane miles, alley maintenance, sidewalk projects, bridge maintenance and other projects
- Invest $26.2 million to address City facility maintenance needs
For the full budget rundown, click here.
City officials are hosting town hall meetings on the budget through Aug. 29, with District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14 offering bilingual budget town halls in English and Spanish. Here’s the full schedule.
City officials plan to adopt the tax rate and budget by Sept. 18.
