What's Happening in Dallas, TX…

A reduction in city services may not be necessary for the city of Dallas, despite the economic effects of the pandemic.

New construction has increased revenue from property taxes and federal funds have been made available that will assist with paying police salaries. A recently released budget proposal from T.C. Broadnax, Dallas city manager, estimates $57 million more revenue from property taxes with $34 million of that from new construction.

During a teleconference, Broadnax said he is looking to increase funding for mental health services, while at the same time maintaining the Dallas Police Department’s funding in 2021 and increasing that funding by $24 million in 2022. The CARES Act provided Dallas with $234 million, of which $27 million will fund police officers’ salaries for the last three months of 2020.

The Right Care program, which pairs therapists and social workers with police officers for mental health emergency responses, was started in 2018 as a pilot program. Presently, $900,000 of the budget has been allocated for the program. The proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2021, which starts October 1, would raise the program’s budget to $3.7 million.

Explaining new programs to the public is easier for a municipality with the help of a poster printing service.

After a workshop in which Dallas City Council will be offering their input and a town hall meeting, a vote on the budget will take place in September.