The Dallas City Council voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2026-27 operating and capital budget totaling $5.66 billion during its meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16.
“This budget reflects the efficiencies we have worked hard to identify, uses new technologies to modernize how we deliver core services, and strengthens the partnerships that help us reach and provide services,” Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a recent press release. “We are aligning taxpayer dollars with the priorities residents expect: public safety, streets and infrastructure, libraries, housing and parks, while maintaining our commitment to strong fiscal stewardship.”
Here’s what to know about the new budget:
General Fund
Of the $5.66 billion total, the General Fund accounts for $2.05 billion, an $83 million, or 4.2%, increase from the budget adopted by the City Council last September.
The Dallas City Council also approved budgets for the Internal Service Funds and Employee Retirement Fund totaling $318.7 million.
Property taxes
The adopted Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget includes a 0.10-cent property tax reduction, lowering the tax rate from 69.88 cents to 69.78 cents per $100 of valuation.
This marks the 11th consecutive year the Dallas City Council has lowered the property tax rate.
Public safety
The combined budget for the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue increased by $82.3 million.
The budget includes funding to add 750 police officers over a two-year period, bringing staffing to 3,651 officers by the end of FY 2026-27 and 3,800 by the end of FY 2027-28.
It also increases police officer compensation to $83,822 through market-based pay and step increases.
Streets and infrastructure
The city will invest $142.8 million to improve 800 lane miles, an increase from the 759 lane miles planned for FY 2025-26.
The budget also advances roadway safety efforts through enhanced pavement markings, increased bridge maintenance, warranted signal projects and Vision Zero initiatives aimed at improving safety across Dallas’ roadway network.
Housing
The budget also expands “Dallas is Home” opportunities through public-private partnerships.
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2027.
