Third in a series of four
From headline-makers to quiet fixes, Dallas County officials made defining choices on politics, priorities and people in 2025. Here’s what stood out:
Child care
Action: The Dallas County Commissioners Court allocated $1 million to help offset child care costs for working families.
Breaking News
Outcome: Employers who provide up to $1,500 per employee can receive a dollar-for-dollar county match, creating as much as $3,000 per worker to cover a portion of day care costs.
Treatment over jail
Action: To reduce the jail population, Dallas County Administrator Darryl Martin convened a task force to study a Miami-Dade County model that diverts people with serious mental illness into treatment instead of jail.
Outcome: While still in the planning phase, officials are considering four deflection centers where law enforcement could take people accused of low-level offenses for stabilization. A pilot program launched in October at the Austin Street Center shelter with backing from the district attorney’s office.
Emergency food aid
Action: After the federal government shutdown disrupted the food-benefits program for low-income families, the Commissioners Court allocated $1 million to help fill the gap.
Outcome: About 416,000 Dallas County residents rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The county funds supported the North Texas Food Bank’s distribution of produce and pantry staples for households affected by the payment cuts and delays.
Fire marshal rebrand
Action: After the Texas Legislature clarified that fire marshals’ roles are limited to fire and building inspections and barred counties from creating non-statutory law enforcement agencies, Dallas County reassessed its county marshal service.
Outcome: The county stopped calling these employees “county marshals” but didn’t change the way the agency operates. These employees are still used for building security because the new law doesn’t explicitly prohibit it, county officials said.
Steady rate, rising bills
Action: The $828 million budget for fiscal year 2026 kept the county tax rate flat.
Outcome: Even without a rate increase, higher property assessments mean many residents will pay more. The steady rate also allowed the county to absorb the end of pandemic-era relief funds while continuing programs, such as $2 million for homeless services.
What’s ahead in 2026
Countywide politics and elections move to the forefront. The March primary will include county races and more scrutiny of election administration after the Dallas County Republican Party voted to hand-count ballots cast on Election Day, but not during early voting.
The move could shape how campaigns operate and how future primaries are conducted, with broader effects on county government.
BIG MOVES
When power meets people
This series spotlights actions by local and state leaders that left a mark on everyday lives this year. The lineup:
Tuesday: Texas Legislature
Wednesday: Dallas City Hall
Thursday: Dallas County
Friday: Dallas police