Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson inaugurates the FIFA Fan Fest ahead of opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Fair Park on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
City officials were supposed to talk about a $51 million shortfall in next year’s annual budget and how they were going to overcome it. Instead, they got a ride to the World Cup.
Some council members went to Wednesday’s soccer match between Croatia and England, which started half an hour after the council voted 9-5 to authorize evaluation of relocation sites for City Hall and emergency operations, the Dallas Observer first reported.
But what was not known was that council offices received an email with transit information exactly five minutes after the vote:
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“Please let your CMs know that if they wish to utilize provided transportation to today’s FIFA game at 3pm, there are two SUVs located on L1 Green,” read an email sent by a senior administrator in the mayor and city council office.
A city spokesperson said in a statement that city leaders often attended events in their official capacity to represent the city, “which is necessary to support diplomatic relations, economic development, opportunities, and key hospitality efforts.” The spokesperson declined to offer specifics about the transportation provided by the city citing security reasons.
The public meeting didn’t continue after that because not enough council members — nine — were present in person or online to conduct business.
Council meetings and smaller committee meetings have been mired in lost time, cancellations and infighting. Elected officials go over a bulk of the city’s business during this time and when council members don’t show up or leave midway, pressure grows on how fast and efficiently the city can address resident needs.
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Council members Maxie Johnson, Kathy Stewart, Bill Roth, Cara Mendelsohn, Gay Donnell Willis and Paul Ridley were present in council. Council members Chad West and Laura Cadena tuned in virtually. Zarin Gracey told The Dallas Morning News he was at the game.
Council members Jesse Moreno, Jaime Resendez, Adam Bazaldua, Lorie Blair and Mayor Eric Johnson did not respond to The News’ inquiry.
Some blame the dynamics on the council. District 9 council member Paula Blackmon said she left the meeting when she saw others leave for the game because she was “emotionally whipped.”
“I look at the council and it’s just a sad place to be,” she said about the barbs traded among the council. “I’m guilty of it too and I’m trying to be careful. But I’m going to court, suing my own city. It’s not fun.”
Quorum issues
The absence of a budget discussion didn’t go unnoticed in other parts of City Hall.
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During Thursday’s Park Board meeting, board members asked about how the council’s budget deliberations went only to be informed that they never happened. The same day, the council’s government efficiency committee, aimed at reviewing programs and partnerships the city contributes taxpayer dollars to, did not begin because a majority failed to show up.
Johnson, the council member who chairs the committee, Mendelsohn and Roth waited for the meeting to begin for half an hour but ultimately canceled. Ridley said he notified staff he was going to be late because he was coming from another city-related event, and Blackmon said she woke up sick. The rest did not respond.
The lack of quorum has also plagued the housing and homelessness committee, chaired by Mendelsohn.
At least two canceled meetings due to a lack of quorum had key agenda items related to affordable housing that didn’t get discussed until they were part of a longer agenda given to the full council. Council member Gay Donnell Willis, part of the housing and homelessness committee, said the quorum issue has been frustrating because there are times when officials were on their way but since it was outside the 15 minute rule, the chair opted to “abandon the meeting.”
Missed budget discussion
West, who said he was at the game but tuned in virtually for the budget discussion, said “it was unfortunate that a plan wasn’t put into place for the briefing to be rescheduled if council members knew they were going to not be present for the afternoon portion of the briefing.”
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“Our next year’s budget is the most important topic at City Hall right now, and we absolutely need to find a makeup date to discuss the budget before we break in July,” he said.
It is unclear when the council will discuss the $51 million deficit in the budget. June 24 is the last scheduled meeting before the council goes for its July break, and the city is expected to mull an incentive package for Morgan Stanley’s move to Dallas and a vote to potentially return the convention center to its original height.