Thousands of Dallas city employees took the first of three unpaid furlough days on Friday as officials began implementing cost-cutting measures to address a budget shortfall of more than $30 million.
The furloughs apply to most non-uniformed employees paid through the city’s General Fund and are part of a broader effort that also includes a hiring freeze and overtime restrictions.
City Manager Kim Tolbert said the deficit stems from lower-than-expected sales tax revenue combined with higher overtime expenses and employee medical claims.
“Furloughs are not our preferred solution; however, they enable us to reduce expenses, protect jobs and employee health benefits, and continue delivering services to our residents,” Tolbert said, The Dallas Express reported previously.
City Services Affected
The furloughs resulted in the closure of Dallas City Hall, all Dallas Public Library branches, and Code Compliance offices on July 10. Several administrative offices and cultural centers also closed for the day.
Some departments operated with modified services, while essential public safety operations continued without interruption.
Emergency services, including Dallas Police, Dallas Fire-Rescue, EMS, and 911 dispatch, remained fully operational. Dallas Water Utilities, sanitation services, Love Field Airport, Dallas Executive Airport, and the city’s 3-1-1 service also continued normal operations, although the water utilities lobby will be closed to the public.
Parks and Recreation and Other Services Remain Open
Although many Parks and Recreation administrative employees observed the furlough Friday, recreation centers, aquatic centers, public pools, and city golf courses remained open. Employees at those facilities will take their unpaid leave after the school year begins to minimize disruptions to summer programming.
Other Parks and Recreation workers, including employees responsible for mowing parks, maintaining athletic fields, and forestry operations, began their furlough on Friday.
Harold Pearl, who has worked for Dallas Parks and Recreation for nine years, said he was frustrated by the unexpected unpaid leave.
“To clean up my words a little bit, displeased,” Pearl said, according to NBC 5 DFW.
Asked how he planned to spend the day, Pearl said he intended to “chill out, stay out the way” and “try to make some money on the side.”
More Furlough Days Scheduled
The city has scheduled two additional furlough days for September 4 and September 28 as it continues efforts to reduce spending during the current fiscal year.
Dallas officials said residents can continue using the city’s online services for water bill payments, permit applications, and non-emergency 311 requests while administrative offices are closed.