DALLAS — Dallas is weighing a proposed $5.6 billion budget that would eliminate nearly 300 city positions, including more than 100 layoffs, as officials work to close a $51 million shortfall ahead of the next fiscal year.
The proposed cuts would affect departments including libraries, parks and recreation, transportation and public works.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Tolbert said the city faces difficult choices as rising costs outpace available resources.
“That rising cost continue to outpace available resources, and that means we must make thoughtful decisions,” Tolbert said.
The proposal would also eliminate the city’s co-pay health insurance plan and explore privatizing some services.
Dallas City Council member Chad West said city officials have worked to address the financial challenges facing the city.
“The city manager and her team and the city and the chief financial officer have done a good job of really making lemonade out of the lemons they’ve been given,” West said.
A major factor behind the budget shortfall is spending on public safety. The city is required by law to have 4,000 police officers and remained more than 600 officers short as of August data, with 3,386 officers reported.
The city is also responsible for funding pension obligations for police and firefighters.
West said $80.2 million in the proposed budget would go toward public safety.
“A slight increase in the budget for the overall amount of $80.2 million. All of that and then some is going to go to police and fire,” said West.
Residents have raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed cuts, particularly at libraries, parks and community pools.
“To talk about libraries. There’s a lot of concerns from my neighbors about parks and potential cuts to community pools,” West said of the comments he has heard from residents.
West said the Parks and Recreation Department could explore other ways to generate funding, including partnerships with private companies and potentially placing billboards in some park areas.
The proposed budget would reduce the city’s tax rate by one-tenth of a penny.
In a newsletter, Mayor Eric Johnson said Dallas does not “have a revenue problem” and suggested the city should use artificial intelligence to improve efficiency.
West said the city should embrace new technology and adopt practices used by private companies.
“Technology is… the future. And we need to embrace it, as a city, just like private industries is embracing it, and adopt those best practices,” West said.
The proposal is not final. Dallas is expected to continue discussing and revising the budget before adopting a final plan by at least the end of September.
The new fiscal year is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.