A slew of public projects in Dallas County totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, including land for a new jail, will be funded through debt issued without voter approval.
The Dallas County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to borrow $350 million to fund the projects through a form of bonds that do not require voters to sign off on them. The bonds, known as certificates of obligation, were originally intended to fund public needs quickly but local governments can also use them to fund public works projects under state law.
With interest, the debt will amount to $688 million repaid through property taxes over the next several decades, according to county records. In March, when officials published their intent to issue the debt, commissioners pointed to the need to fund public improvements after a period of relatively little borrowing.
Certificates of obligation are a growing tool used by local governments. Over the past decade, their use in Texas more than doubled with cities accounting for more than 80% of this type of debt in 2025, according to the Texas Bond Review Board.
Dallas County will still have the second lowest amount of outstanding debt per capita among the five largest jurisdictions in the state after this bond package, according to data presented by PFM Financial Advisers. It adds to the $240 million in debt plus interest the county expected to pay off by 2042.
Commissioners approved the $350 million package with no discussion. After the meeting, County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins declined to comment on why he supported these projects and financing method.
County Administrator Darryl Martin said the county chose bonds that don’t require a referendum so work could begin sooner.
“Some of these projects are ready to go and we’ve got to get them moving now,” Martin said.
The largest portion of the financing package, about $60 million, will go toward buying and developing land for a new jail. County officials have been using a consultant to look for a location to replace the aging Lew Sterrett Justice Center but have not yet disclosed a proposed site.
In 2024 a consultant said a new jail with 7,200 beds will cost $5.3 billion to build by 2032. Commissioners have not yet discussed publicly how a new jail’s construction would be funded.
The package also includes funding for renovations to the Old Red Courthouse, new road and bridge buildings in Districts 3 and 4, and the East Dallas Government Center. The planning, design and pre-construction activities for these four projects were funded by a bond package issued in 2022.
The bond program passed Tuesday will pay for construction-related costs for those four projects, which were not part of the 2022 phase, according to information provided by Lauren Trimble, Lewis Jenkins’ chief of staff.
The total debt package includes: