City News

City of Dallas hosts meetings on redistricting for public to weigh in

Redistricting shows how the population has shifted in the city of Dallas.

Photo by Sean Pavone/iStock

Redistricting happens every 10 years, following surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The census shows changes in population and demographics. State and local officials then use those figures to redraw congressional, state, and local district boundaries, so that each district has approximately the same number of people.

That process generally involves a task force which studies current districts and solicits feedback via meetings with the community, then updates the districts and boundaries to reflect current numbers.

The Redistricting Commission plans to make a recommendation to the Dallas City Council in May. The Council has 45 days to adopt, or modify and adopt, a new districting plan. Any modification requires approval by three-fourths of the City Council.

If final action is not taken by the City Council within 45 days, the Redistricting Commission's recommended plan becomes final.

The new districting plan will be implemented at the next general election of Dallas City Council members, currently projected for May 6, 2023.

The city of Dallas began its process in December 2021 with a series of eight town hall meetings, which include opportunities for the public to weigh in, some in-person and some virtual. Two meetings have already transpired, leaving six to go.

The schedule is as follows:

Thursday January 6, 6:30-9:30 pm - Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Dr.. This meeting is only offered in person and will adhere to the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines. Wearing masks is strongly encouraged and social distancing will be practiced. Members of the public may also provide feedback at any time at DallasRedistricting.com or by calling 214-671-5197, although that number is just a recording, no one ever answers.
Thursday January 13, 6:30-9:30 pm - Lake Highlands North Recreation Center, 9940 White Rock Trail (District 10)
Saturday January 22, 3:30-6:30 pm - Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center, 8701 Greenmound (District 5)
Thursday January 27, 6:30-9:30 pm - Exline Recreation Center, 2525 Pine St. (District 7)
Saturday, February 5, 3:30-6:30 pm - Timberglen Recreation Center, 3810 Timberglen Rd. (District 12)
Thursday, February 10, 6:30-9:30 pm - City Hall ‐ WebEx

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income analysis

This is the family income needed for one parent to stay home in Texas

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

With costs to raise a child soaring over $20,000 a year in Texas, some households might decide to have one parent work while the other stays at home to raise their child.

The cost of raising a child has ballooned in major metros like Dallas-Fort Worth, forcing many families to weight the choice between paying for child care or having one parent stay home full-time.

A recent analysis from SmartAsset determined the minimum income one parent needs to earn to support their partner staying at home to raise one child in all 50 states. In Texas, that amount is just under $75,000.

The study used the MIT Living Wage Calculator to compare the annual living wages needed for a household with two working adults and one child, and a household with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child. The study also calculated how much it would cost to raise a child with two working parents based on factors such as "food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, incremental income taxes and other necessities."

A Texas household with one working parent would need to earn $74,734 a year to support their stay-at-home partner and their child, the report found. If both parents worked in the household, it would require an additional $10,504 in annual income to raise their child.

SmartAsset said the cost to raise a child in Texas in a two-working-parent household adds up to $23,587. Raising a child in North Texas, however, is slightly more affordable. A separate SmartAsset study from June 2025 determined it costs $22,337 to raise a child in Dallas-Fort Worth.

In the report's ranking of states with the highest minimum income needed to support a family with one working adult, a stay-at-home parent, and one child, Texas ranked 32nd on the list.

In other states like Massachusetts where raising a child can cost more than $40,000 a year, the report's author says families will look for ways to reduce any financial burdens.

"This often includes considerations around who’s going to work in the household, and whether young children will require paid daycare services while parents are occupied," the report said. "With tradeoffs abound, many parents might seek to understand the minimum income needed to keep the family afloat while allowing the other parent to stay home to raise a young child."

The top 10 states with the lowest minimum income threshold to support a three-person family on one income are:

West Virginia – $68,099
Arkansas – $68,141
Mississippi – $70,242
Kentucky – $70,408
North Dakota – $70,949
Oklahoma – $71,718
Ohio – $72,114
South Dakota – $72,218
Alabama – $72,238
Nebraska – $72,966

texas income smartasset family