In the first step on the long walk to a budget for the city of Dallas, city manager A.C. Gonzalez has unfurled the first draft of the 2015-16 budget, to be presented to the Dallas city council on Tuesday, August 11.
The total budget is $3.1 billion dollars, as in billion with a B. Gonzalez' summary claims to offer a balanced budget, with priorities on street conditions, code compliance and animal services, the arts and libraries, and technology.
By comparison, the 2014-15 budget was $2.815 million. That represents an increase of nearly 10 percent.
Gonzalez says that street maintenance would receive an additional $16.7 million, representing an increase of 46 percent. Technology would receive an additional $68 million, which he said would go toward replacing computers and upgrading equipment.
Part of what fueled the process was a citizen survey conducted in 2014, which called for more infrastructure, code enforcement, public safety and streets.
Dallas Animal Services would see an additional $580,159, which would include the hiring of 15 additional officers. This falls far short of the shelter's proposal for $1,038,203 for a "community outreach" program, emphasizing education, outreach and enforcement, that would replace the more costly "sweeps" approach.
According to the city-issued figures, property taxes will account for 49 percent of the revenue. Sales tax revenue accounts for 25 percent of the general fund, and "other" revenues including municipal courts, fines, ambulance fees, licenses and permits, and so on, account for 17 percent. There will be no new taxes.
From August 11-September 1, the Dallas City Council will host a series of town meetings to discuss the budget; the times and places are listed below. It is also hosting eight virtual town hall meetings you can attend online (go to dallascityhall.com or dallascitynewsroom.com and click on the town hall banner), or call in, using a phone number posted on the Dallas City Hall website.
Tuesday, August 11
District 5 and 8, Rick Callahan and Erik Wilson
6 pm. Janie C. Turner Recreation Center, 6424 Elam Rd., 75217
District 9 and 10, Mark Clayton and Adam McGough
6 pm, Dallas City Hall (virtual and in person), 1500 Marilla St., 6ES
District 4 Carolyn Arnold
6 pm. Beckley Saner Recreation Center, 114 W. Hobson St., 75216
Thursday, August 14
District 2 Adam Medrano
6:30 pm. Samuell Grand Recreation Center, 6200 E. Grand Ave., 75223
District 5 Rick Callahan
6 pm. Prairie Creek Library, 9609 Lake June Rd., 75217
District 8 Erik Wilson
6 pm. Kleberg Rylie Recreation Center, 1515 Edd Rd., 75253
District 9 Mark Clayton
6:30 pm. Ridewood Recreation Center, 6818 Fisher Rd., 75214
District 4 Carolyn Arnold
6 pm. Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center, 1201 E. 8th St., 75203
District 10 Adam McGough
6 pm. Lake Highlands North Recreation Center, 9940 White rock Trail, 75238
Monday August 17
District 11 Lee Kleinman
6:30 pm, Dallas City Hall (virtual and in person), 1500 Marilla St., 6ES
District 3 Casey Thomas
6 pm. Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center, 5150 Mark Trail Way, 75232
District 5 and 7, Rick Callahan and Tiffinni Young
6 pm. Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center, 8701 Greenmound Ave., 75227
District 6 Monica Alonzo
6:30 pm. Anita Martinez Recreation Center, 3212 Winnetka St., 75212
District 1 and 14, Scott Griggs and Philip Kingston
6:30 pm. Dallas City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., 75201
District 8 Erik Wilson
6 pm. Highland Hills Library, 8200 Bonnie View Rd., 75241
District 4 Carolyn King Arnold
6 pm. Mark Twain Elementary, 724 Green Cove Ln., 75232
District 10 Adam McGough
6 pm. Richland College, 12800 Abrams Rd., 75243
District 13 Jennifer Staubach Gates
6:30 pm, Dallas City Hall (virtual and in person), 1500 Marilla St., 6ES
6 pm. Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, 2008 E. Kiest Blvd., 75216
District 12 Sandy Greyson
7 pm, Dallas City Hall (virtual and in person), 1500 Marilla St., 6ES
District 6 and 13, Monica Alonzo and Jennifer Staubach Gates
6:30 pm. Walnut Hill Recreation Center, 10011 Midway Rd., 75229
District 11 Lee Kleinman
6:30 pm. Fretz Recreation Center, 6950 Belt Line Rd., 75254
District 3 and 8, Casey Thomas and Erik Wilson
6 pm. Singing Hills Recreation Center, 1909 Crouch Rd., 75241
6 pm. Harry Stone Recreation Center, 2403 Milmar Dr., 75228
District 1 Scott Griggs
6 pm. Martin Weiss Recreation Center, 1111 Martindell Ave., 75211
District 7 Tiffinni Young
6 pm. White Rock Hills Library - Auditorium, 9150 Ferguson Rd., 75228
Districts 1 and 3, Scott Griggs and Casey Thomas
6 pm. Hampton-Illinois Library Black Box Theatre, 2951 S. Hampton Rd., 75224
District 8 Erik Wilson
6 pm, Dallas City Hall (virtual and in person), 1500 Marilla St., 6ES
Tuesday, August 25
District 6 Monica Alonzo
6:30 pm. Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center, 3114 Clymer St., 75212
District 11 and 12, Lee Kleinman and Jennifer Staubach Gates
6:30 pm. Churchill Recreation Center - Gymnasium, 6906 Churchill Way, 75230
District 12 Sandy Greyson
7 pm. Timberglen Recreation Center, 3810 Timberglen Rd., 75287
6:30 pm. Lake Highlands Baptist Church, 642 Brookhurst Dr., 75218
District 14 Philip Kingston
6:30 pm. Klyde Warren Park (virtual and in person), 2012 Woodall Rogers Fwy., 75201
Thursday, August 27
District 1 Scott Griggs
6 pm. Methodist Dallas Medical Center - Hitt Auditorium, 1441 N. Beckley Ave., 75203
District 2 and 6, Adam Medrano and Monica Alonzo
6:30 pm. Bachman Recreation Centre (virtual and in person), 2750 Bachman Dr., 75220
District 3 Casey Thomas
6 pm. Park in the Woods Recreation Center, 6801 Mountain Creek Pkwy., 75249
District 4 Carolyn King Arnold
6 pm. John W. Carpenter Elementary School, 2120 Tosca Ln., 75224
Monday August 31
District 7 Tiffinni Young
6:30 pm. DCS Technology and Training Center (virtual and in person), 5151 Samuell Blvd., 75228
Tuesday, September 1
District 12 Sandy Greyson
7 pm. Campbell Green Recreation Center, 16600 Parkhill Dr., 75248
District 7 Tiffinni Young
6:30 pm. Women's Museum at Fair Park, 3800 Parry Ave, 75228
Dallas tackles its annual budget with a resolution by September.
