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Biennial City Budget

At a glance

  • What: The City Manager's recommended biennial budget for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Council held a budget workshop on August 26, a public hearing on August 25, and amended the proposal as a Committee of the Whole on September 2 before passing it on first reading.
  • Where it stands: The appropriation ordinance was adopted on final reading on September 16, 2026 (Ordinance 33562), 10 to 5, at $5,974,342,745, after first reading on September 2 at up to $5,971,586,745. The tax rate is a separate action (see Property Tax Rate Proposal).
  • Fund split: General Fund $2,043,258,000; General Obligation Debt $525,445,418; Capital Funds $1,303,383,186; Enterprise and Other Funds $1,572,074,751; Internal Service and Other Funds $308,668,220; Grants, Trusts and Other Funds $211,074,101; Employee Retirement Fund $7,683,069.
  • Related: The tax rate is a separate action (see Property Tax Rate Proposal). A companion ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, not to exceed $5,967,988,552, passed unanimously on September 23.

Detail

  • August 25 public hearing (Item PH20): five speakers, including a representative of Dallas Afterschool. Willis moved to close the hearing, seconded by Bazaldua, and it closed unanimously.
  • August 26 workshop: the city manager briefed Council on the Department of Transportation and Public Works budget and on the recommended biennial budget. No votes were taken.
  • September 2: more than 40 open-microphone speakers addressed the Council; topics included the budget, arts funding, libraries, youth homelessness, Flock cameras, and the Living Wage Policy. Council sat as a Committee of the Whole, where West's motion to require two seconds for amendments passed 12 to 3 (Cadena, Roth and Mendelsohn opposed). Votes in committee are shown by raised seals and are not final.
  • Amendments that moved forward: an increase for Dallas Animal Services moved by Mendelsohn (14 seals in favor); several revisions by West, including one restoring funds to the Office of Inspector General at $91,000 after Stewart's subsidiary motion removed Youth Commission travel as a funding source (the text of the revisions is blank in the printed minutes).
  • Amendments that did not advance: Gracey's proposal to shift $600,000 of the City Secretary's election fund to eviction advocacy ($423,005.95) and the Arcadia Park Library ($176,405) had 7 seals; Bazaldua's amendment had 3 and a later one was withdrawn; Ridley's amendment and Mendelsohn's subsidiary motion on furniture and professional development had 7; Roth's motion to move $500,000 from eviction advocacy to district infrastructure died for lack of two seconds; Ridley's motion to cut eviction advocacy support to $250,000 had 3 seals.
  • Item 3: Stewart moved to adopt the ordinance on first reading with the amendments that had majority support; Blair seconded.
  • September 16: Council sat as a Committee of the Whole and, on Bazaldua's motion, required three seconds for amendments (13 to 2; Roth and Mendelsohn opposed). Seal counts: Willis 7 (failed); Mendelsohn 2 (failed); Bazaldua 7 and 7 (failed), then 9 and 9 (forward); Gracey 8 (forward); Ridley, as amended, 9 and then 14 (forward). The text of the amendments is blank in the printed record.
  • West moved the final total of $5,974,342,745. It passed 10 to 5 (no: Bazaldua, Blackmon, Roth, Mendelsohn, Ridley). The heading printed $5,972,586,745. After the Facilities Management Reorganization failed, West moved to reconsider (9 to 6; a point of order from Bazaldua that reconsideration needs two-thirds was overruled on the city attorney's clarification).
  • Mendelsohn's motion to fund six-day library openings was ruled out of order (no revenue source). West's call of the question failed 9 to 6. Mendelsohn then moved $1,500,000 for Library Services from the Information Technology Services data fund balance; Cadena amended it to $1,676,405 to include the Arcadia Park Library, and it passed with Willis opposed.
  • September 16 totals: General Fund $2,043,558,000; debt service $525,445,418; capital $1,303,383,186; enterprise $1,572,074,751; internal service $308,668,220; grants and trusts $211,774,101; retirement $7,683,069. Related fee changes: Fiscal Year 2026-27 Fee Schedule Ordinance.

Sources

Log

2026-09-16 - City Council Briefing

Budget amendments by seal vote; appropriation ordinance adopted 10 to 5 with an added $1,676,405 for libraries.

2026-09-23 - City Council

Ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-26 budget (not to exceed $5,967,988,552) pulled by Mendelsohn and Blackmon for individual consideration, then adopted unanimously on West's motion.

2026-09-02 - City Council Briefing

Committee of the Whole amendments, then first reading of the appropriation ordinance adopted unanimously.

2026-08-26 - City Council Budget Workshop

City manager briefings on the transportation budget and the recommended biennial budget; no votes.

2026-08-25 - City Council

Public hearing on the fiscal year 2026-27 budgets; five speakers; hearing closed unanimously.