Dallas Mayor challenges City Council to push for deeper tax cuts and budget efficiency
Dallas, Texas – Mayor Eric L. Johnson issued a direct challenge to the City Council on Friday, September 12. He urged all members to identify and eliminate non-essential spending in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget in order to further lower the property tax rate for residents.
“I challenge each of you to propose budget amendments that cut nonessential spending and direct those savings toward reducing the tax rate,” Mayor Johnson stated in a memorandum addressed to all council members. “Reimagining our City budget for greater efficiency is not an insurmountable task, and I trust each of you is up to this challenge.”
Mayor Proposes Two Specific Amendments
While the City Manager’s proposed budget already includes a notable 0.5¢ property tax rate reduction, a $1.3 billion investment in public safety, and $162 million for street improvements and maintenance, Mayor Johnson believes there’s still more that can be done to trim the budget and ease the tax burden on Dallas residents.
“That is a big step in the right direction,” he acknowledged. “But there are still opportunities to cut wasteful spending.”
To set an example, the mayor proposed two amendments of his own. The first calls for cutting $339,000 in funding currently allocated to the City’s outside state lobbyists. That amount, he argues, could be better used to reduce the tax rate.
The second amendment focuses on reallocating funds from the Dallas Public Library system. Mayor Johnson supports the recommendation to permanently close the Skillman/Southwestern Library, instead of keeping it open for only three days a week. By following that recommendation and redirecting those resources, $386,612 would be made available to support aquatics programs in the Park and Recreation Department while also contributing to tax relief.
Together, the proposed changes would save the City a total of $725,612, enabling an additional 0.032¢ reduction per $100 of property valuation.
A Call for Collective Action
Mayor Johnson emphasized that while the savings from his proposed amendments may seem small, they are part of a larger goal. “While a 0.032¢ reduction may appear minor on its own, if each member proposes similar amendments—eliminating wasteful spending without affecting essential services like public safety and infrastructure maintenance—then we as a City Council can build off of the City Manager’s proposed 0.5¢ reduction and provide meaningful tax relief to our residents,” he said.
The mayor’s challenge sets the tone for the upcoming budget discussions, as Dallas leaders weigh how to prioritize essential services while delivering financial relief to taxpayers.
