Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson issues “Tax Cut Challenge” to council members
DALLAS — On Friday, September 12, Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson challenged the City Council to propose amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget that will cut wasteful spending and reduce the property tax rate for Dallas residents.
“I challenge each of you to propose budget amendments that cut non-essential spending and direct those savings toward reducing the tax rate,” said Mayor Johnson in a memorandum to 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.”
The City Manager proposed an FY26 budget that includes a $1.3 billion investment in public safety and a $162 million investment in street improvements and maintenance, while reducing the property tax rate by 0.5¢.
“That is a big step in the right direction,” Mayor Johnson said. “But there are still opportunities to cut wasteful spending.”
In his memorandum, Mayor Johnson not only issued his “tax cut challenge,” but also proposed his own budget amendments to reduce the tax rate. His first amendment eliminates funding for the City’s outside state lobbyists, which totals $339,000, and directs those savings toward lowering the tax rate.
His second amendment allocates $386,612 in funding to support the Park and Recreation department’s aquatics programs, and follows the City Manager and Library Department’s recommendation to close the Skillman/Southwestern Library, rather than using those funds to keep the library open only three days a week. Those savings are then put toward lowering the tax rate.
Together, these two amendments will save taxpayers $725,612 and enable a 0.032¢ per $100 valuation tax rate reduction.
“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,” said Mayor Johnson.
The Mayor’s Friday memorandum can be read in full here.
###
|
