Dallas city council votes to add public safety proposition to November ballot
Dallas considering $960m bond package for Nov. elections
Dallas City Council will vote on three potential propositions for November's elections that total nearly $1 billion. FOX 4's Lori Brown has more.
DALLAS - Dallas city leaders voted to add a public safety proposition to November's ballot, while rejecting two other bond proposals.
By the numbers:
Dallas City Council voted to approve adding a public safety proposition to the November ballot.
The $443 million proposition would go to supporting public safety, including the construction of a new Dallas police gun range.
The department's current facility is an outdated building with chipping paint and rusty ammo storage. Plans call for a new range, simulated training village, and emergency vehicle operation course at a site near the Dallas Executive Airport.
It would also include moving 911 and emergency center operations out of the Dallas City Hall basement and would allocate money for a new Dallas police property room and evidence storage facility.
Dallas City Council considers putting $960M bond package on November ballot
Dallas leaders vote on whether to place a $960M bond package on the November ballot to fund a new police academy, 911 operations, and the police and fire pension system.
The other two propositions considered failed to pass.
Proposition B would have authorized $17 million for upgrades to the city’s fleet maintenance facilities.
And the final $500 million under Proposition C would have gone toward pension obligation bonds. That would go toward what the city is required by the state to pay into the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund.
A measure to include $100 million to repair Dallas City Hall failed by a 7-8 vote.
What they're saying:
Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert released the following statement after the public safety proposition's approval:
"The Dallas City Council took an important step on Wednesday to strengthen public safety by focusing our upcoming bond package solely on critical public safety infrastructure. The November 3, 2026 bond election will ask voters to close the remaining funding gap for the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) at UNT Dallas, ensuring the total project delivery remains on schedule. This modern academy will provide state-of-the-art training for Dallas police and our regional partners, reflecting our commitment to safer, stronger neighborhoods.
The $443M bond proposal also supports a Public Safety Training Complex at Dallas Executive Airport, completing the outdoor, driving, tactical, and range capabilities that will complement the LETC.
Additional investments include a consolidated property room, crime lab, and evidence vehicle storage facility; the relocation and modernization of our 911 and Emergency Operations Center; and replacement of the 73-year-old Fire Station No. 4 at Akard and Canton in downtown Dallas.
If approved by voters, these projects would modernize Dallas public safety operations and keep our focus on the future."
Dallas proposes $5.7 billion budget with employee layoffs, funding for police
The latest version of a proposed budget for the city of Dallas includes over 100 layoffs, a property tax rate reduction, and plans to expand the police force despite rising costs and slowing growth.
District 12 Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn is not a huge fan of the overall bond proposal and has encouraged voters on social media not to support anything other than the funding for police training.
While she has been a vocal supporter of funding for the police and fire pension system, she said she has very serious financial concerns about the proposals. During Wednesday's meeting, she moved to separate the bond package into more than just three propositions.
"We need this funding to provide excellent education for our public safety officers. It will add a separate item for the 911 call center. I don't support that. But people should be able to make their own decision," she said.
Mendelsohn believes if the city does not separate the items, voters will vote them all down in November, which will force another election in May just for the police academy funding.
District 7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua said he is opposing the bond package every step of the way. He added that city leaders asked voters two years ago to approve money for similar projects and that the city needs to learn to live within its means.
What's next:
The bond involving public safety will head to November's ballot, with election day scheduled for Nov. 3.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Dallas City Council and comments council members made on social media.