This week at city hall: August 31-September 4
Okay, this is a big budget week.
On Wednesday, Council members start voting on changes to Dallas’ proposed budget including whether to put money back into Adult Learning, eviction assistance and six community pools.
But that’s not the only big policy question. Dallas is also considering a major change to its Living Wage Policy, asking whether it needs new rules for data centers, and taking its first steps toward rethinking zoning across thousands of acres in southeast Dallas.
Here’s what I’d watch this week.
What Will Dallas Put Back Into The Budget?
Wednesday – Budget Workshop
bUDGET
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Okay, now the budget debate gets real.
Up until now, Council members have mostly been reacting to the City Manager’s proposed budget. Wednesday is when they start considering actual amendments and deciding what they want to restore, remove or move around.
Management has already proposed putting some money back.
That includes $125,000 for Adult Learning, $500,000 for eviction legal services, and $700,000 in one-time funding to keep six community pools operating next summer.
Council members have their own ideas, too.
Council Member Chad West wants to eliminate an $852,000 AI-camera initiative involving Sanitation and Code Compliance and use the money to lower sanitation bills by about 20 cents a month.
Council Member Zarin Gracey wants to move $1 million from the Election Fund, primarily toward eviction advocacy and Adult Learning.
WHY WE’RE WATCHING?
Because putting something back into a balanced budget means Dallas generally has to find the money somewhere else.
The amendments show us something the original budget can’t:
What does each Council member think is worth paying for?
WATCH FOR:
What gets restored?
What gets cut or moved around to pay for it?
And which amendments can actually get enough votes?
What Should A “Living Wage” Mean In Dallas?
Wednesday – City Council
WORK
ECONOMY
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Okay, this one sounds technical. The numbers make it pretty simple.
Dallas currently requires workers on certain City contracts to be paid at least $23.06 an hour. The City is considering changing that.
Under the proposal, Dallas would compare its living wage calculation with the median local wage for that particular occupation and use whichever is lower.
Staff’s examples show what that could mean:
Janitors: $23.06 to $16.76
Security guards: $23.06 to $18.28
Landscaping workers: $23.06 to $18.82
Dallas would also raise the contract threshold from $100,000 to $300,000 and narrow which contracts are covered.
WHY WE’RE WATCHING?
Because Dallas is really deciding between two different ideas: Should a “living wage” reflect what it costs to live here?
Or should it reflect what that particular job typically pays?
WATCH FOR:
Why use the lower number?
How many workers could eventually be affected?
And where does Council land before the proposal comes back for a vote on September 9?
Does Dallas Need New Rules For Data Centers?
Tuesday – Economic Development Committee
WORK + ECONOMY
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Dallas already has 23 known data centers.
Together, they’re valued at about $1.47 billion and generated roughly $10.3 million in City property taxes last year.
But here’s the interesting part:
Dallas doesn’t actually have a zoning category specifically for data centers.
They’re currently treated as communication exchange facilities and can be built in several different zoning districts.
Now Dallas is considering whether that needs to change. Staff is studying rules around where data centers can go, how close they can be to homes, landscaping, noise and lighting.
WHY WE’RE WATCHING?
Because data centers can generate a lot of tax value. They can also require significant amounts of electricity and water.
So the question isn’t simply whether Dallas wants data centers. It’s where they belong and what rules should come with them.
WATCH FOR:
Does the committee ask staff to fast track new regulations?
What concerns do Council members raise about water and electricity?
And should data centers be allowed by right in as many places as they are today?
Dallas Knows Where Extreme Heat Is A Problem. What Happens Now?
Tuesday – Parks, Trails & Environment Committee
PARKS
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Dallas has spent years studying extreme heat. Now the City has an Extreme Heat Intervention Guidebook laying out things it could actually do about it.
The ideas range from more cooling centers and temporary shade to shaded bus stops, cool pavement, more trees and changes to development rules.
There’s just one important catch: The guidebook isn’t an implementation plan. It’s a menu of possible solutions.
WHY WE’RE WATCHING
Because identifying the problem is different from actually fixing it. Dallas now has data showing where heat exposure is worse and a long list of potential interventions.
The next decisions are about what gets done, where and who pays for it.
WATCH FOR:
Does Council ask for an implementation plan?
Which ideas could actually get funded?
And will Dallas prioritize the neighborhoods experiencing the greatest heat exposure?
aLSO ON OUR RADAR
GOVERNMENT
Who Will Be Dallas’ Next Government Watchdog?
The Administrative Affairs Committee is interviewing candidates for Inspector General Monday.
The committee could recommend candidates to the full City Council.
We’re watching: Who advances and what Council members say they want from the office.
DEVELOPMENT
Why Is Dallas Restarting A 7,700-Acre Zoning Review?
City Plan Commission could start a new zoning review covering roughly 7,722 acres in Kleberg/Rylie in southeast Dallas.
No, Dallas isn’t rezoning all 7,700 acres Thursday.
This would start the process of figuring out whether zoning across the area should eventually change.
We’re watching: Why is Dallas restarting the process, and what does it want to change?
GOVERNMENT
Fair Park’s Community Park Is Getting Closer To Construction
Fair Park First says its $40.6 million Community Park is targeting a December groundbreaking.
It reports $36.1 million raised and a remaining $1.78 million design/construction funding gap.
We’re watching whether the remaining money comes together and whether construction stays on schedule.
this week
| MONDAY, AUGUST 24 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 |
| 9 AM: ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS | 9 AM: PARKS, TRAILS + ENVIRONMENT |
| Inspector General + board residency | Extreme heat + Fair Park |
| 6 PM: SOUTH DALLAS/FAIR PARK | 1 PM: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| FY27 community grants | Data centers |
| WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 |
| 9 AM: CITY COUNCIL | 10:30 AM: CITY PLAN COMMISSION |
| Budget amendments + Living Wage | Kleberg/Rylie + housing + Deep Ellum |
IF YOU CAN ONLY WATCH ONE MEETING
WEDNESDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
This is the one. Council members aren’t just talking about the proposed budget anymore.
They’re starting to show us what they would actually change.
Watch what they restore.
Watch what they remove.
And especially watch where they find the money to pay for it.
Plus, Council will debate a Living Wage proposal that could change both which City contracts are covered and how much some workers on future contracts must be paid.
what happens next?
First Reading + Amendments
SEPTEMBER 2
Council considers amendments and takes its first-reading budget vote.
Living Wage Vote
SEPTEMBER 9
Council is scheduled to consider the proposed Living Wage Policy changes.
Final Budget Vote
SEPTEMBER 16
Council is scheduled to adopt the FY2026–27 budget and property tax rate.
New Fiscal Year
OCTOBER 1
The adopted FY2026–27 budget takes effect.
IF YOU ONLY REMEMBER 3 THINGS…
- Council starts actually changing the budget Wednesday.
Adult Learning, eviction assistance, pools and other programs could get money back but Council has to decide where that money comes from. - Dallas could fundamentally change its Living Wage Policy.
For some jobs on future City contracts, the required wage could be based on the local market wage when it’s lower than Dallas’ living wage calculation. - Dallas is starting two much bigger conversations about growth.
The City is considering new rules for data centers while potentially restarting a zoning review covering more than 7,700 acres of southeast Dallas.
THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
You’ve officially made it through a week of Dallas City Hall without reading hundreds of pages of agendas.
We’ll keep watching what happens and come back with the stuff you actually need to know.
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