Dallas Budget 101
Understand how Dallas collects, spends, and manages public money and how you can help shape the city’s priorities.
iN 1 mINUTE…
Every year, the City of Dallas adopts a budget that determines how billions of dollars will be used to provide services like police, fire, parks, libraries, streets, sanitation, and housing.
The budget reflects the city’s priorities and helps determine which projects and services receive funding.
think of it like this
Imagine you and your roommates share an apartment. Every month you have a certain amount of money.
Before you spend it, you have to decide:
- How much goes toward rent?
- How much goes toward groceries?
- How much goes toward utilities?
- Is there enough left to buy new furniture?
You can’t spend more money than you have, so every decision involves tradeoffs.
Dallas works the same way. Every year, city leaders decide how to use limited resources to pay for the services residents rely on every day.
What you’ll learn
Where Dallas Gets Its Money
Learn about property taxes, sales taxes, fees, permits, grants, and enterprise funds.
Where Dallas Spends Its Money
See how funding is distributed across departments like police, fire, parks, libraries, housing, and transportation.
how the budget is made
Learn how the budget is created, reviewed, amended, and adopted each year.
current budget
Explore this year’s budget, major investments, budget gap, new programs, and reductions.
Participate in the budget
Learn how residents can attend town halls, give public comment, contact City Council, and influence the budget.
budget tools
Use interactive tools, dashboards, and glossaries to better understand the budget.
how The budget works
- Revenue
- Budget Planning
- City Manager Recommendation
- City Council Review
- Public Input
- Budget Adoption
- City Services
why this matters
The budget affects almost every city service you use. It helps determine:
- How many police officers are hired.
- When streets are repaired.
- How parks are maintained.
- Whether libraries expand programs.
- Investments in housing and transportation.
- Funding for future city projects.
Understanding the budget makes it easier to understand why the city makes certain decisions.
myth vs facts
Myth
Fact
The City can spend money on anything it wants.
Some revenue sources are legally restricted and can only be used for specific purposes.
The City is only about numbers.
The budget reflects the city’s priorities and determines which services receive funding.
Residents only have a chance to participate after the budget is approved.
Residents can participate throughout the budget process by attending workshops, town halls, public hearings, and contacting their council members.
take action
- Read the current budget.
- Find your Budget Town Hall.
- Contact your City Council member.
- Try the Budget Simulator
Frequently asked questions
Why does Dallas have a budget?
The budget is the city’s financial plan. It determines how public money will be collected and spent during the fiscal year.
Where does most of Dallas’ money come from?
The city’s largest General Fund revenue sources are typically property taxes and sales taxes, along with fees and other revenues.
Who decides the budget?
The City Manager prepares a recommended budget, but the Dallas City Council reviews, amends, and adopts the final budget.
Can residents influence the city budget?
Yes. Residents can attend budget town halls, provide public comment, contact their council member, and participate throughout the budget process.
What happens if the City collects less money than expected?
The city may reduce spending, delay projects, adjust hiring, or make other budget changes to maintain a balanced budget.
CONTINUE LEARNING
Build on what you’ve learned by exploring the people and systems that keep Dallas running.
Learn about property taxes, sales taxes, fees, permits, grants, and enterprise funds.
See how Dallas allocates funding across departments and services.
Follow the budget from planning to final adoption by the City Council.
See this year’s priorities, major changes, and budget documents.