Dallas voters to decide on multiple ballot propositions, most would increase taxes

(The Center Square) – Registered voters in Dallas on Nov. 5 will vote to approve or reject what appear to be the greatest number of ballot propositions on a city ballot to amend a city charter.

They include increasing the salaries of the mayor and city council; eliminating multiple disclosure requirements related to city meetings and budget decisions; expanding eminent domain; restricting police enforcement of marijuana violations; eliminating requirements for city board and commission members to be registered to vote or taxpaying citizens; formally declares Dallas as a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) city, among others.

If approved, the majority will likely result in increased taxes. After previously failing to convince the city council to cut spending and not increase taxes, Dallas’s Democratic mayor, Eric Johnson, switched to become a Republican, The Center Square reported.

The propositions to amend the Dallas City Charter are as follows:

Proposition A: Authorize the city to contribute additional money to its employee retirement fund.

Proposition B: Add a preamble to the city charter “that declares the city to be an equitable democracy, comprised of representatives that act to make the city fair, equitable, just, and safe for all residents.”

The city already has an Office of Equity & Inclusion working “to operationalize equity to improve outcomes.” It implemented a Racial Equity Plan “to support the city in understanding and addressing racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities across Dallas.” Its fiscal 2022-2023 budget was $20.8 million.

Proposition C: Increase the salary of the mayor and city council members to $110,000 and $90,000, respectively, and allow for a yearly adjustment.

Proposition D: Eliminate the requirement that city council member elections be held in May, but instead according to state law, city resolution or ordinance.

Proposition E: Eliminate “the ability for members of the city council to run for city council again after serving the maximum four two-year terms and to eliminate the ability for the mayor to run for mayor again after serving the maximum two four-year terms.”

Proposition F: Require the city council to provide employees to the city secretary and city auditor “as it may deem necessary.”

Proposition G: Add eligibility criteria for redistricting commission members – those responsible for establishing voting parameters – including eliminating the requirement that they be registered to vote.

Proposition H: Eliminate the requirement that “members of the redistricting commission, city plan commission, civil service board, and park and recreation board be registered to vote, qualified voters, or qualified taxpaying citizens.”

Proposition I: Amend the initiative and referendum petition process by extending the petition signature collection deadline and reducing the number of required signatures.

Proposition J: Allow the city council to replace city board and commission members before their terms are completed.

Proposition K: Define a quorum for the city’s charter review commission.

Proposition L: Establishe the Office of the Inspector General. The City Council would appoint the IG, establish the OIG budget and authorize hiring staff.

Proposition O: Clarify terms for associate municipal judges, including residency requirements and other qualifications.

Proposition P: Eliminate the requirement that city employees who appeal being fired or demoted no longer be responsible for paying half of the cost for an administrative law judge to oversee their appeal hearing.

Proposition Q: Make multiple technical amendments to numerous city codes, related to salaries and terms for city council members, requirements for attending meetings, audit requirements, filing deadlines for running for office, among others.

One notable change, Sec. 13 would completely eliminate the requirement for city candidates to disclose campaign contributions.

Another would eliminate a budget disclosure requirement for the city manager to publish in a newspaper budget appropriations, allowing the budget to become effective immediately after the city council passes it.

Other changes include expanding eminent domain provisions, eliminating notices for public hearings for zoning hearings, among others.

Proposition R: Prohibit Dallas Police officers from making marijuana-related arrests under certain conditions; mandate such arrests be the “lowest enforcement priority;” prohibit city funds or personnel from being used to test for cannabis-related substances.

Proposition S: Grant standing to any Dallas resident to sue the city to require it to comply with city charter provisions, city ordinances, and state law; entitles them to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the city, including recovering costs and reasonable attorney’s fees; waives city governmental immunity.

Proposition T: Require a city-commissioned Community Survey be conducted every year, tie it to the city manager receiving a raise or being fired.

Proposition U: Require the city to allocate at least 50% of new revenue every year to fund the Dallas Police and Fire Pension; appropriate funds to increase the starting salary for DPD officers; increase and maintain the number of police officers to a minimum of 4,000.