The City of Dallas provided an update on May 6 regarding the preliminary overview of its fiscal year 2026-27 and fiscal year 2027-28 biennial budget. The briefing, prepared for the City Council, highlights projected year-end variances, current economic pressures, and outlines upcoming steps in the city’s annual budget development process.
This planned budget for FY 2026-27 was originally developed in summer 2025 as part of a biennial planning process and serves as the foundation for the recommended budget to be proposed to the City Council on August 11, 2026. The total planned budget across all funds is $5.39 billion, with $2.05 billion allocated to the General Fund. Updated forecasts indicate that slower revenue growth and rising cost pressures have left the General Fund currently out of balance; these assumptions will be refined before the City Manager presents her recommended budget in August.
As Dallas prepares its next biennial budget, input from both City Council members and public engagement efforts continues to guide how resources are allocated. Key takeaways from a recent City Council priorities exercise include identifying “Safe” as the highest-priority Foundational Pillar, strong support for investments in streets, sidewalks, alley maintenance, homelessness response initiatives, and a majority preference among council members for maintaining the current property tax rate.
“Our obligation is to present a balanced, sustainable budget that protects essential services while responding to economic realities,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “We will continue to work closely with the City Council, staff, and residents to ensure our financial decisions reflect community priorities and maintain the City’s long-term fiscal health.”
Public engagement remains ongoing through surveys and public hearings. The next scheduled update—including results from a Community Survey—will be presented to the City Council on June 17.
