Dallas voters have until Friday, Oct. 30, to vote early on Proposition A, a $443 million bond package for public safety buildings, before Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. It is the only city bond proposition on the ballot.
The city estimates repaying the bonds would cost $629,618,180 in principal and interest over no more than 20 years. As state law requires, the ballot language includes the words "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE," though the city's bond election page says the tax rate "is not anticipated to increase related to this bond program."
What the money would build
The city lists five projects and the share of each that Proposition A would cover:
- $82 million toward the Dallas Police Department's Law Enforcement Training Center at UNT Dallas, a project the city puts at $227 million in total. The city counts $50 million from the 2024 bond, $25 million in state grants and $70 million in private money, $31.5 million of it committed and $38.5 million expected.
- $149 million for a proposed police Public Safety Training Complex, part of a $170 million project. The city has also identified $15 million from its aviation department for site infrastructure and $6 million in private sponsorship for a simulated village. Candy's Dirt reported the complex would be near Dallas Executive Airport and would be used for firearms, driving and tactical training.
- $150 million for a new police property room, evidentiary vehicle storage facility and crime lab.
- $40 million for a new emergency operations center and 911 facility.
- $22 million to replace downtown Fire Station No. 4.
None of the last four projects were part of the city's $1.25 billion 2024 bond program.
Why the council split
The council voted 11-4 in August to put the package on the ballot, Candy's Dirt reported, with Adam Bazaldua, Paula Blackmon, Cara Mendelsohn and Paul Ridley voting no.
Most of the fight is over the 911 center. An organized campaign called Bust the Bond describes the measure as "the first step to abandoning and demolishing Dallas City Hall" and says it lacks accountability for the borrowed money, according to Candy's Dirt.
Mendelsohn, who chairs the council's Public Safety Committee and supports the training center, told FOX 4 the broad ballot language amounts to a "blank check" and called moving the 911 center a "poison pill." Her attempt to tighten the wording failed 8-7, FOX 4 reported.
She has said that if voters reject the package, the city would likely return in May with a smaller measure for the police training facility alone.
