Dallas mayor, council member want bigger property tax rate cut in budget

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and another City Council member are requesting a revised budget proposal to make a bigger cut to the property tax rate.

Driving the news: On Aug. 8, city manager T.C. Broadnax presented a proposed $4.6 billion budget with a 0.65 cent cut to the property tax rate.

• The mayor and Council member Cara Mendelsohn say that's not enough of a decrease to reduce property tax payments for residents.

Why it matters: Homeowners are paying more in property taxes because home values went up even as cities have cut tax rates.

• As a result, city revenues — and budgets — have grown.

Catch up fast: Appraised property values in Dallas rose more than 10% — by almost $19 billion — this year compared to 2022, and about 15% from 2021 to 2022.

• The current budget proposal would lower the rate from 74.58 cents per $100 valuation to 73.93 cents.

The recommendation: The mayor and Mendelsohn have asked for a budget proposal that doesn't increase the revenue the city generates from property taxes in the upcoming fiscal year.

• Johnson asked city staff to submit a revised budget to City Council members by Sept. 1.

What they're saying: The Dallas city budget has grown beyond the population increases and income, Mendelsohn wrote in a memo to the city manager.

• "It is not sustainable to continue to ask our residents and businesses to support an increased tax burden."

Of note: Property taxes levied by school districts make up a larger portion of the average Texan's tax bill.

• Dallas ISD's tax rate is $1.18 per $100 valuation, about 46% of a Dallas homeowner's property tax bill.

The bottom line: Dallas has one of the highest property tax rates among large cities in the metropolitan area.

• Fort Worth, for example, is proposing a new tax rate of 67.2 cents per $100 valuation, a 4 cent cut.

What's next: Dallas residents can comment on the city manager's proposed budget at 1pm Wednesday at City Hall.