Decriminalizing marijuana, adding police among Dallas propositions
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Dallas voters will have the chance to effectively decriminalize low-level marijuana possession, increase salaries for the City Council and mayor, and move city elections to November.
The big picture: They will need to get through a lengthy ballot before even arriving at the 18 charter amendments.
- In-person early voting is Oct. 21–Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5.
State of play: The City Charter defines the power and structure of the municipal government, and is typically reviewed every decade. Changes require voter approval.
- A city committee spent months drafting potential amendments, and some Dallas resident groups pushed to add several of the propositions.
The intrigue: Dallas HERO, a bipartisan group, collected more than 169,000 signatures to add three proposed amendments to the ballot. In response, council members added three others that would essentially nullify the community-supported additions.
- The group filed a complaint asking the Texas Supreme Court to remove the council-added propositions. Paxton filed a brief in support of Dallas HERO.
- The state Supreme Court ruled in the group's favor, saying the City Council additions would "confuse and mislead voters" if they remained on the ballot.
Dallas HERO propositions:
- Proposition S would allow residents the power to sue government officials who don't follow the City Charter, city ordinances or state law.
- Proposition T would require the city to commission an annual survey of at least 1,400 residents to determine their satisfaction with the quality of life in Dallas. The city manager's compensation would be tied to the results. (Note: The city manager runs municipal operations and is hired by the City Council.)
- Proposition U would require the Dallas Police Department to employ at least 4,000 officers. Plus, the amendment would require that no less than 50% of annual city revenue exceeding the previous year's revenue be put toward the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund.
Proposition R — Decriminalizing marijuana: Ground Game Texas got enough signatures in Dallas to add the amendment that would make Class A and Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession the lowest police enforcement priority.