DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has laid out his priorities for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and law enforcement and first responders are top of mind.
He’s calling for the hiring of 275 more police officers and to provide market-rate salary increases to first responders in the city’s next budget proposal.
Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnaz will present the budget to city council next month. Council can vote to amend it before the final approval.
The next fiscal year starts October 1st.
In a statement, Johnson said the current budget only hires 150 police officers this fiscal year and another 150 the next, which he said would reduce the police force by 110 officers over two years.
The city has access to federal funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act which could ease tax payer concerns.
Dallas Police have been vocal about the need to shore up its staff to help fight an increase in crime and to curb long response times on some emergency calls.
As part of a multi-pronged approach to fight crime, the city wants to make sure the Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Communities programs is still funded.
Johnson said the city can continue to fund the programs with general fund and federal funding to “boost our blight remediation and violence interruption efforts that are aimed at improving public safety and strengthening neighborhoods.”
In addition to those issues, Johnson also called for reforms in the permitting office, boosting street and sidewalk investment and improvements in the city’s sanitation services.
Last year, Johnson and City Council were at odds over the city’s decision to cut $7 million from the police department’s overtime budget.
It was an argument that went public with the Council ultimately voting to make the cut.
The decision came at a time when the city and the nation were dealing with protests and some riots in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.
“While I will continue to advocate strongly for programs, policies and plans that can set Dallas up for success in the decades to come, I believe our primary focus this fiscal year must be on improving basic services,” he said.
Click here to read Mayor Johnson’s full memo.
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