Dallas committee recommends council support full DART funding at current 1% sales tax

The City of Dallas Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted March 5 to recommend that City Council adopt a resolution expressing support for full funding of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) at the current 1% sales tax rate.

The committee’s action came at a special called meeting where the item was presented as a briefing and possible action. The presenter said the recommendation reflects a request from DART board members and is intended to show regional support to legislators in Austin ahead of work later in March.

Jake Anderson, interim director of the Office of Government Affairs, told the committee that the council’s adopted legislative agenda already includes a position to “support full funding for DART.” Anderson said staff has analyzed “SB 1557 and HB 3187,” which he described as identical companion bills in the Texas Legislature, and that the city’s legislative team is opposing those bills based on the council’s adopted language. “We are going to be opposing those bills,” Anderson said.

Mayor Pro Tem Atkins raised concerns about fiscal impacts on the city, especially for bus riders in southern Dallas, and asked how any changes would affect the city’s finances and the distribution of funds among the 13 cities served by DART. Atkins asked for detail from the city’s finance staff about potential hardship and how any reclaimed funds would be returned to member cities.

Councilman Bresholz asked specifically about the effect on DART’s debt and requested that staff provide an analysis before the City Council meeting scheduled for March 26. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bazaldu thanked the chair and DART for a fact sheet and urged the city manager’s office to lead a broad public communications effort so residents understand the proposal’s implications and can assist with advocacy.

Mayor Pro Tem Atkins moved the recommendation, and Council Member Schultz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the members present. The committee’s vote sends the recommendation to City Council; the transcript does not record a City Council vote on the resolution.

Background: committee members noted the item was previously briefed at a joint meeting with the DART board on Feb. 18, 2025. Staff said that negotiations with legislators and further local discussions among DART member cities remain under way and that the city will continue regional advocacy rather than relying solely on state-level changes.

Minutes-level details: the committee opened the floor to questions after the briefing; staff confirmed the city’s opposed position on the cited bills and agreed to pursue additional financial and debt-impact information for the March 26 City Council meeting. The committee also requested assistance from the city manager’s office on communications and public outreach. The special called meeting convened at 8:33 a.m. and adjourned at 8:42 a.m.

Ending note: the committee’s recommendation now moves to City Council for consideration; staff indicated further briefings and analysis will be provided to inform the council’s final action.