DMD proposes $1 million one‑year transfer to help cover Dickinson general‑fund gap

The Dickinson Management District (DMD) has proposed a one‑year transfer of approximately $1,000,000 to the police department to ease pressure on the city’s general fund. Mr. Magdaleno, representing the city manager’s office at the DMD meeting, said the change would convert an $800,000 projected deficit to a roughly $200,000 shortfall before council finishes line‑by‑line budget work.

"The proposal is for DMD to transfer approximately $1,000,000 to the police department," Mr. Magdaleno said, describing the amount as legally permissible and part of a DMD decision to pare discretionary spending to core obligations. He framed the proposal as a temporary, one‑year measure and said the DMD would need to vote on the transfer at its board meeting.

Supporters on the council called the transfer a useful bridge to buy time for revenue work; others warned it would merely delay structural problems. The presiding officer summarized the council’s position that expenses are largely constrained and that the city needs more predictable revenue streams: "This is not an expense problem. This is a revenue problem," the presiding officer said. Council members and staff discussed pursuing further revenue generation and continuing line‑item cuts, but no formal council vote was requested at the meeting.

If the DMD board approves the transfer, staff recommended proceeding with the budget discussion using the reduced deficit estimate. Mr. Magdaleno emphasized that the DMD action, if taken, would be a one‑year arrangement and that the council and staff must continue work on longer‑term fiscal sustainability.