(WBAP/KLIF) — Dallas city officials have announced that General Fund employees will be required to take three unpaid furlough days this year to address a growing budget gap.
Non-uniform employees funded by the General Fund must take leave without pay on specific dates, with no option to use sick leave or vacation time. The furloughs are seen as a last resort to reduce expenses and protect jobs and employee benefits.
The city is facing a $51 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, with rising employee medical costs and contributions to the Dallas Police and Fire Pension plan adding to the financial strain.
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson on Wednesday released the following statement after the City Manager announced mandatory furlough days for City employees:
“It is no secret that the City’s revenue so far this year has not met projections, resulting in a tighter than anticipated budget. That requires difficult decisions to be made. Managing the City’s annual budget is the responsibility of the City Manager, and she takes this responsibility very seriously. I know that she did not make this decision lightly, and over the next month, I trust that she will continue to keep the council informed on current budget conditions and present a balanced proposed FY27 budget in August.
“Every year I have served as mayor, I have fought for the City to significantly reduce its spending, with little support from the City Council. Now that effort becomes more urgent than ever. We must thoroughly examine every part of our City government for opportunities to reduce spending and improve efficiency. Dallas literally cannot afford to maintain the status quo.
“At a time when rising costs continue to strain family budgets across this city, we simply cannot raise taxes in lieu of addressing much deeper and more structural fiscal challenges. These challenges are rooted in the City’s relaxed approach to spending and the longstanding resistance around the horseshoe to making meaningful spending reductions.
“Dallas deserves a city government that delivers core services effectively, efficiently, and affordably. The City cannot do everything, and we must prioritize spending that has the most meaningful impact. Our partners in government and the private and not-for-profit sectors must also bear more of the burden that currently falls on Dallas taxpayers alone.
“The upcoming budget cycle must mark a turning point and put the City of Dallas on a path toward long-term fiscal responsibility.”
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