Dallas’ $443M public safety bond trails in unofficial returns

Dallas’ proposed $443 million public safety bond was trailing in unofficial returns after the November 3 election. FOX 4’s initial report showed approximately 56% against with only 1% of precincts reporting. A later count reported on November 4 put opposition at 56.21%, with 43.79% in favor and 385 of 482 precincts reporting. The city had yet to post a formal notice of results when checked.

City Proposition A would authorize general obligation bonds for five police, fire and emergency response projects. The largest allocation, $150 million, would fund evidence storage, evidentiary vehicle storage and crime laboratory facilities. Another $149 million would go toward a public safety training complex at Dallas Executive Airport. Together, those two projects account for $299 million of the proposed borrowing.

The remaining allocations include $82 million for the Law Enforcement Training Center at UNT Dallas, $40 million for a new emergency operations and 911 facility, and $22 million to replace Fire Station No. 4. The two training allocations concern separate facilities and would support different construction programs.

The UNT Dallas center is already underway and has other funding sources, including $50 million from the 2024 bond program and $25 million in state grants, alongside private commitments. If Proposition A fails, Dallas would have to address the loss of the proposed $82 million in additional borrowing authority. The effect on the training center’s remaining scope and delivery schedule would depend on how the city covers that gap. The other four projects would face their own funding decisions.