Dallas Council to Consider ‘Quality of Life' Budget

Council briefing Monday will include '19-'20 proposals from city manager's office

Dallas city council members will hear a budget proposal on Wednesday for increased funding with a focus on quality of life.

The assistant city manager, Joey Zapata, has prepared a briefing for council members on the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget that addresses several areas meant to "provide opportunities that enhance the standard of health, comfort and happiness of Dallas residents."

According to the briefing, $202.7 million has been set aside (14% of the overall city budget) for the Quality of Life funding.

Among the individual efforts that the assistant city manager plans to highlight are:

• A boost to recreational programming "for teenage residents with a focus on arts and culture, community service, health and wellness, leadership and life skills, and technology."
• Increased security in parks by adding 11 positions to the Park Ranger program over the next three years.
• The Community Clean! Initiative "to reduce illegal dumping, litter and high weeds in focus neighborhoods through regular community-led cleanups."
• Expanded internet access through mobile hot spots that will be made available for checkout from public libraries.
• Fund overnight animal service to facilitate the scheduling of animal control officers seven nights a week instead of four.

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