Dallas County commissioners have approved a $1.59 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 and adopted a higher property tax rate that voters will have an opportunity to approve or reject in November.

The Commissioners Court approved a modified all-funds budget totaling $1.589 billion for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2027. The budget was reduced from an initial proposal of about $1.608 billion.

Commissioners also approved a county property tax rate of 24.865 cents per $100 of assessed value, a 3-2 vote supported by County Judge Clay Jenkins and commissioners Theresa Daniel and Andrew Sommerman. Commissioners John Wiley Price and Elba Garcia voted against the rate and budget.

The adopted rate is higher than the county’s voter-approval tax rate of 22.465 cents per $100 of valuation. Because the adopted rate exceeds that threshold, commissioners ordered an election for Nov. 3, when voters will decide whether to approve the higher rate.

The tax increase is tied to a proposal to fund programs aimed at reducing homelessness and resolving encampments, improving neighborhood conditions, expanding access to mental health treatment and helping provide stable housing.

Under the county’s adopted tax-rate notice, the higher rate would increase the Dallas County portion of the annual property tax bill on a $350,000 home by about $116.03 compared with the prior rate. If voters reject the higher rate, the county would use the voter-approval rate instead.

The county’s prior tax rate was 21.55 cents per $100 of valuation. The adopted fiscal 2027 rate represents an increase of 3.315 cents per $100.

The homelessness proposal also would support outreach and housing services, as well as mental health treatment. The plan calls for a minimum five-year contract with Housing Forward to help allocate funding among housing and health care programs.

Dallas County held its public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2027 budget and tax rate Aug. 11 at the Records Building. The Commissioners Court then adopted the modified budget and tax rate.

The county’s online FY2027 adopted budget provides detailed information on spending, revenues, departments, capital projects, road and bridge funds, public safety, health and human services and other county operations.

The fiscal year begins Oct. 1, 2026, with the tax-rate election scheduled for Nov. 3.

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