Council members may be enjoying summer recess, but the news hasn’t taken a vacation. While they’re taking July off from the horseshoe, staff continue grappling with budget pressures, rolling out new initiatives, and dealing with the occasional unexpected headache. Here’s some of what happened around Dallas City Hall this week:
First Furlough Day Sees City Hall, Libraries Close
Many city workers had the day off on Friday, the first of three mandatory furlough days City Manager Kimberly Tolbert instituted for General Fund non-uniform employees.
Residents encountered locked doors at City Hall, J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, neighborhood library branches, and Code Compliance offices, among other facilities. A number of non-emergency services and buildings were in operation, though, including Dallas Animal Services, recreation centers, WIC clinics, and the Oak Cliff Municipal Center, among others, with the city noting that those employees would observe an alternate furlough day.
Officials are working to close a projected $30 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. Underwhelming revenue collection, rising employee health care costs, and increased public safety obligations have put staff on the back foot, forcing emergency measures to reduce spending…