Dallas voters will have the opportunity this fall to decide on four proposed charter amendments that have been placed on the ballot through a citizen-led initiative. This process bypasses the need for Dallas City Council approval.
Earlier this summer, various groups were seen delivering boxes to City Hall, each filled with thousands of signatures supporting these amendments. According to the city, the petitions now have enough valid signatures to make it onto the November ballot.
Pete Marocco, Executive Director of Dallas HERO, an organization backing three of the proposed amendments, stated, “We gathered 169,000 signatures for these charter amendments, far surpassing the 60,000 required.”
Marocco is confident in the public support for these amendments, which include setting a minimum number of Dallas Police officers at 4,000, ensuring the department maintains a ratio of three officers per 1,000 residents, and boosting starting salaries for Dallas police officers to among the top five in North Texas. As of May 2024, the starting salary for Dallas police officers is $70,314.
Another proposed amendment seeks to link the city manager’s compensation to performance metrics based on the city’s annual community survey. The final amendment would grant citizens the authority to sue city officials if they believe they are not adhering to the city code or charter.
“This initiative is about setting minimum standards for public safety, ensuring accountability for city leaders, and empowering citizens to enforce these standards,” Marocco explained.
The Dallas Police Department has not yet responded regarding its stance on the proposed amendment related to police pay and staffing.
Dallas City Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis expressed support for allowing residents to propose charter amendments but voiced concerns about the HERO amendments lacking “sufficient scrutiny and input” from residents. “It’s preferable for these matters to go through the Charter Review Commission, which is resident-driven and offers ample opportunities for public feedback,” Willis said. “This process can better honor and enhance the considerations for voters in November.”
The Dallas City Council is currently reviewing proposed charter amendments from the commission and those suggested by individual council members. A straw poll on these amendments is scheduled for August 7, with a final vote expected on August 14.
Dallas City Secretary Bilierae Johnson confirmed on July 19 that Dallas HERO and Ground Game Texas had met the requirement of 20,000 valid signatures for their petitions.
Ground Game Texas is advocating for a charter amendment to decriminalize possession of marijuana in amounts up to four ounces.
