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Abstract: 

This paper describes the impact of the Great Recession on the City of Dallas, Texas. As in many places around the country, economic output fell, unemployment increased, and city financial conditions deteriorated in Dallas during the recession. But property values fell less in Dallas than in other places, and the city has responded with expenditure cuts and a property tax rate increase, which have allowed the city to maintain its general fund balance, stabilizing bond ratings. Although economic output has begun to increase, unemployment remains high and fiscal conditions are still precarious. It may take more time to write the final word on how the Great Recession affected the City of Dallas.

Keywords: Demographics; budget process; revenue forecasting; budget structure; budget reserves; use of debt; cost-cutting

Affiliations:  1: University of North Texas Department of Public Administration; 2: University of North Texas.