Dallas City Manager Kimberly Tolbert told the Dallas City Council she needs clear direction on the fate of Dallas City Hall before she finalizes the summer budget, and council members spent a recent session parsing a phased repair plan for the 48-year-old building amid cost and timeline questions. Council members Kathy Stewart, William Roth and Adam Bazaldua pressed for timelines and thorough analysis as engineering consultants outlined low- and high-complexity systems and commissioners referenced an AECOM estimate that put repairs on the low end at $329 million.

The council meeting was all about choices and limits. Tolbert opened by saying, “We’re definitely trying to get to clarity and guidance – and hopefully that’s what we’ll get before you head into the summer,” and from there the discussion moved quickly into what can be fixed now and what will need long planning and money.

Consultants described a phased repair approach and separated building systems into tiers by complexity. Items like roof replacement and sealing the underground parking garage were identified as lower complexity tasks, and that gave some council members relief that at least part of the work can be scoped predictably.

By contrast, the consultants labeled HVAC, electrical and plumbing as “high complexity systems”, a shorthand that sounded both expensive and time consuming. Those systems are often interwoven through older buildings, which means work in one area can cascade into work in another, driving up cost and schedule uncertainty.

Councilmember Kathy Stewart was candid about how the briefing affected her thinking. “My anxiety level has actually come down based on the information that you all have provided,” Stewart said. “Because now we’re talking real-life scenarios, you’re just giving us facts, and that is so important as we go through this.”

Despite the clearer picture, big unknowns remain. An earlier AECOM report estimated repairs at $329 million on the low end, but Wednesday’s presentation did not include detailed, phased cost estimates spread across a decade, leaving budget planners to fill in the blanks as they build the next fiscal outline.

That uncertainty prompted a few council members to ask for more time and more precise numbers before making commitments. “I don’t want you all to be rushed on this. I don’t want back of the envelope stuff. I really want you all to have time to do the work properly,” said Councilman William Roth, pushing for careful analysis rather than a hurried decision.

Others wanted clarity on how the process aligns with the fiscal calendar, especially around the upcoming June meeting. “What is the decision timeline after that?,” asked Councilman Adam Bazaldua. “Will council be asked to make any specific decisions on a repair plan prior to an approval and passage of the ’27 fiscal year budget?” Those questions put pressure on staff to tie the repair program directly to budget milestones.

Tolbert said the council will see a second hearing focused on phased repairs, and she stressed that the direction given after the June 3 briefing will shape how quickly the city moves. “If council wants to move forward with a repair program, we are currently building the budget, and we want an opportunity to understand where council might be,” Tolbert said, framing next steps as contingent on council choices.

The March 4 council resolution that launched this work also authorized Tolbert to explore alternative locations for city government if councilors decide moving out of City Hall is the better option. That prospect adds another layer of choices: repair in place, repair and relocate temporarily, or plan for a long-term move—each with different budget and public-service implications.

For now, the work ahead is methodical: staff and consultants must map repair phases, translate technical complexity into dollar and schedule estimates, and return to council with options tied to the budget calendar. Council members have signaled they want facts and realistic timelines, not guesses, and Tolbert has asked for that same clarity before she locks in numbers for the summer budget.