Dallas City Council is set to debate four agenda items on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that would allocate up to $20 million for construction of a new police training facility at the University of North Texas at Dallas, 1200 E. Camp Wisdom Road. The proposal also includes two state‑grant authorizations and a potential private‑sector sponsorship.

Funding package details

The first measure would appropriate $20 million for construction, drawing $2.5 million from the 2024 general‑obligation bonds and $17.5 million from the existing training‑center fund. Two additional measures would allow the city to accept $10 million and $5 million in grants from the Texas Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division for construction and implementation of the facility.

A fourth measure would permit the city to receive up to $17.5 million in contributions from QuikTrip Corporation and the W.W. Caruth Foundation via the Communities Foundation of Texas. Because the construction item already lists the same $17.5 million as a funding source, the sponsorship does not represent an additional commitment.

Impact on the training‑center contract

If approved, the construction action would raise the authorized spending under the Swinerton Builders contract from roughly $29 million to $49 million. The city’s guaranteed maximum price for the entire project is about $158.6 million, but the immediate appropriation for this meeting totals $20 million.

Officer staffing shortfall

Proposition U, approved by Dallas voters in November 2024, requires the city to allocate at least half of qualifying excess revenue to the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System and to support public‑safety goals, including raising the sworn police force to a minimum of 4,000 officers. The measure does not specifically mandate a training center nor set a deadline for reaching the staffing level.

According to the Dallas Police Department, the force numbered 3,410 sworn officers in September, leaving a gap of 590 officers. The department’s fiscal‑year 2027 budget projects about 3,651 sworn officers by next September, still 349 short of the 4,000‑officer target.

Political context

Mayor Eric Johnson backs Proposition A, a separate $443 million bond proposal that includes $82 million for the law‑enforcement training center. Council Member Cara Mendelsohn opposes the bond as written, citing concerns about additional debt and the potential for city leaders to reallocate funds.

While the council’s October 28 decisions focus on financing and construction of the training facilities, they do not directly allocate money to hire additional officers under Proposition U. Approval of the measures alone will not demonstrate compliance with the staffing requirement.

Next steps

The council meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Dallas City Hall. Council members have not yet voted on the four items, and the final outcome will shape how the city funds the training center and addresses the ongoing officer shortfall.

Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.