Let’s talk about
Presented by: Dr. Elba Garcia, Dallas County Commissioner District 4
What is Dallas County and
What Do Commissioners Do?
Maurine Dickey
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Mike Cantrell
Clay Lewis Jenkins
John Wiley Price
Sets the County budget, which is approximately $858 million
Oversees County Departments , including budget and staff size
Appoints County Department heads
Approve County Hospital District Tax rate (Parkland) 27.10¢
Appoint County Boards and Committees
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 LAW ENFORCEMENT
$152.8M
 JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
$119.5M
 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
$ 18.2M
 JUVENILE SERVICES
$ 39.9M
 COMMUNITY SERVICES
$ 4.8M
 MANAGEMENT SERVICES
$ 61.2M
Dr. Elba Garcia
Dallas County Statistics
 Land Size = 880 Sq. Miles
 Population = 2.36 Million
 9th Largest County in the U.S.
 2nd Largest County in Texas
 Cities/Towns In Dallas County = 26
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(photograph taken by Charles Stokes)
Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Combine, Coppell, Dallas, DeSoto,
Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Grand Prairie, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Hutchins, Irving,
Lancaster, Mesquite, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park, Wilmer
 County Budget = $858 Million
 Operating Budget = $433 Million
 County Tax Rate = $24.314 cents (3rd Lowest in Texas)
 County Employees = 6,307
 Reserves = $43 Million
Dallas County Organizational Chart
Dallas County Voters
Other Elected
Officials
County Clerk
County Sheriff
County Tax –
Assessor
Collector
County Treasurer
District Attorney
District Clerk
Constables (5)
County
Departments and
Intergovernmental
Arrangements
Judiciary
Commissioners Court
County Judge (1)
County Commissioners (4)
Hospital
District
Board
Parkland
Hospital
Juvenile
Board
Juvenile
Department
District Judges
(39)
County Judges
(21)
Justices of the
Peace (11)
County Administrator
Boards and
Commissions
Appointed by
Commissioners
Court
COMMISSIONER GARCIA’S COMMITTEES
•Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) (Chair)
•Bail Bond Task Force (Chair)
•DWI Task Force (Chair)
•Civil Service (Member)
•North Texas Behavioral Health Advisory (Member)
•Greater Dallas Homeless Policy Alliance (Member)
•Public Employee Benefits Cooperative (PEBC) (Member)
•Dallas County Benefits Committee (Member)
•Regional Transportation Committee (Alternate)
•Emergency Preparedness Planning Council (Alternate)
•Dallas Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (Non-County Board)
•Dallas Zoological Society (Non- County Board)
•Salvations Army of Dallas-Fort Worth (Non County Board)
CITIZEN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
•Child Welfare Board
•Dallas Area NorthSTAR Authority
•Election Advisory Committee
•Historical Commission
•Historical Foundation
•Hospital District Board of Managers
•North Central Texas Health
•Facilities Development
•Corporation Board
•North Texas Tollway Authority
•North Central Texas Health Facilities
Development Corporation
•Old Red Courthouse, Inc.
•Trail & Preserve Board
•Park and Open Space Board
•Public Health Authority Advisory Committee
•Sheriff Civil Service Commission
•Veterans Land Board
•Welfare Advisory Board
•Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board
•Dispute Resolution System Board
What is a county? What do counties do?
How are counties different from a city?
 CITY(most) - LOCAL SERVICES
Police
Street Repair
Building Inspection
Fire
Libraries
Zoning
Water/Sewer
Trash Collection
 COUNTIES
Operating the court system and the juvenile justice system
Holding people in jail until tried and/or sent to prison
Oversee Public and Mental Health
The recording of property
The issuance of license plates and marriage licenses
Dallas County Jail
 2nd largest jail in State of Texas
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and uses up 22% of our budget
Current population around 6000
inmates on any given day, of
which almost 50% have physical
or mental health issues
The Dallas County Jail has
passed inspection for the last 2
years, having failed previous
inspections dating back to 2003
300 repairs happen every day at
Dallas County Jail
Dallas County Jail released from
federal oversight by the
Department of Justice in
November 2011
Parkland Hospital
More than 100,000 people screened for medical/mental
Health condition per year
74% male patients, 26% female patients
9% with substance abuse issues
50% at intake have acute or chronic medical/mental
health conditions
Over 3000 patients receive medications daily
COPC (Community Oriented Primary Care)
•Established in 1987 and decreases utilization of
overcrowded ERs and avoids unnecessary hospitalization
•Provides Dallas County residents with high quality, affordable and conveniently located
medical care,
•COPC includes: 10 primary care clinics and 1 employee physician office (new Grand
Prairie clinic opening 2012); 11 school based clinics called Youth & Family Centers; 6
medical and 2 dental mobile vans; Mobile vans for Homeless Outreach Medical Services
and a community outreach program
•9 Women and Infant Specialty Health (WISH) centers
•COPC’s goal is to provide excellent care for those who come to us as patients, as well
as their children, spouses and neighbors, through education and other public health
interventions.
Dallas County
Health and Human Services
 Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
 Weatherization Program
 Air Conditioner Distribution
 Disease Reporting and Tracking
 Home Loan Counseling
 Immunization Programs
- School Children
- Elderly
 Older Adult Services Program
For more information about any of their programs call
214-819-2000 or go to www.dallascounty.org – go to services, then click on
Health and Human Services.
Location: 2377 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75207-2710
Dallas County Trail Projects
Dallas County has it’s own
Public Works Department
apart from various cities
Responsible for Roads, Trails
and Open Spaces
Campion Trail •Northern extension
completed October 5,
2011
•Southern extension
Dedication CeremonyApril 11, 2012
(Extended Campion Trail
from Twin Wells Park to
River Hills Park)
Major Capital Improvement
Program Projects
HUNTER FERRELL
PROJECT
(Grand Prairie & Irving)
W. DAVIS PROJECT
(City of Dallas)
CDBG Funds Report for
August-October 2011
 Design near completion on Cockrell Hill Phase VI
water project - $263,406
 Duncanville Streets - $80,120
MAJOR PROJECTS
• Institute of Forensic Sciences Building (Phase II) – Completed
• Kays South Jail Tower - Completed
• Grand Prairie Sub-Courthouse
• Grand Prairie COPC
-Approved in 2011 - Funds for the project were received from Parkland
and the City of Grand Prairie; Ribbon Cutting - June 22, 2012; Opening July 2, 2012
• Jail Medical Infirmary
• Adult Case Management System
ROAD & BRIDGE #4
 Funding for Road & Bridge 4 comes from
the tax fee received for license plates.
 Road and Bridge 4 works to ensure safe
roads, builds trails, county gate systems,
and maintains county owned parking lots
at low costs with good quality results.
 Road & Bridge 4 also works for other
municipalities providing labor and
equipment for local projects with
municipalities paying for materials.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
PRESENT PROJECTS
ROCK ISLAND
A Partnership between
the Cities of
Grand Prairie & Irving
• Once the project is
complete Rock Island Road
will belong to Grand Prairie
And Now…
The Dallas County Budget
How we pulled this off?
Dallas County Budget
 The County’s FY2012 General Fund budget is $443 million
with $43 million in reserves.
 Reflecting the County’s historical functions, almost threefourths of this budget is allocated to justice administration,
law enforcement, and juvenile services.
 Almost two-thirds of the revenue for this budget is derived
from property taxes. (no sales tax)
 The budget’s remaining revenue is generated from fines,
fees, contracts, interest earnings, and other miscellaneous
sources (Texas counties do not have the authority to collect
sales taxes).
How we fixed
this problem?
How we fixed this problem?
 NO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
 ( 24.31 cents per $100 assessed , no change from FY2011 to FY2012)
 Performance based budgeting
 Worked with other elected officials to find cost savings
 Additional partnerships with municipalities for economic
development
 Continue hiring freeze
 Weekly budget briefings started earlier
 Staffing Reorganization
 Resources Overview–
 (FY2012 Budget includes the deletion of 156 positions)
How Are We Looking Now?
FY2012 Budget Updates
 FY2012 the ending balance is projected to be $11.2 more
than anticipated
 FY2012 revenues are projected to be down $1.8 million
 FY2012 expenditures are projected to be down $3 million
 FY2013 Dallas County property values may decrease by
.75% for a property tax loss of $2.15 million
FY2012 Budget Updates (Cont.)
 FY2013 County contribution to employee’s retirement is
projected to increase from 10% to 10.5% a $1.2 million
cost
 FY2013 Employer Health Insurance is projected to
increase by 4% a $1.8 million cost
 One-time revenues used to balance the FY2012 Budget
that will not be available for FY2013 - $12.5 million (Road
Bond Funds $8.4 million, $2.6 million in contributions to
offset the cost of Sheriff Traffic and $1.5 million in County
Clerk Recording)
FY2013 Budget Calendar
 The Office of Budget and Evaluation will present
savings opportunities over the next 7 months
 Impact of screening for indigence court appointments
approved for FY 2012
 Impact of No Show Court that started in January
 Impact of interpreter contract changes
 Impact of Bail Bond Revenues
 In April 2012 Dallas County was informed that the
FY2013 Retirement contribution is 10.8%
 On May 18th Preliminary Tax Roll Received and Certified
Tax Roll projection
FY2013 Budget Calendar – (Cont.)
 July 23th Certified Tax Roll received
 August Final Decisions on Programs
 August 21st and August 28th Public Hearings on Tax
Rate
 September 11th Tax Rate Set and budget adopted
 October 1st FY2013 begins
Redistricting (New District Boundaries)
2
1
4
3
Approved by the Department of Justice on 9/6/2011
Approved by Dallas County Commissioner Court on 3/20/2012
About Dallas County Census Results
DALLAS COUNTY POPULATION
Time
Period
Population
Increase Since Last
Census
2000
2, 218, 899
+366, 089
2010
2, 368, 139
+149, 240
CHANGE IN COMPOSITION OF DALLAS
COUNTY POPULATION
Time
Period
Anglo
Population
Hispanic
Population
African
American
Population
1990-2000
-131, 779
+355, 583
+77, 541
2000-2010
-198, 624
+242, 815
+75, 111
Redistricting
Commissioner Elba Garcia
What we have done for You so far?
 Transparency in County Government - Attendance at
Commissioner’s Court Meetings, Meeting minutes and
recorded votes online, Registration of Lobbyists and Financial
disclosure
 Parkland – Accountability
 Master Calendar – Available Online
 Campaign Finance Reports – Available Online
 Video of Commissioner Court Meetings– Available Online
 Keeping Constituents Informed – County Presentations to Oak
Cliff, Coppell, Cockrell Hill Grand Prairie, Irving and Duncanville
 Website – Up to date information about County Programs
What We Have Done For You So Far (Cont.)
 Economic Development
 Cypress Waters TIF – County to contribute up to $10.5M in
TIF Funds to promote economic development
 Trails –
 Valley Ranch extension to Campion Trail (Ribbon Cutting
10/5/11);
 Extended Campion Trail from Twin Wells Park to River
Hills Park (Ribbon Cutting 4/11/12)
 MCIP (Public Works)
 Hunter Ferrell
 Reconfiguration of the intersection at Cockrell Hill and
Jefferson Blvd.
 R0ad & Bridge 4 -Rock Island
 DWI Taskforce – website available at: www.dwitaskforce.org
What We Have Done For You So Far (Cont.)
 New Income Proposal
 State Jail Felony Program
 Bail Bond Task Force – Estimated County Savings -1 million
dollars (Proposal approved by the Court in February 2012
 Coordinating Voter Registration
 Boards and Commissions Appointments – Revision to the
qualifications and background checks standards
 COPC - E. Carlyle Smith Jr. Health Center at Grand Prairie –
Scheduled to be completed in May 2012; Ribbon Cutting in
June 22, 2012; Opening July 2nd 2012
 Grand Prairie Subcourthouse– Scheduled to open in March
2013
Dr. Elba Garcia,
Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
Administrative Office
Road & Bridge 4
Brooks Love
Don Kennedy
Blanca Torres
Moises Ibarra
411 Elm Street, 2nd Floor
Dallas, Texas 75202
Phone: (214) 653-6670
Chief of Staff
Deputy Chief of Staff
4403 W. Illinois Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75211
Phone: (214) 339-8381
Road & Bridge Superintendent
Road Office Manager
Jared Spencer
Office Manager
Linda Baker
Senior Secretary
Visit Commissioner Garcia’s website at:
http://www.dallascounty.org/department/comcrt/district4/home.php