An election with 8.68% turnout gave Dallas ISD approval for a $6.2 billion bond package and produced split results on DART membership in Highland Park, University Park, and Addison.
Dallas County’s preliminary election reconciliation showed 87,776 ballots counted out of 1,011,276 eligible registered voters in Saturday’s joint and special election. The totals remain unofficial and subject to change.
That small share of voters helped decide major questions over school debt, property taxes, and regional transit in an election where fewer than 9% of eligible registered voters cast ballots.
Dallas ISD Bond Passes
Voters approved all four bond propositions by wide margins, according to unofficial Dallas County results:
- Proposition A passed with 26,940 votes for and 9,065 against, or 74.82% support
- Proposition B passed with 27,069 votes for and 8,869 against, or 75.32% support
- Proposition C passed with 26,044 votes for and 9,774 against, or 72.71% support
- Proposition D passed with 25,708 votes for and 10,183 against, or 71.63% support
Dallas ISD trustees sent the $6.2 billion bond proposal to voters in February. According to Dallas ISD, the package will fund 26 replacement schools, renovations and modernization at all campuses, removal of about 700 remaining portables, safety and security upgrades, student technology, new buses, physical education upgrades, and swimming pool repairs.
District officials say the bond requires a 1-cent property tax rate increase. Dallas ISD estimated the increase at $2.79 per month, or $33.48 per year, for an average property owner with a home value just above $500,000 after a $140,000 homestead exemption.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the election came after questions about Dallas ISD’s debt, enrollment decline, and the district’s unfinished 2020 bond program.
DART Vote Splits Across Member Cities
Voters also produced split results on DART membership in Dallas County.
Highland Park voters rejected continued DART membership, while University Park and Addison voters chose to remain in the transit system.
Dallas County results show Highland Park Proposition A failed with 1,075 votes against and 468 votes for, or 69.67% opposed. University Park Proposition A passed with 1,459 votes for and 1,260 against, or 53.66% support. Addison Proposition A passed with 1,481 votes for and 635 against, or 69.99% support.
Under state law, DART member cities may call a withdrawal election once every six years. Member cities dedicate a 1-cent sales tax to help fund the agency.
The votes followed months of pressure on DART over cost, service levels, debt, crime, homelessness concerns, executive bonuses, and governance. Previous Dallas Express reporting found DART paid executives more than $747,000 in bonuses between 2023 and 2024 before implementing major service cuts. Prior reporting also showed some suburban cities argued they receive far less in services than they contribute through sales taxes.
Highland Park officials had said town taxpayers contributed more than $100 million to DART while receiving no light rail service and only limited bus service.
Taxpayer Questions Continue
The election results add to a broader Dallas-area debate over taxpayer priorities, debt, and public spending.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas City Council recently approved an $84.9 million street resurfacing contract while City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert moved forward with a selective hiring freeze and spending restrictions tied to a projected General Fund shortfall.
The council also approved rezoning for a proposed $55 million Dallas Wings practice facility at Joey Georgusis Park, despite objections from some council members over cost, location, and fiscal priorities, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
