Dallas City Council’s Contract Reform Could Unlock New Support for Forgotten Histories
10-5 Vote unleashes a new era of possibilities
In a 10–5 vote on Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved a sweeping change to its contract approval process, raising the threshold for expenses that require full council oversight. The move, aimed at streamlining city operations, could have unexpected benefits for long-overlooked projects—including the restoration of the Dallas City Cemetery, where more than 2,000 paupers lie buried, most in unidentified graves. Not that it needs to be that way.
We know where the bodies are buried! We just need to get the new markers created and set. Some ground leveling is in order too, so that the lawn mowers aren’t hitting potholes as they try to keep the grass trimmed.
Under the new policy, city staff can now authorize up to $500,000 for architecture and construction projects and $300,000 for goods and services without council approval—tripling the previous limit of $100,000. Additionally, contracts will only require competitive bidding if they exceed $100,000, up from $50,000. The City of Dallas’ budget for 2025-26 fiscal year is $5.2 billion, and these community projects are drops in the bucket comparatively.
There are many hoops to jump through when dealing with large organizations, such as the City of Dallas. There are very necessary rules and regulations to prevent the misallocation of funds. The other side of that coin means a cumbersome process that is overly restrictive at moments and almost impossible to navigate.
The previous $100,000 limit kept me from applying for additional funds to purchase all 2000 markers at once, because the topic would have to go before the entire council and could result in the termination of the funds already granted.
So, to this preservationist, The City’s broadening of the size and scope of community projects is greatly welcomed news to the citizens of Dallas, and especially to this one!