# Dallas Police Short 590 Officers

> Dallas starts fiscal year with 3,410 sworn officers, 590 short of 4,000 required by voter-approved charter.
- Title: Dallas Police Short 590 Officers · Dallas Express | Shortify
- Summary: Dallas starts fiscal year with 3,410 sworn officers, 590 short of 4,000 required by voter-approved charter. Dallas remains 590 officers below the 4,000…
- Keywords: dallas, police, prop u, seattle, dallas police department, city charter, fiscal year 2026-27, officer staffing, tarrant county, dallas city council, police budget, news
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/city/dallas-heads-into-new-fiscal-year-hundreds-of-officers-short-of-prop-u-requirement
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-28T13:00:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dallas, police, prop u, seattle, dallas police department, city charter, fiscal year 2026-27, officer staffing, tarrant county, dallas city council, police budget, news
## Prop U Approved
Dallas voters approved Proposition U in November 2024, requiring 4,000 sworn police officers by city charter.

> Dallas voters narrowly approved Proposition U on November 5, 2024, with 50.43% voting in favor and 49.57% opposed.
## Current Staffing
Dallas Police Department reports 3,410 sworn officers, 590 short of the 4,000 target.

> The Dallas Police Department told The Dallas Express this month that it employed 3,410 sworn officers.
## Budget Goal
New budget targets 3,651 officers by end of fiscal year 2027, still 349 short of 4,000.

> Dallas City Council approved an approximately $5.7 billion fiscal year 2026-27 budget on September 16.
## Fiscal Year Start
New fiscal year begins October 1 with ongoing staffing shortfall.

> The new fiscal year begins October 1.
## Legal Challenge
Texas Attorney General sued Dallas over alleged underestimation of revenue for Proposition U.

> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the City of Dallas, City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland in February.
## Staffing Progress
Dallas added 100 officers since last fiscal year but remains 200 short of 4,000 by 2028.

> The city projects 3,800 sworn officers by the end of FY2028.
## Budget Focus
Police spending increases by $65 million from FY2026 to FY2027.

> Dallas plans to spend more than $823 million from the General Fund on police in FY2027.
## Council Warning
City Council member warns of legal risks if staffing targets remain unmet.

> We have to put our money where our mouth is, we can't have the mayor on a national stage saying public safety is number one and then not fund it.
## Key takeaway

Dallas remains 590 officers below the 4,000 target set by Proposition U despite increased spending.