Dallas Can’t Keep Funding Fancy Pools While Families Face Eviction

When you walk past the sparkling new pool at the Dallas Recreation Center, you might think the city finally found a way to splash some joy into residents’ lives. Yet just a few blocks away, a different scene unfolds: families staring at eviction notices, cupboards half‑empty, and a feeling that the city’s priorities are upside‑down.

Mayor Eric Johnson’s latest budget proposal adds another $6 million for a series of municipal pools, promising to boost health and recreation. At the same time, the library system is set for a modest $3 million boost, which sounds good on paper but hardly addresses the deeper crisis of housing instability that has erupted across Dallas.

Dallas’ eviction rate has climbed sharply in the past year, outpacing the national average. Thousands of renters are being pushed out of their homes because rent spikes, job losses, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have left many wallets thin. The city’s own data shows a 28 percent rise in eviction filings since 2022, a number that translates into real families, kids, and seniors scrambling for shelter.

Meanwhile, the pool project is projected to cost $70 million over five years. It will create jobs, sure, and offer a place to cool off in the Texas heat, but those jobs are largely temporary construction gigs. The long‑term maintenance budget will also eat into funds that could be redirected toward emergency rental assistance or expanded affordable‑housing initiatives.

The library budget, though an improvement, still falls short of what the system needs to stay open in underserved neighborhoods. Cuts to after‑school programs and reduced hours have already left many communities with fewer resources for children who rely on library services for homework help and internet access.

What the city seems to be doing is playing a game of musical chairs with its money—moving the seats around without adding any new ones. Instead of funneling millions into glittering pools, Dallas could invest in a robust eviction‑prevention fund, expand rental assistance, and preserve library services that keep residents connected and informed.

It’s not about tossing out recreation or cultural amenities. Those are important, especially for a city that prides itself on community. But they shouldn’t come at the expense of basic shelter. A balanced budget would allocate a larger slice to housing stability, perhaps by redirecting a portion of the pool construction funds, and ensure libraries remain open as lifelines for the most vulnerable.

Dallas leaders need to listen to the streets, not just the planners. When the next budget meeting rolls around, let’s hope the conversation shifts from “how many pools can we build?” to “how many families can we keep safe in their homes?” The city’s future depends on that choice.