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DART's Funding Mix: Fares, Taxes, Grants, and Bonds Keep the System Running

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Saturday, November 22nd 2025 at 8:12 GMT by Dallas Morning News

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Who Funds North Texas’s Public Transit? Inside DART’s Dollars and Its Decision‑Making Body

When you hop on a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) railcar or bus, you might wonder: Where do the money that keeps the system humming come from, and who gets to decide how it’s spent? A recent piece in the Dallas News pulls back the curtain on both the finances and the governance of DART, the public‑transportation agency that serves Dallas, Irving, Garland, Addison, Richardson, Grand Prairie and a handful of other neighboring communities. The article—“Who Pays for Public Transportation in North Texas? How DART is Funded and Governed”—breaks the puzzle into three parts: revenue streams, fiscal mechanisms, and the board that steers the ship.

1. The Mix of Money that Keeps DART Moving

1.1. Farebox Revenue: The Small Piece of the Pie

The article points out that fare revenue—money collected directly from riders—accounts for roughly one‑fifth of DART’s operating budget. A 2024 audit cited in the piece notes that the agency earns about $80 million per year from fares, a modest 15‑20 percent of its total operating costs. While fares are essential for covering part of the system’s day‑to‑day expenses, they’re far from the mainstay of DART’s financial base.

1.2. Local Taxes: The Core Funding Backbone

DART is a special district created by the Texas Legislature, meaning it operates with its own taxing authority. The bulk of its funding—close to 40 percent of the budget—comes from a combination of local sales tax and property tax levies that apply to the cities and counties within its service area.

• Sales Tax: The piece explains that the agency benefits from a 1‑percent sales tax surcharge applied in the Dallas County portion of the district, supplemented by smaller surcharges in the other counties (Denton, Collin, and the smaller localities). This surcharge is collected by the Texas Comptroller and forwarded to DART.
• Property Tax: A small but steady portion of property tax revenue comes from a “transit tax” imposed on all properties that fall within DART’s boundaries. This tax is earmarked exclusively for transit projects and operating costs, providing a predictable funding stream that isn’t subject to the ebbs and flows of the broader economy.

1.3. State and Federal Grants: The Strategic Boosts

The article also highlights that the state of Texas and the U.S. Department of Transportation contribute a combined 25–30 percent of DART’s budget. State funds come through the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Mobility Grants Program, which earmark money for system expansion, capital projects, and fleet upgrades. Federal dollars, primarily from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), support both operational subsidies and large‑scale capital projects such as the new North Texas Light Rail extensions and bus‑rapid‑transit (BRT) corridors.

1.4. Special Financing Instruments

In addition to the regular tax and grant streams, DART taps into tax‑increment financing (TIF) and municipal‑bond programs for major infrastructure projects. The article notes that DART can issue tax‑exempt bonds to raise capital for new rail lines or bus garages, a strategy that has helped keep ticket prices low while still enabling system expansion. TIF is used on a project‑by‑project basis to capture the increase in property values that a new transit line generates, funneling that incremental income back into the system.

2. Governance: Who Decides What Happens to the Money?

2.1. The Board of Directors: Elected by the District’s Cities

DART’s board is a unique hybrid of municipal and citizen representation. According to the Dallas News article, the board consists of eight directors elected by the member governments that comprise the district—primarily the city of Dallas, the city of Irving, and the other smaller jurisdictions. Each member government chooses one director, ensuring that every community has a voice. This arrangement is designed to reflect the interests of the localities that actually use the transit system.

2.2. Citizen Advisory Board

In addition to the elected directors, there is a citizen advisory board that meets twice a year to provide public input on DART’s priorities, fare structures, and service planning. The advisory board is comprised of local residents, business owners, and transportation advocates, offering a grassroots perspective that balances the municipal focus of the main board.

2.3. Oversight and Accountability

The piece highlights that DART’s board operates under strict oversight mechanisms. The Texas Comptroller audits DART’s finances annually, and the Texas Legislature reviews its performance through the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) oversight. The board must submit an operating budget and capital improvement plan to both the Comptroller and the legislature each year. This dual scrutiny is intended to ensure that the agency remains financially responsible and that public funds are used effectively.

3. Key Takeaways

• Fare revenue is a modest, supplementary source of income for DART.
• Local taxes—sales and property—constitute the financial backbone, providing a stable foundation that anchors the system’s day‑to‑day operations.
• State and federal grants offer strategic, project‑specific funding that allows DART to pursue expansion and upgrade initiatives.
• Special financing instruments like TIF and bonds help bridge gaps for capital projects without burdening everyday riders.
• Governance is split between elected directors from the district’s member cities and a citizen advisory board, providing a layered decision‑making structure that aims to balance municipal interests with public input.
• Accountability is enforced through rigorous audits, legislative oversight, and transparent budgeting.

The Dallas News article paints a picture of a transit agency that relies on a diversified funding portfolio and a multi‑layered governance structure to keep the North Texas region moving. While fare revenue remains essential for covering operating costs, it’s the local tax base, combined with state and federal support, that sustains DART’s growth and service reliability. For residents, the article underscores that every purchase, every sale, and every property tax bill directly fuels the transit system that keeps the city connected—an investment that ripples across the entire North Texas economy.