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DeSoto Government

Serving the People

Incorporated in 1949, DeSoto operates under a council-manager form of government with six city council members and a mayor.

All are elected at large, by qualified voters of the entire city, and members must reside in the district they represent. The Mayor represents the city as a whole and is not required to live in a particular district. The daily operations of the city are carried out by an administrative staff, headed by a city manager that is hired by the council.

DeSoto’s residents expect the best in public service, and more than 300 city employees work to meet that challenge every day. The DeSoto Action Center — 972-274-CITY (2489) — is open during the week to provide a hassle free method for information and services to citizen questions and concerns.

Residents can also access information online at www.ci.desoto.tx.us. E-services include on-line water bill payment, access to the library’s catalog, garage sale listings, public document access and new resident information. DeSoto City Council meetings are broadcast live in their entirety on the city’s website and Government Access Channel 16 available to Time Warner subscribers on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. A taped broadcast is aired each day on Channel 16 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. following the live broadcast.

The hub of the city’s operations can be found at DeSoto Town Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, located in the center of the city at the corner of Hampton and Pleasant Run Roads. Within the complex is DeSoto City Hall, which houses administrative offices, city council chambers, the Economic Development Corporation, the water utilities department and municipal court. The library, civic center, recreation center and a performance hall are also in the Town Center. An amphitheater, ideal for outdoor concerts and plays, is nestled behind the complex along the banks of Ten Mile Creek.

DeSoto has been proclaimed one of the safest cities in Dallas County, and boasts a state-of-the-art police department. The $6.4 million facility contains a community meeting room and a full gym for police officers. The department takes an innovative approach to public safety through community outreach programs, including its Neighborhood Enforcement Team and motorcycle and bicycle patrols. DeSoto’s police department is proud to be fully accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.

DeSoto has partnered with neighboring Duncanville and Cedar Hill to form Southwest Regional Communications, an innovative program that provides police, fire and emergency dispatch services for cities in the Best Southwest area. One facility (located in DeSoto) provides services to all three cities, resulting in a significant cost savings.

Personal safety and emergency management are top priorities for the DeSoto Fire Rescue Department. Fire safety personnel travel across the state to train at the DeSoto Fire Training School. Nine warning sirens provide 100 percent coverage to alert residents in the event of bad weather or other emergencies. This system includes a low-wattage radio station at 890 AM with the capability for live broadcast to residents in case of an emergency. With an ISO rating of 2, DeSoto Fire Rescue is considered above average, which serves to dramatically lower insurance premiums for businesses and homeowners.

DeSoto also boasts an excellent bond rating, resulting in substantial savings on capital investments needed to maintain a high quality of life. Contributing factors to bond ratings are the strength of the local tax base and the city’s financial management practices. High ratings with agencies, such as Standard and Poors and Moody’s, mean lower costs on bonds, a primary tool in building DeSoto’s future.