Link to September 14 Dallas News article, "In 8-7 vote, council approves budget amendment to raise tax rate".
Excerpt: After hours of sometimes rancorous debate, a closely divided City Council agreed today to adopt an amendment that will raise the city's tax rate by 6.5 percent.
The final budget and tax rate will not be adopted until Sept. 22, but today's straw vote largely ensures that the city property tax rate of 74.79 cents per $100 in property value will increase to 79.7 in October.
The debate opened with dozens of speakers addressing the council. Just as the council was divided closely, the speakers today seemed about evenly divided for and against the rate increase.
Council members have taken a personal stake in the fight and, at times, the discussion turned ugly.
Most recent comment when I read this article:
Apparently those opposed to any increase in taxes are completely ok with gutting library staff. That is not acceptable.
I could have supported a no increase City budget with some library staff reductions but to eliminate one third of a branch library staff demonstrates a lack of leadership and poor decision-making by both some members of Council and the City Manager.
I am retired and living on my pension. I will gladly pay $5 a month in order that Dallas' citizens have a decent library system.
Related articles:
Comerica makes donation to 2 branch libraries. 8/21/2010)
Another successful summer reading program, another round of budget cuts. (8/15/2010)
City Manager's recommended budget includes lotsa library and park employee cuts. (8/9/2010)
Attention library budget cutters: These words still ring true. (5/29/2010)
From 'sacred cow' to 'sacrificial lamb'. (5/29/2010)
Axe is poised over library. (5/24/2010)
Friends of Library board chairman speaks out. (9/1/2009)
Dallas Public Library budget hacked (old-style). (7/23/2009)
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