Via the Dallas Morning News:
The fight over whether Dallas should raise taxes will culminate at a City Council meeting later this month.
But the issue was probably decided well before that at a series of town hall meetings where residents have spoken out overwhelmingly in favor of sending more money to City Hall.
Every year before passing a budget, council members hold town hall meetings in recreation centers, libraries and school gymnasiums across Dallas.
This year, whether the meetings were packed with residents or sparsely attended by a handful of people, the message has largely been the same – raise taxes.
"I don't think it's fair for city employees to have their pay decrease ... and for the parks, they need to look good," Kay Taylor told City Manager Mary Suhm at a meeting held by Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway in southeastern Dallas.
"What makes a great city is parks and arts. I urge you to put the funding back, and, yes, I am willing to dig deeper," Mark Kennedy said to rousing applause at a meeting in Preston Hollow.
Please share your thoughts below.
2. 15% pay cut for any city employee that makes more than $75K.
3. A halt to all park construction until the city's budget can handle the maintenance costs without a tax increase.
4. Shut down "cultural centers." They only serve a fraction of the city, why should the entire city pay for them?
5. Sell the boondoggle of a hotel to pay off the debt as soon as they can get an offer high enough that the city doesn't lose money.
6. The city should start reducing debt as soon as it is able. The city's debt service is far higher than the deficit. If it hadn't incurred so much debt in the last decade, we would be in great fiscal shape.
Thank you.
Donald R. Hoke, Ph.D.
How about some cuts in pay across the board for city employees - and a cut in the number of employees?!!
When was the last time you went downtown to pay a ticket or register a car - only to be greeted by a never-ending line leading to an office full of bored "employees" slowly trying to look busy?!!
Here's an idea: how about streamlining and simplifying and putting our resources where they're actually needed??
For instance, how about funneling our revenue into areas that actually do some service? We're getting charged more than ever for trash pickup; only difference is: many of us now have to put our trash outside our house by the curb - instead of in the alley - which was made for trash pickup (and many times, even then, the trash is not picked up ((even though pickups have gone from twice a week to once a week!!)) ).
Basically, I'm for pay cuts in every area; for streamlining and simplifying wherever possible; and absolute
2. We have checked w/ friends in other southern cities: Atlanta, Nashville, Richmond, Houston, and NOT ONE pays the high percentage of property taxes that we do. This is ridiculous!!
and salaries, etc.....
...and all other spending is cut 20%...
..until that time they can go pound sand.
It's time for everyone to tighten their belts, dig deeper and do a great job.
I just served on jury duty, where there were at least 10 officers standing around shooting the breeze. I'll bet that there are plenty of qualified people in our community that would be glad to have those jobs and do them with far better results.
Everyone needs to get a renewed work ethic and realize they are public servants. The council should pay close attention to the media that is not being covered. Civil unrest is just a bad decision away.
Raising taxes just gives permission for the City to spend. I have alread "dug deep". I am 67 and did not plan well for retirement. I don't have any extra money for Dallas.
We tax basically on the property of citizens. homes, cars, etc.
We need to intitute a
USAGE tax for schools, streets,city services such as fire department, water dept, parks and pools in playgrounds.
Every child attending school needs to pay something....either a registration fee, book fees, class fees, sport fees, etc. We, the tax payers, had small familys and paid our way, now we are inundated by illegals with enourmous familys and they pay nothing. WE should refuse admittance to our hospitals and schools unless the family is paying a monthly tax to use these services. Not a property tax, not a vehicle tax, but a Usage Tax. Since we refuse to deport illegals, at least make them pay their own way!!
We tax basically on the property of citizens. homes, cars, etc.
We need to intitute a
USAGE tax for schools, streets,city services such as fire department, water dept, parks and pools in playgrounds.
Every child attending school needs to pay something....either a registration fee, book fees, class fees, sport fees, etc. We, the tax payers, had small familys and paid our way, now we are inundated by illegals with enourmous familys and they pay nothing. WE should refuse admittance to our hospitals and schools unless the family is paying a monthly tax to use these services. Not a property tax, not a vehicle tax, but a Usage Tax. Since we refuse to deport illegals, at least make them pay their own way!!
It will never stop unless we demand NO NEW TAXES.
District 10: Jerry R. Allen: Undecided, leans toward FAVORING - THIS IS NOT TRUE - HE IS LEANING AGAINST ANY TAX INCREASE! Many who attended his town hall meeting expressed a desire to raise taxes in support of libraries, rec centers, pools and the arts. I urge you to go to his city hall website and express your opinion. I had asked an e-mail correcting the error be sent, but have received no response. Pretty disappointed that when an error is made by an organization I admire and mistakes are not corrected in a timely manner.