Dallas taxpayers will get no 2016 tax rate break as city council members Wednesday voiced strong support for service improvements, not reductions.
The city council room was crowded with library supporters who back a proposed $4 million budget increase to help reverse deep library cuts imposed in recent lean years.
"It's not like it's one thing that's given up," said library supporter Katherine McGovern. "It's across the board. We can't afford not to spend our money wisely for these services."
Rising property values provide Dallas with more cash to support the proposed $3.1 billion fiscal year 2015-2016 budget, which takes effect Oct. 1. Council members vote on the budget later this month.
Wednesday they made it very clear they do not support a tax rate cut proposed by Councilman Lee Kleinman to return some money to property owners.
The current Dallas property tax rate of .07970 is among the highest in North Texas. A briefing Wednesday offered options on reducing the rate below some others to .07826. It would have saved the owner of a $218,000 Dallas average-value homestead $25.07 a year, but would also require a $14.1 million city budget reduction.
Eliminating extra library hours was one proposed element to make that budget reduction.
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Councilwoman Sandy Greyson said she asked taxpayers about the idea at a Tuesday night town hall meeting.
"And the people there were very clear," she said. "They were actually annoyed that we were considering this tax rate cut and the things that would go with that."
"We had a proposal, the citizens didn't like it, and now we're not going to do it. And to me that sounds like responsive city government," Councilman Philip Kingston said.
Kleinman agreed the tax rate cut is dead.
"While I will probably vote against the tax rate, I'm done grandstanding on that issue," he said.
