By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-838656.mp3
Dallas, TX – Libraries, parks, street repairs, and as many as 350 city jobs could be casualties in the battle against "red ink" at Dallas City Hall. KERA's BJ Austin says council members got a long list of bad news at a budget workshop.
Under the plan to close a 100 million dollar budget shortfall libraries would close one day a week; money for parks and the Zoo would be cut, so would funds for street repair. Water rates would go up six percent. Parking meter fees and fines would also increase. Councilman Mitchell Rasansky wants to be sure city expenditures that do NOT require council approval are appropriate for these tough economic times.
Rasansky: We're spending 18 thousand dollars for some fiberglass peaches for decoration at the Farmers Market hello? All this starts adding up.
Council members say public safety remains the priority for funding. The council must approve a balanced budget in September.