By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-925274.mp3
Dallas, TX – A split vote of the Dallas City Council raises taxes by 6 percent. KERA's BJ Austin says the debate divided council members along north-south lines.
The tax hike will cost homeowners 64 dollars more a year, based on the average home price of 212 thousand dollars. Mayor Tom Leppert says that's an undue burden on homeowners in this economy. And it's bad for business.
Leppert: Raising taxes is bad policy, especially in an environment like this. We should live within our means, as families and businesses have to. And that's what we have done over the past several years.
Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway says the southern sector of the city has been without the same level of services and quality-of-life amenities as North Dallas for a long time. He says that situation would get worse without a tax hike to restore cuts to parks, rec centers, libraries and cultural programs.
Caraway: They say live within our means. Well, if we're going to live within our means, I wonder if these same folks are willing to stop construction right now on the over-deck park and take whatever part of Dallas' money that's in it out of it.
Caraway is talking about the 77 million dollar Woodall Rodgers Deck Park, which is under construction.
Council member Angela Hunt was the only non-minority to vote FOR the tax hike. The vote was 8 to 7. Councilman Dave Neumann proposed a compromise, smaller tax increase, but failed to get a "second" on his motion. City officials had sent out 450 layoff notices. With the tax hike, that number is 121. Furlough days and pay cuts are still part of the budget that takes effect October first.