News

Dallas Budget Writers Start with Red Ink DALLAS, TX (KERA) - That's Dallas Chief Financial Officer Dave Cook, who predicts a five million dollar drop in sales tax revenue. And he says property tax growth could be 5%, HALF of what it was last year. Also part of the 50 million dollar shortfall: a 2.5 million dollar drop in anticipated red light camera revenue. Councilman Mitchell Rasansky says that's GOOD - people aren't running red lights!

Rasansky: "And that was the main thing that we have done, and if it brings in less revenue, that's great. As long as the public out there knows that they're going to get a ticket if they run the red light."

Also on the downside: Dallas Police are not writing as many tickets, and the courts are not hearing cases as quickly as in the past. In the good news column: the city is adding 33 million dollars from leases to drill for natural gas on city land - 13 million more than expected. But, water rates and garbage fees will go up. Council members look at a proposed schedule of OTHER fee increases next month. City Manager Mary Suhm will present her budget recommendation August 11th after much tweaking by the Council. The final vote comes in September.
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