Amid an ongoing debate among Dallas leaders regarding the tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, a City survey shows that Dallasites believe City taxes are too high and support a plan for lower tax rates.
Mayor Eric Johnson and Council Member Cara Mendelsohn have led the charge against raising the tax rate but have garnered little support from their colleagues on the council, as reported by The Dallas Express.
A survey conducted by the City of Dallas found that taxpayers believe current tax rates are too high, with some even saying they support the “no-new-revenue” plan proposed by Mendelsohn.
The survey results were published in a memo by Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland and sent to The Dallas Express by the Office of Mayor Johnson.
“MY TAXES WERE RAISED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,” one survey respondent from District 3 wrote. “I AM A SENIOR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE!”
“Seems to me there is an inordinate amount of waste,” said a District 11 resident. “Make cuts, and lower our taxes, please.”
Another District 11 resident said, “I support the no-new-revenue rate to be selected to avoid hitting the fiscal iceberg soon.”
“Street is in poor condition and unsafe. City services for the area are relatively poor,” a District 14 resident wrote. “Will be moving if taxes increase.”
Pointing to this survey, Mayor Johnson said on social media, “We should listen to the taxpayers. It is, after all, their money.”
Furthermore, Council Member Chad West said in a recent newsletter that he has “received dozens of emails from residents” asking him to support the “no-new-revenue” proposal.
However, he added that he also received an “equal number [of] emails” questioning whether the City can sustain City services considering population growth, inflation, and commitments to police/fire raises and recruitment and retention goals under the proposal.
As reported by The Dallas Express, a series of budget amendments to reduce spending and tax rates were proposed by Council Members Mendelsohn and Paul Ridley during a budget workshop last week, but the majority of these amendments were rejected by the rest of the council.
Council Member Carolyn King Arnold alleged reducing taxpayer spending in the Office of Equity and Inclusion would “put legs on Jim Crow,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
