The Dallas City Council will vote Wednesday on property tax rates for the next budget year, which begins Oct. 1.
After years of soaring real estate prices, property owners are shocked by soaring taxes.
City Manager TC Broadnax recommended a slightly lower tax rate in a new city budget plan proposed earlier this month.
In a memo Friday, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called for not applying a lower tax rate, the so-called new tax rate, that would limit property tax revenue to an amount equal to the amount received this year.
Property owners would save more money, but would have to cut more than $100 million from the administrator's proposed budget.
Property taxes are the largest source of funding for general funding services such as police, fire, roads and sidewalks.
The City of Dallas' budget has increased each year in recent years.
“Despite these increases, we haven't seen significant improvements or improvements in city services, so I think it's time to brush up,” said City Councilman Chad West.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson appointed West to lead the Government Performance Commission, which will find ways to cut spending and taxes.
“I am committed to supporting the Mayor's efforts to find tax relief to help families stay in their homes,” West said.
Dallas City Councilwoman Carla Mendelsohn said she would push for no new tax rates and a small increase to fund city government efficiency studies during Wednesday's tax vote.
Also last week, Mendelsohn sent a memo to Mayor Johnson detailing potential budget cuts.
The current Dallas property tax rate is 74.58 cents per $100 of value.
The administrator's proposed tax rate of 73.93 would reduce taxes by $17.40 a year for the average $344,710 homestead owner in Dallas.
If the new tax rate were not 68.13 cents per $100, that bill would be reduced by $168.21 per year.
City government's budget will be cut by $113 million.
Dallas City Councilwoman Carolyn King Arnold represents City Council District 4 in south Dallas.
“We have been committed to providing funding to historically underserved communities with the highest priority, and we believe the city administrator's proposed budget addresses that. '' Arnold said.
Dallas' new equity policy seeks to address long-ignored problems such as potholes and missing sidewalks in these areas.
At the same time, the city's chief financial officer predicts even bigger budget problems in the future in his five-year financial forecast.
“As a business owner, if I know we're going to be short on funds in two years, I start making cuts now and make a plan. I don't increase the budget,” West said.
But West also said it may be difficult to find enough cuts to remove $113 million from proposed spending, with just over a month left before the final vote on the budget.
“The conversation will be very interesting, but we want to remind everyone of our commitment to equity,” Arnold said.
Even if the City Council approves the higher tax rate on Wednesday, it could be lower still if spending is cut when the final budget is approved in September.
