Budget vote to be closer this year

I'm going to call it the Rasansky tradition. In his eight years on the City Council, former member Mitchell Rasansky never made a budget he could like. He voted against the budget proposal every year he was on the council. During those eight years, the budget passed 14-1. Last year, Rasansky's District 13 successor, Ann Margolin, continued the Rasansky tradition by voting against a budget that passed, you guessed it, 14-1.

I'm convinced the Rasansky tradition will continue this year. The proposed budget contains too many fee increases, which Margolin correctly labels as masked tax increases, and because she is opposed to any tax increase, she will not support the proposed FY 2010-11 budget when it comes before the council for a final vote in September.

However, this year I'm betting a lot more council members will join her. District 8's Tennell Atkins wisely has been advocating for a tax increase for a couple of years now. But this year he has entrenched himself so completely in the need for Dallas to raise its property tax rate, I'm convinced that he, and probably District 6's Steve Salazar and District 7's Carolyn Davis, will not support a budget that does not include a tax increase.

I only had the opportunity to see the first two and a half hours of yesterday's budget debate so I was fascinated to learn that it's possible that a majority of the council would support a much-needed tax increase. District 1's Delia Jasso and District 2's Pauline Medrano say they will listen to their constituents at their respective town hall meetings before making a decision. My bet is that those constituents, faced with cuts to services they need more than those in North Dallas, will argue for an increase. I say that because I recall attending a joint District 11 and 12 town hall meeting in far North Dallas eight or so years ago when Dallas also faced some severe budget cuts. Then Mayor Laura Miller, who was as firmly against a tax increase as Da Mayor is today, made a surprise appearance and was stunned to hear many of those attending in this conservative area argue for an increase. Finally the matter was put to a vote and those in favor of an increase in this part of town clearly were in the majority. I heard Miller say to then council members Lois Finkelman and Sandy Greyson as she departed the rec center that she just might have to alter her opinion.

People are willing to pay for a government that provides them services that make their lives better. When folks yell "No new taxes," they are talking more about federal and perhaps state taxes because they fail to see how these positively and directly effect their day-to-day lives. But when it's closer to home, it's a different story. I'm convinced a majority of the people of Dallas would vote to pay more to keep the recreational centers, the libraries and the swimming pools operating as they should. I'm convinced they would pay to have their streets repaired and to make sure the city had enough ambulances to meet emergency situations.

I also think it's grandstanding for people like District 11's Linda Koop, District 10's Jerry Allen and Da Mayor to say the city won't grow if we pass a tax increase. Dallas becomes a more attractive destination if it's a city with clean parks, active recreation centers, drivable streets, and a superb, accessible library system.