Sharon Boyd, Editor/Publisher |
DallasArena.com Your alternative to The Dallas Managed News Stan Aten
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6/22/9 When is a budget number not completely accurate?
Looking through the proposed Dallas City budget and adjustments
that are being proposed to the city council, I have found some numbers
that are not being accurately reported by the media.
For example, the latest budget briefing talks about adding 200 police officers with a cost of $6.5 million. That is the number reported by the news media; however, in the budget notes, that $6.5 million only covers 164 officers with the balance to be covered by federal grants. That $6.5 million only covers salaries and some benefits, but not the pension contribution or even uniforms (which are to be funded by a separate federal grant).
A couple of years back, I believe the cost of adding a police officer for
the first year was about $100,000 for salary, benefits and training. The
media is not reporting the complete cost to taxpayers. The city budget
office is not making it easy for citizens to know the true costs
either.
A few minor items to ponder:
Buried in the municipal court budget proposal, the $3 jury fee is to be eliminated. So if you are called to serve on a municipal court, you lose a day of work and do it for free.
Proposed elimination of 2 deputy marshals, which reduces the amount of
outstanding warrants collected.
More budget items to come.
Stan Aten |
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