Non-Disclosure of Residential Property Sales vs Commercial!   6/22/09
David Tuthill

It is ironic that The Dallas Morning News has slanted City Hall's budget deficit as due to the "non-disclosure of residential home prices".  Historically, it has been a common practice of commercial property owners to not disclose sales prices. 

In the 2007 Texas legislative session, when it was proposed to make mandatory the disclosure of commercial property sales, the legislation was defeated with the help of former Representative Fred Hill (Rep., Richardson) who now is paid as a lobbyist to the tune of over $600,000.00 with our tax dollars by the same municipalities who awarded him praise for his efforts on their behalf!

While we have heard what it to be cut from the city budget (libraries, park recreation centers etc.),  we have not heard how the rest of the budget will be spent.  We have seen no effect on the must have

Trinity Toll Road (that has been dealt a sever blow by "sand in the levees"), or

The public owned hotel (that was narrowly passed by voters), or

Covering Woodall Rogers Freeway with a park.

How are our city leaders setting examples for the 700+ to be laid off employees?  Are council  members and upper city management taking pay cuts?  Are they curtailing travel expenditures?

I recall the million dollar improvements spent in October 2008 to make city hall more welcoming; improvements that included a $70,000 TV set/monitor.  I also recall an out of town get-away that the city council went on.  What other examples are out there of questionable spending or our city leaders tightening their financial spending belts?

In short, you can't have it both ways with commercial property owners historically getting away with non-disclosure of sales prices at the expense of homeowners.  Cutting city services while maintaining big budget-breaking projects that in their nature are questionable at best.

Homeowners, especially those who can afford high dollar homes and high dollar property tax representation, are finally doing what commercial owners have been doing (with the legislatures and municipal government's blessing) all along.


David W. Tuthill