09/22/04  We're not like Ft. Worth.

Everybody always asks, "Why can't Dallas be nice,  attractive and well-run citizen-friendly like Fort Worth?" 

For example, Fort Worth doesn't nickel-and-dime downtown patrons with excessive parking fees.

Be aware that in Fort Worth, citizens fund their city by paying $0.085 (85?) per $100.00 of valuation in property taxes and in Dallas we fund our city by paying just under $0.70 (70?) per $100.00.  HUGE difference in funding!

Can you imagine what this city could be like if Dallas citizens contributed that much?   

In the current budget, the council is having a conniption fit over a proposal to hike our rate by 2? ($0.02) so we can hire 50 more police officers.

Fort Worth folks just have a different attitude toward running and paying for a livable city.

Editor's comments:  Ft. Worth city councils are more careful how they spend taxpayer dollars, and when they are not (like trying to fund a city-owned convention hotel) Ft. Worth voters tell them "NO"!