Dallas Could Increase Taxes

DALLAS - The city of Dallas will become one of the state’s highest taxed cities if the council approves an almost 5 percent tax increase.

According to a memo signed by eight of 15 Dallas council members, the city needs to raise the tax rate by 4.91 percent in order to help restore city services and quality of life issues.

Supporters of the tax increase said it will raise almost $40 million that will go towards parks and recreation, swimming pools and streets.

But opponents said it’ll put the squeeze on local companies and could end up driving away businesses in an already competitive global market.

While council member Tennell Atkins argued the increase is what the people want, council member Jerry Allen said he conducted a poll and determined about 80 percent of his constituents don’t want a tax hike.

The increase would make the Dallas tax rate almost 80 cents per $100 of valuation.