David W. Tuthill

It is troubling to see that the DMN Editorial Board does not support capping local taxes in light of the Dallas Independent School District expenditures (for the children's good as we are constantly reminded) like yacht trips, excessive cell phone bills and car allowances and the superintendent's salary (highest in the state). Just to name a few that we are presently know about.

How is the city of Dallas going to pay for the $60 million for the "Gardens of Woodall Rodgers" or for those three bridges spanning the Trinity River flood plain?

Oh sure it's going to look good when done, but there are other more pressing needs on the city's plate. We see this attitude exhibited with past projects like pursuing the 2012 Olympics (what a cost and security disaster that would have been). And, we need just one more hotel to attract conventions. And, it's up to Dallas taxpayers to foot the bill and not the "developer who needs our financial handouts." I will not detail the numerous tax abatements the City Council has granted to developers, who city employees constantly remind me really own Dallas.

I just finished paying my residential property taxes (up about $2000 from last year due to a 48% increase from last valuation.) While they raised my father's house value in 2004, they came back again for another 13% in 2005! Hell, they can't live with a 10% increase per year increase in residential valuations.

Have you ever received a notice from the appraisal district that your home's value has decreased and they want to lower your tax bill?

The DMN Editorial Board cites the Bedford library as a case example. My only hope is that the residents of Bedford go to the ballot box and do some spring cleaning of their elected officials. Removing an incumbent is as likely to happen as using the law to force a tax rollback.

The bottom line is that when you have a fixed amount of income from the tax base, you must choose between eating your vegetables like a good child as opposed to constantly having dessert (such as those items cited above) like an obese spoiled brat.