Council Members Walk Out Of Meeting

Six members of the Dallas City Council walked out of a budget meeting yesterday....before the council could vote on setting a maximum property tax rate for the next fiscal year.

The Morning News says the six either favored the increase or were undecided.   They said they left the meeting because they feared Mayor Tom Leppert would try to push a vote capping next year's tax rate at the current level.

The walkouts included Angela Hunt, Steve Salazar and Carolyn Davis.

Leppert says it's a process and he's happy to make his arguments before the council votes to set the tax rate.  That decision's expected September 22nd, when the ccouncil votes to adopt a budget for the new fiscal year beginning October 1st.