Three new council members are being blamed by the old council members. Three new council members are being thanked by the citizens. Be sure and read the comment. It gives you a side the "news" forgot to. The side of the people that the council is elected to represent.
Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Wednesday night's vote was 4-3 in favor of the budget, but a two-thirds majority was required for passage.
It was the first time a proposed budget has been rejected in Watauga, city officials said.
"I wish we could have reached a better level of consensus in the previous [budget] workshops," Clements said.
"My only objection was to the tax increase. Overall, I agreed with the budget, except for hiring new people."
Mayor Harry Jeffries said he was disappointed in the council.
"We've had enough work sessions for people to ask questions, and they weren't asked," he said. "I have three people who don't want to raise taxes. I don't want to raise taxes, and the other councilmen don't want to raise taxes. But you come to a point where you look at the loss in [total] property valuation and something has to happen to make that up.
"Either you cut services or you raise taxes."
Watauga has lost considerable taxable property value in the last several years. Between 2010 and 2011, the total property value in Watauga dropped about $10.2 million.
