This was one of the most brutal city budgets in recent history.

Our nation was coming off of five solid years of economic growth, and then last year, it ran right smack into perhaps the most difficult recession since the 30’s.

Cities across the United States are closing fire stations, libraries and recreation centers. They are eliminating city services and even laying off police officers.

Across the nation property values have plummeted, resulting in lower property tax income for cities. Spending has curtailed as well, resulting in the loss of sales tax income for cities.

Times have been hard, with no easy answers in sight. Some beat the drum to raise taxes and keep all current services, while others said it was time to go on a diet.

Starting in early summer, the debate went back and forth. In the end, your council decided the best way to balance the budget was to trim down.

Losing weight is never easy, but to remain healthy over the long run requires discipline.

Your City Manager, Mary Suhm, and her staff worked 80-hour weeks, month after month, to bring the citizens of this city a budget that is fair and balanced.

Suhm heard over and over that public safety was the number one concern of the citizens.

Therefore, she choose to close no fire stations, while even finding funds to replace old equipment with ten new fire engines, four new fire trucks and even the creation of one new station.

Mrs. Suhm, along with Mayor Leppert and the entire council, remained committed to adding police officers to increase our police staff by 191 officers over last year. In short, we have come too far to go back.

Also, as evidenced at meeting after meeting of local Town Halls, your voices were heard loud and clear that recreation centers and library hours needed to be protected.

Those voices are the reason why recreation center hours changed by less than ten percent and a large portion of the library hours remained intact.

At the end of the day this might not be a perfect budget for all, but I will say this budget should allow us to weather the storm and put Dallas in a position to be the first out of the chute when economic recovery comes.

And economic recovery will come.