Arlington, TX

The crime district tax will go to the voters on November 6. The City Council approved the proposed .125 cent sales tax increase at last night’s meeting. The increase will generate about $5.9 million per year for crime prevention and additional police officers. Police Chief Theron Bowman presented a preliminary budget for the money which included $3.7 million for additional police officers, $1.6 million for neighborhood coordinators and code inspectors and $550,000 for after-school programs, scholarships for summer and athletic programs, and increased security at park facilities.

Dating violence is now a punishable offense in Texas schools. House Bill 121 requires districts to develop a plan to deal with the problem. The legislation defines dating violence as any intentional physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate or control another person in a dating relationship. Districts are required to develop school-based alternatives to protective orders, provide training for teachers and administrators and offer counseling to students.

The Fort Worth-Arlington area had the highest rate of home foreclosures in the state during the first half of 2007. Our area also ranked 13th in the nation. Foreclosures affected one of every 57 households in Fort Worth-Arlington. Both Mayor Cluck of Arlington and Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks of Fort Worth have been trying to combat the problem. In June they issued a press release that encouraged homeowners in danger of foreclosure to contact Homeownership Preservation Foundation for help. Their hotline, 888-995-HOPE is available 24 hours a day in both English and Spanish.

Arlington, Arlington TX, City Council, Crime Tax, Raising Sales Tax, November 6 Election, Dating Violence, House Bill 121, Home Foreclosures, Fort Worth, Kathleen Hicks, HOPE Foundation, Home Ownership Preservation Foundation