15 mayors confer on issues confronting urban Texas

Posted Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 0 comments  Print Reprints
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FORT WORTH -- Mayors of Texas' 15 largest cities talked about homelessness, transportation, water and education during their annual meeting Monday and said they wanted the Legislature to become a partner on important initiatives.

For one, the mayors said, they wanted the Legislature to restore funding for local homelessness programs that were pared during the last legislative session.

"It's $20 million," Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said during a news conference after the meeting at Texas Motor Speedway.

"What does it cost us to not spend the money?"

Fort Worth uses the money it gets from the state program for rental vouchers.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said the state's potential return on its investment would be significantly higher.

"You want to spend the money on this, not the jails," Rawlings said.

The mayors said they wanted substantially more support from Austin for transportation projects.

Scott Nishimura, 817-390-7808

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