Fort Worth FY2027 Budget Public Meeting - August 25, 2026

This was the second of ten public meetings on the City of Fort Worth's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, held at the Crowley ISD community room. City Manager Jay Choppa and Budget Director Christy Ann Simmons presented a $3.32 billion operating budget and $4.35 billion total budget. The central challenge was a $94 million gap driven by a decline in property tax revenue due to the Tarrant Appraisal District's reappraisal plan and mid-year value losses. The gap was closed through departmental reductions, fee increases, and a proposed 3.2-cent property tax rate increase (to 70.2 cents per $100 valuation), which is partially offset by falling home values.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A resident asked why the city chose a tax rate increase rather than a higher rate to eliminate fees, suggesting the increase would be more equitable. City Manager Choppa explained that fees are more tied to service use and less regressive than property taxes.
• Another resident asked about a Tarrant Appraisal District proposal to use third-party technology to track private aircraft for business personal property taxes, noting the city could gain $10 million in revenue. Choppa said the city declined to pay an upfront cost of nearly $3 million, and TAD later changed the model.
• A resident suggested buying smaller fire trucks to save on vehicle maintenance costs. Choppa responded that standard pumpers are required for urban fire suppression but said the city would look into it.
• A resident expressed concern about reductions to the Priority Repair Program and the Mobile Tool Shed program, noting they help low-income seniors and disabled residents. Simmons clarified that the Tool Shed program is reduced from four to three staff, not eliminated, and the Priority Repair cut is $75,000 out of $4.5 million.
• A resident asked about the lack of budget for community services like affordable housing and food banks. The city manager noted the city does not have a food bank budget.
• A resident questioned why impact fees are not set at 100% to raise more revenue. Choppa explained that impact fees are tied to the specific impact on assets and cannot be used for other purposes.
• A resident asked about the cost of the Axon 911 call-taking technology. The city manager said they would provide the total cost.
• A resident criticized the Freeport exemption for warehouses, arguing it reduces tax revenue. Choppa explained that the exemption is a state law and that incentives are used to attract investment that generates jobs and property taxes on buildings.
• A resident asked about attrition rates and whether the city is using vacancies to reduce expenditures. Choppa said the city is freezing about 120 positions and eliminating others, with attrition rates of 5% for police, <1% for fire, and 12–16% for other general fund employees.
• A retired CPA suggested that TAD increase audits of business property tax renditions, as many are inaccurate. Choppa agreed.
• A resident urged the council to add more funding for quality-of-life services like parks and code compliance, noting that public safety already received raises.

Discussion Items

• Simmons presented the budget development process: at the peak, the gap was $94 million. Departments were asked to cut 1% ($7.8M) and then an additional 3% ($14.5M) in reductions. After receiving certified values from TAD, deeper cuts of $28.5M were made, including reducing general employee pay raises from 4-5% to 3% mid-year (effectively 1.5%). Fee increases generated $6.3M, and a 3.2-cent tax rate increase was recommended to close the remaining $37M gap.
• Public safety additions: 76 new patrol officers (funded through CCPD), 30 corporal positions in patrol for career advancement, full funding for the Axon 911 pilot, and increased fire department funding for overtime and fleet costs. The HOPE homelessness outreach program is being eliminated, with fire personnel returning to suppression duties; a mobile integrated health unit from MedStar EMS will take over some HOPE services.
• Community investment reductions: Alliance PetSmart Adoption Center closure (proposed $403,000 savings, but council members indicated it was a non-starter in the work session earlier that day); Priority Repair Program reduced by $75,000; Mobile Tool Shed reduced from 4 to 3 staff; Neighborhood Improvement Program funding staggered to $1 million in year one; Economic Development Initiatives Fund transfer reduced from $5 million to $500,000; Nuisance Abatement pilot continued with additional code officers.
• Fee increases: Water and wastewater (8.7% budget growth, rate increase ~2%), solid waste, stormwater, environmental fee (flat $2.50). The average residential utility bill (water, stormwater, solid waste, environmental) is projected to increase from $1,286 to $1,372 (up $85), partially offset by a slight decrease in the property tax bill.
• The city's capital plan for FY2027 is $1.03 billion, mostly water infrastructure. Pay-as-you-go capital maintenance is reduced by $2.8 million due to static tax rate and falling values, but transportation and public works still receive 82% of that funding.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; the meeting was a public input session. The next public hearing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, with adoption of the tax rate and budget on September 15, 2026.
• Council members present indicated the Alliance PetSmart Adoption Center closure is likely not to be included in the final budget, and staff will look for alternative savings.
• The city manager emphasized that the $3.2 billion operating budget is balanced under state law, and the only lever for general fund revenue is property tax rates and fees; other funds (water, aviation, etc.) cannot be used to close the general fund gap.
• The budget includes a 3.2-cent tax rate increase, but due to declining home values, the average homeowner's city property tax bill is projected to decrease slightly (exact figures were not clearly stated in the transcript).