The Fort Worth City Council has given the green signal to the Fiscal Year 2025 budget with a unanimous vote, setting the stage for what appears to be a year of fiscally mindful expansion. The approved budget sees the property tax rate remain steady at 67.25 cents per $100 assessed valuation, defying the trend towards increased revenue through higher taxes and aiming to ease the financial burden on residents while ensuring the continuous provision of crucial municipal services, according to the City of Fort Worth.
With the ushering in of the new fiscal year on October 1, Fort Worth has unveiled a General Fund budget that will amount to $1.057 billion, and this represents a 4.3% increase compared to the previous year, the new budget will facilitate the usual gamut of city initiatives spanning from roads to public safety all without hiking property taxes for its citizens. The city is preparing for a population surge, projected to exceed one million residents, and as such, the City Council is aligning its budget priorities towards accommodating this growth, focusing particularly on improving street maintenance, which has been a longstanding issue amongst the community.
Delving into the specifics, community safety has been a priority, with $3.5 million allocated for a new ambulance service set to launch in 2025 and additional investments to enhance police mobility with the introduction of new bike patrols targeting busy areas such as the Stockyards and Magnolia Avenue. Funding for law enforcement and firefighting services will total a significant $690 million; the City Council has also confirmed an extension of the Meet and Confer agreement through September 30, 2028, and endorsed the CCPD budget at $127.5 million to fortify Fort Worth’s safety infrastructure.
Parallel to these safety initiatives, community investment remains a crucial focal point with efforts to rejuvenate historical neighborhoods and bolster local small businesses in partnership with neighborhood commerce bodies, not to forget, a High Impact Pilot program slated to chip away at homelessness will receive continued support with a full year of allocated funds. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Library is earmarked at $29 million and Park and Recreation at $76.5 million, with the Northwest Community Center poised to make its debut in 2025 alongside The Meadowbrook Golf Course, which is on track to reopen in the spring of the same year.
