City of Fort Worth unveiled its budget for next fiscal year

Fort Worth - The City of Fort Worth revealed its carefully prepared budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday morning, a much-awaited announcement that has ignited discussions and assessments set to persist in the following months, Dallas Metro News reported.

The newly proposed budget emphasizes a multi-dimensional dedication to public safety, with detailed enhancements for both the fire and police departments. The proposal outlines an ambitious plan to add 106 new positions within the Fort Worth Police Department, a strong number reflecting the city's booming growth.

"The total operating budget for the City of Fort Worth is $2.6 billion," said City Manager David Cooke. "It includes more patrol officers, more 911 call takers," he added. "I think there are 13 additional officers for crisis intervention."

Yet, this proposal, despite its ambition, has faced scrutiny. Councilmember Charles Lauersdorf expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the allocation, particularly regarding patrol officers.

"A couple of things that really stick out to me, that I hope I’ll get more information, is the 21 patrol officers," said councilmember Charles Lauersdorf. "I think with the growth of, you mentioned 20,000 people per year, I like where it says more police, but I don't think ‘more’ quite means enough in this particular case."

Another significant aspect of the 2024 budget proposal is the unveiling of a 4-cent property tax rate reduction. City Manager Cooke has highlighted that this cut represents the most considerable property tax rate decrease in both real terms and percentage-wise over an extraordinary period of at least the past 34 years.

Along with this, the budget discussion also emphasizes the proposed addition of 76 new positions within the Fort Worth Fire Department, illustrating the city's unwavering dedication to ensuring a harmonious balance of growth and safety.

The fiscal year 2024 budget conversations have commenced and are expected to unfold across several intense months. Lauersdorf offered a carefully positive viewpoint.

"I think we are definitely moving the right direction with this budget. I think it looks good from what I'm seeing so far," said Lauersdorf.

In a bid to involve the community and various stakeholders in this essential process, the initial public budget meeting has been set for Wednesday, August 16 at City Hall. It will be the first in a series of meetings in different communities during August and September.

The detailed budget proposal not only outlines the financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year but also mirrors Fort Worth's lively transformation, goals, and underlying tensions. The approaching months are poised to be filled with rigorous assessments and discussions, ultimately defining the city's future in alignment with its changing needs and objectives.

Credit: Fox 4, Dallas Metro News