Fort Worth city council votes tax rate cut

Fort Worth - On Tuesday, the Fort Worth city council made a significant decision, voting 8-3 to set the city's 2024 tax rate at 67.25 cents per $100 of assessed value, Dallas Metro News reported. This marks the most considerable reduction in the tax rate the city has seen since 1990.

However, while the tax rate has decreased, the continuous rise in property values has somewhat overshadowed this drop. It's important to note that despite the 2024 rate reflecting a 5.6% decrease, property values have jumped by an estimated 12% in just the last year, according to a detailed report presented to the city council.

Council members Alan Blaylock, Michael Crain, and Charles Lauersdorf voted against the decision. Notably, Blaylock was a strong advocate for the "no-new revenue" tax rate, a suggestion that would keep 2024's revenue consistent with the amounts from the 2023 property evaluations.

“It is my position that the rate of government spending, as proposed, is unsustainable for the long-term fiscal health of the city,” Blaylock said.

In his address, he praised the city's investments in public safety and infrastructure, but emphasized the need to lower the tax rate even further.

For context, a homeowner with a property valued at $350,000, after considering the homestead exemption, will face a tax bill of $1,883 for the city in 2024.

Additionally, several significant entities within Fort Worth, including Tarrant County, the local school district, Tarrant County College, and John Peter Smith Hospital District, have set rates to ease the financial strain on property owners. This step follows strong requests from residents, urging Fort Worth to address growing property tax challenges impacting working-class families.

During the meeting, Wedgewood resident Hollie Plemons voiced the concerns of many, drawing attention to the gap between policy decisions and household finances. "What's important for most is the ability to handle the bills we receive," Plemons expressed, her words echoing personal experiences. She mentioned her family's continued reliance on older vehicles due to financial limitations.

Plemons argued that a slight decrease in the city's property tax might not hold much meaning for many grappling with real-world financial pressures.

Reacting to Plemons, council member Lauersdorf showed empathy, acknowledging the comparisons residents make between city and other tax rates. However, he highlighted the city's unique role in ensuring consistent essential services that the community relies on.

“If my house is burning down, I’m not calling the school district,” he said. Still he said the city could do more in future budget cycles to reduce property taxes.

Fort Worth is reinforcing its dedication to public safety in the upcoming budget by planning to add 106 personnel to the Police Department and 76 to the Fire Department. A significant portion of these new police roles will support the patrol division. Additionally, the city is keen on enhancing specialized units like the crisis intervention teams and services for the homeless.

On the neighborhood front, Fort Worth is allocating $4 million to its neighborhood improvement program. This initiative, which funds projects to improve safety, road quality, and economic development in targeted areas, traditionally focuses on one neighborhood per year. But with the increased funding, the city aims to support two neighborhoods.

Highlighting the city's tax rate efforts, Valerie Colapret, a city spokesperson, shared with the Star-Telegram that Fort Worth's rate cut is among the most significant in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. A city report further affirms this, revealing that only McKinney surpasses Fort Worth in terms of tax rate reduction among the ten largest cities in the DFW area.

Mayor Mattie Parker emphasized that this rate is essential for addressing challenges such as public safety, infrastructure repair, especially roads, and directing resources to urgent matters like homelessness and illegal dumping.

Credit: Dallas Metro News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, City of Fort Worth