The Fort Worth City Council has approved the city's 2027 operating budget, setting the total at $3.33 billion. This figure represents an increase of approximately $241 million compared to the 2026 budget. The approval followed a review of certified property values from the Tarrant Appraisal District, which came in lower than anticipated, creating a $94 million deficit that the city needed to address.
To close this gap, the council raised the property tax rate from 67 cents to 70.565 cents per $100 of valuation. This marks an increase of 3.565 cents over the previous rate. Under the new structure, the owner of a $330,000 home with a homestead exemption would pay roughly $1,862 in city taxes.
The city had initially proposed a rate of 70.2 cents per $100, but the final adopted rate is slightly higher.
City Manager Jay Chapa requested departmental cuts to offset the deficit, which included potential closures of the Alliance PetSmart Charities adoption center in north Fort Worth. However, following recommendations from the council, the final budget restored approximately $4 million in previously proposed cuts. Despite these adjustments, the operating budget remains significantly higher than the prior year.
The budget passed with a unanimous vote, although four council members, Michael Crain, Charlie Lauersdorf, Macy Hill, and Chris Jamieson, voted against the specific tax rate increase. Council member Macy Hill stated that residents are facing rising costs for housing, groceries, and utilities, and argued that government should not add financial pressure unless all other options are exhausted.
During the debate, Council member Elizabeth Beck defended the tax increase, suggesting that voting for the budget without the tax rate would be "virtue signaling." She noted a lack of willingness to discuss major service decreases. Council member Chris Nettles described the alternative as "gaslighting."
