2027 recommended budget presented by city manager

2027 recommended budget presented by city manager

Published on August 11, 2026

City Manager Jesus "Jay" Chapa presented the Fiscal Year 2027 Recommended Budget, outlining a $4.35 billion total financial plan that addresses slowing revenue growth, declining taxable values and rising operational costs while maintaining core City services.

The proposed budget includes $3.32 billion in operating funds and $1.03 billion in capital investments.

"Over the last several months, I have worked alongside City staff to refine a budget that prioritizes core services that our residents rely on, and preserves filled positions wherever possible," Chapa said. "It's never easy to recommend these kinds of budget cuts, and I recognize that these decisions have meaningful impacts on the lives of Fort Worth residents and employees."

Balancing a challenging financial landscape

City officials emphasized several external pressures shaping the FY27 budget, including a deteriorating property tax environment, slowed existing property value growth and potential legislative changes that continue to create uncertainty for financial forecasting.

According to certified appraisal data, Fort Worth's net taxable value increased less than 1% overall, driven entirely by new construction, while existing property values decreased citywide.

General Fund budget

The recommended General Fund budget is $1.156 billion, an increase of 4.6% from the previous year. Public safety remains the largest share of the General Fund (approximately 57%) and receives significant investments, including officer and firefighter pay increases, new police patrol positions, improved fire fleet support and full funding for Axon 911 technology.

To close what grew into a $94 million gap between revenues and expenses in the General Fund, the City is recommending a range of strategies to balance the budget. These include cutting non-essential contracts, reducing training expenses, eliminating and freezing vacant positions, reducing PayGo cash funding for capital maintenance, reducing economic incentives and lowering pay-for-performance increases for general employees.

Fifty-one General Fund positions are proposed to be eliminated, and an additional 121 positions frozen for six to 12 months. No civil service personnel reductions are proposed.

Chapa and City staff worked to preserve filled positions wherever possible while addressing the General Fund deficit.

Recommended tax rate and fees

Chapa recommended a 3.2-cent increase to the property tax rate, from $0.6700 to $0.7020 per $100 valuation, largely to support public safety and maintain infrastructure capacity. However, due to falling taxable home values, the average Fort Worth homeowner will still see a decrease in City property taxes, paying an estimated $16.69 less per year compared to FY2026.

Nine departments recommend updates to fees for FY27. These adjustments support cost recovery, sustainability and long-range planning. Notable increases appear in development, environmental fees, solid waste collection, stormwater fees and water/wastewater rates.

The reduction in property taxes, combined with proposed increases in utility and environmental fees, would result in a typical resident paying $5.70 more per month to support City services.

Other funds

Enterprise funds, such as Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Municipal Airports and Municipal Parking, show a combined 9.82% increase, driven primarily by growth-related operating and capital costs.

Special revenue funds total $403.6 million, with notable changes including a 5% increase in Crime Control & Prevention District funding, a decrease in Public Events due to Convention Center expansion impacts and the transition of Will Rogers Memorial Center to third-party management, and a 16% increase in EMS funding, including a $30.2 million subsidy from the General Fund.

Internal Service Funds increase by 12.46%, driven largely by a significant rise in employee healthcare claim costs.

Next steps

Budget work sessions will continue next week to address agenda items raised by City Council. Work sessions are scheduled for Aug. 18 and Aug. 21.

A series of budget presentations is planned in each council district for residents to learn more about the recommended budget [link to schedule]. Public hearings will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for the recommended budget, and on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for the recommended tax rate. On Sept. 15, the adoption of the tax rate, operating budget and five-year capital improvement plan will be up for approval by City Council.

The City's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Find more budget information online.

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