Property Taxes

More than 30 Arlington residents met at the police South District Service Center to learn more and ask questions about the proposed tax rate increase Thursday. Another town hall will be held Aug. 21.

Priorities and action recommended by the county's budget staff were discussed with commissioners in a workshop ahead of a Sept. 9 vote to adopt the fiscal year plan.

The 3-cent increase would be enough for the city to close a projected deficit and brace for more property tax challenges in 2027.

Increasing the tax rate by about 3 cents per $100 of valuation would prevent the need to terminate employees, eliminate cost of living wages and reduce employee benefits.

Democrats fled the state to stop Republicans’ attempt to redraw congressional districts, but bills aimed at everything from a THC product ban to bolstering flood response are now in doubt.

A tax increase could help the city close the $25 million budget gap projected for 2026 without making cuts that would negative impact police and firefighters.

The law goes into effect in September, allowing developers to build multifamily housing in any commercially zoned parts of the city. It weakens the city's ability to regulate new developments.

The federal taxes are from 2015 and 2019, according to a notice of lien. Two Arlington council members told KERA News the mayor's personal finances haven't impacted his work as a city leader.

The city needs to either find or cut at least $2.3 million more to fully close the gap. Even then, the city council would need to pull millions from the reserve fund.

Tarrant County is attempting to recoup tens of millions of dollars in unrealized property taxes on buildings owned by out-of-county Housing Finance Corporations.

Abbott signed Senate Bills 4 and 23 and House Bill 9 in the Robson Ranch Clubhouse. All three are part of Republican lawmakers’ efforts to bring tax relief statewide to homeowners, seniors and small business owners.

In a meeting for the city council to set priorities heading into a new quarter, city leaders focused on ways to slash the budget faced with budget shortfall.