The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday approved a $3.09 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, a nearly 11% increase driven by population growth and changes in Texas’ property tax system.
The budget, up just over $300 million from last year, maintains funding for police, fire and emergency medical services while expanding housing, animal shelter and maintenance programs. The city’s general fund is set at $1.11 billion, a 4.56% increase from fiscal 2025.
“Fort Worth’s rapid growth past 1 million residents demands smart investment in safety, infrastructure and community services,” city officials said in a statement.
The council also approved several organizational changes, including creating an Emergency Management & Communications Department, moving homeless strategy planning into the city manager’s office and shifting homeless camp enforcement from code compliance to environmental services.
Public safety will see the largest funding bump, covering contractual pay raises and adding eight neighborhood police officers and two school resource officers. The officers are part of a new patrol beat realignment and in response to new school security requirements under Texas House Bill 3.
City leaders said the budget aligns with Fort Worth’s strategic priorities: economic development, community investment, safety, infrastructure and responsible growth.
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