The Fort Worth City Council has approved a property tax rate for 2024. The council voted to set the rate at 67.25 cents per $100 of value.
The rate would cost someone who owns a $350,000 home $1,883 next year. The rate is more than five percent lower than last year, but as values increase, the average property is now worth 12% more.
"Where do you want me to cut back?" one woman asked at the council meeting where the rate was approved. "I don't go on vacation, I don't do anything, and I'm not alone. I'm the middle class, and we're dying."
"Many of my friends are on fixed incomes," another woman said.
Mayor Mattie Parker said Fort Worth needs to plan for long-term growth. The council approved a $1.013 billion budget which includes 106 new positions in the police department and 76 additions to the fire department.
Parker said money will also be used for infrastructure and homeless programs.
The U.S. Census says Fort Worth added more residents than any other city in the country last year, growing by 19,170 people to a total of 956,709.
"We're going to ensure the City of Fort Worth is set up for success into the future," Parker said.
The tax rate passed 8-3. Alan Blaylock, Michael Crain and Charles Lauersdorf voted against the plan.
"I regularly hear from my constituents they feel overtaxed and underserved," Blaylock said. "It's incumbent on us, as elected officials, to take extreme care with their tax dollars."
The three pushed for a rate that would generate the same amount of revenue as this year.
Parker and the council members who supported the plan said the budget sends money to areas residents are most worried about.
"Time after time, after speaking with neighbors and in different meetings, there are three issues that are always brought up: public safety, infrastructure and homelessness," said Councilwoman Jeanette Martinez.
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