Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa is expected to present his recommended Fiscal Year 2027 budget Tuesday afternoon, offering the first detailed look at how city leaders plan to address a significant budget shortfall while maintaining services for the city’s more than 1 million residents.
The presentation comes one week after Chapa informed the Fort Worth City Council that the city is facing a budget deficit of nearly $80 million for fiscal year 2027, a figure that grew substantially after newly certified property tax rolls came in lower than city officials had projected.
According to city budget information, the deficit increased from an estimated $49 million in June to roughly $77 million following updated tax valuation data from area appraisal districts. Property taxes account for a significant portion of the city’s general fund revenue, making slower-than-expected growth particularly impactful on budget planning.
Chapa will present his proposed budget during a city council budget workshop beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
As city leaders weigh spending decisions, Fort Worth officials have pointed to feedback collected through a city survey.
The survey, which was open from May 12 through June 30, received more than 2,000 responses from residents and asked participants which city services matter most to their quality of life and which programs they would most want protected from potential budget reductions.
Survey results show public safety emerged as the top priority. Residents identified police response, fire and EMS services among the programs most important to their quality of life. Streets and mobility also ranked among the highest priorities.
When asked which city programs should be protected from possible budget cuts, respondents again placed fire, EMS and police services at the top of the list, followed by streets, parks and animal care services.
The survey also found some residents were more willing to accept reductions in areas such as economic development programs and neighborhood services if cuts become necessary.
The city’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, and state law requires Fort Worth to adopt a balanced budget each year, meaning planned spending cannot exceed projected revenue.
After the recommended budget is presented, city staff will host community meetings and engagement events across Fort Worth to explain the proposal and gather public feedback. Residents will also have opportunities to ask questions online and during council meetings.
Click here to see a full list of the event schedule for the community meetings.
The city council is expected to continue budget discussions next week before holding a public hearing in September. A final vote on the budget and tax rate is currently scheduled for the Sept. 15 council meeting.