This blog highlights our February meeting with guest speaker Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa. He gave a wonderful presentation discussing the city's future and upcoming fiscal priorities. Accompanied by members of his staff, Mr. Chapa provided an engaging overview of how Fort Worth is navigating rapid growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Key Takeaways from the Presentation:

• Growth and Population Trends: Fort Worth is projected to see a 31.6% increase in population between 2024 and 2050, with much of that growth expected on the city's outer limits.

• The FY26 Budget: The adopted operating budget stands at $3.09 billion. Key themes include managing the evolving property tax landscape and implementing strategic 1% cuts to ensure efficiency.

• Tax Rate Reductions: The city has reduced the tax rate from $0.6725 in FY25 to $0.6700 for FY26.

• 2026 Bond Program: A significant portion of the talk focused on the proposed $845 million bond program, which includes:

  • Streets & Mobility: $511.5 million

  • Parks & Open Space: $185.1 million

  • Public Safety: $63.9 million

  • Animal Care & Shelter: $59.9 million

  • Affordable Housing: $10.0 million

• Important Dates: Community engagement events for the bond will take place from late March through mid-April, with the Bond Election scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026.

We are grateful to Mr. Chapa and his team for their transparency and for taking the time to answer our members' questions regarding the city's trajectory and legislative priorities.

Here is his presentation: 

02-11-2026 - Women's Policy Forum _ Jay Chapa _ final.pdf