Page 130 - Fort Worth City Budget 2019

General Fund

Ash Crescent Accomplishments: Ash Crescent is the 2nd neighborhood selected for the neighborhood
improvement program. This neighborhood was selected because 50% of the population is at or below poverty
level, unemployment rate is 16.2%, 63% of homes are rentals, only 26% of the adult population has a high school
diploma, crimes against person is three times citywide average, and crimes against property is 78 per 1,000.

Ash Crescent accomplishments to date include: Code Compliance has installed 24 surveillance cameras to reduce
incidents of illegal dumping; 1,218 cubic yards of litter and illegal dumping removed; 558 tires removed; 256 lane
miles cleaned; 19 dumping citations have been issued; 9 dead/at-risk trees were removed and pruning and
vegetation cutbacks are completed; TPW has begun working on street repairs; 173 streetlights installed; 49
streetlight poles along Riverside Ave. have been painted; 30 police surveillance cameras are being installed;
summer play and learn activities were attended by more than 20 children; and Neighborhood Services, in
conjunction with the area neighborhood association and Team Better Block, held a Community Carnival attended
by over 200 residents.

Other Accomplishments:
• Implemented new internal seniors program “The Best Years Club”. Southside Community Center to
be repurposed exclusively for older adult programming.
• Completed the HUD Assessment of Fair Housing planning process.
• Implemented new ZoomGrants online grants management software.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program completed 3,652 filing for over $6M in refunds.
• Opened the Reserve at Quebec and Mercantile Square developments.
• Facilitated 3 successful 9% Tax Credit Applications.

FY2019 DISCUSSION
As part of the FY2019 budget, a new staff member was added to oversee the financial duties related to the projects
handled by the Fort Worth Housing Financial Corporation (FWHFC). The expenses related to the position will be
offset by a reimbursement from the FWHFC which is included in the revenue budget.

The FY2019 budget includes increased funding for the existing Cowboy Santa warehouse lease, and also includes
new funding for the Las Vegas Trail project.

HORIZON ISSUES

The department foresees an unsteady outlook on Federal and State Grant Funding, with a looming threat of
potential federal/state budget cuts across all grant funding streams (HUD-CDBG, HHS, CSBG, etc.)

The department continues to face challenges with office space, as staff is not centrally located and is partly housed
in leased space.

Adverse impacts on expanding the supply of affordable housing via:
• Tax credit pricing.
• Higher interest rates.
• Increased construction costs.
• High impact fees and permit fees.

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