Page 7 - FY 2025 Adopted Operating Budget and Business Plan

Manager’s Message Return to Table of Contents

To support new core service investments, I am proposing a one-cent tax increase to .5998 per $100 of property value.
These new expenditures have been approved by voters and demanded by our residents. We will be funding staffing for
the ACTIV Adult Center which is set to open in 2025 and enhancing public safety. Specifically, this budget adds $1.3
million to match our requirements for additional police officers added via a federal grant. We are also reallocating 10
officers from Special Units in the Police Department to the Patrol Division in FY 2025. Additionally, this tax increase will
enable the creation of a Clean Team, dedicated to maintaining the appearance and orderliness of Arlington by removing
litter, addressing unsightly curbs and medians, and reporting issues like burned-out streetlights. Residents have said they
want a safe and clean community, and we believe these expenditures will go a long way to accomplishing those goals.

Balancing Sustainment, New Investment, and Tax Relief

One of the key challenges we face is upholding community priorities while being mindful of the financial obligations of our
residents. We are committed to achieving this by exploring alternative revenue sources that align with our community’s
needs. To this end, we are leveraging Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars to support historic preservation and the arts. This
budget proposes an additional $1.5 million investment in historic preservation, including increased funding for the Fielder
Museum and projects like Heritage Park and the Arlington Cemetery. We are also raising the City’s contribution to the
Arlington Cultural Tourism Council from $700,000 to $825,000, further enhancing our cultural legacy.

The Proposed Budget also reauthorizes all of Arlington’s current property tax exemptions, including the local-option 20
percent homestead exemption, the $60,000 exemption for homeowners over 65, and the $60,000 exemption for disabled
owners. New this year is a 100 percent exemption for qualifying childcare providers. We continue to offer the maximum
tax relief allowable which reflects our commitment to easing the financial burden on our residents, while ensuring we have
the resources needed to support essential services and infrastructure projects.

The FY 2025 budget aims to strike this balance of allocating resources in a manner that maximizes the impact and benefit
for the community.

Conclusion

The average household in Arlington will see the following increases in FY 2025:

• Property taxes on the average home will increase by $8.35 per month
• Water and Sewer rates will increase $3.65 per month (the average resident uses about 8,000/4,000 gallons of
water/sewer per month)
• Garbage and recycling rate will increase $1.00 per month
• Storm water rate will increase $0.50 per month

The average household will pay $162.01 more per year ($13.50 per month) for property taxes, water, sanitation, and storm
water services provided by the City.

Focus on Our Residents
At the core of our budgetary decisions lies an unwavering commitment to the residents of Arlington that we serve. Every
decision, investment, and initiative is crafted with their best interests at heart. Our goal is to foster a city that thrives
economically while remaining a great place to live, work, and enjoy life.

FY 2025 Adopted Budget and Business Plan iv City of Arlington, Texas