What Fort Worth residents want to see in their new city budget

Published on August 05, 2022

We asked residents to share their thoughts on where city budget funds should be spent, and — Holy Cow! — they responded.

Almost 300 residents provided feedback during the monthlong Steer the Budget campaign. They submitted photos of the Fort Worth mascot, Molly the longhorn, in various areas throughout the city they thought needed improvements or focus.

More than half of the responses dealt with street and infrastructure maintenance. Additionally, there were calls for new neighborhood parks, affordable housing for people affected by homelessness, and public safety enhancements.

A small selection of the responses include:

• We need four lanes on Forest Hill Drive between Forest Hill and Everman. The two-lane road is far outdated with new school traffic.
• Improvements on streets and sidewalks in the Eastchase area on Ederville Road. I’ve seen too many kids and people walking on the road at night.
• We need a Recreation Center in North Fort Worth near Alliance Airport. More activities for kids of all ages.
• Invest in housing for the homeless on Lancaster. Make efforts to revitalize and help people in the lower income areas near downtown and the historic district.
• We need summer programs for kids. My son is 16 and there is literally nothing for him to do.
• We need more police officers. Response time is too long.
• Reduce any underused programs, be frugal (no pro soccer stadiums) and lower our property taxes. Families have to tighten their belt with gas and inflation.
• Please make the trash pickup days twice a week.
• Start turning on the lights on Hemphill Street from Allen to Page. It’s always dark.

View a gallery of submitted Molly images.

What happens now?

City staff continues to prepare the proposed budget with an emphasis on public safety, affordability and growth. The proposed budget will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 9. A series of public meetings will be announced to gain even more feedback from residents. Watch City News for a schedule of meetings.

Residents can also email budget comments. Comments and suggestions will be shared with City decisionmakers.

The FY2023 budget and property tax rate is scheduled to be adopted on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Who is Molly?

The most prominent identifying mark of the City of Fort Worth is Molly, which was adopted as the official city logo in 2000 and is the city’s official mascot. Although Molly is in fact a cow, a longhorn head sculpture in the Stockyard’s National Historic District’s Livestock Exchange Building is said to be the origin of the name Molly. The word is also said to identify the first longhorn in a herd.

Photo: This future Fort Worth leader wants to see improved amenities at her neighborhood park.

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