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The Citizens Bond Committee is hosting the second of two public meetings to gather input on the final recommendation of the Citizens’ Bond Committee, which includes capital improvement projects ranging from streets to new parks and recreation amenities for the City Council to consider in a potential bond package next May. The total recommendation for a four-year capital bond program is $213.3 million.

The second and final public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the ReBrary Room of the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S. Center St.

The City has also released an online survey to review the final projects included in the Citizens’ Bond Committee recommendation, and collect citizen feedback prior to being considered by the City Council. Take the survey by Nov. 18 to provide your feedback if you can’t attend the meeting. Click here to participate in the 2023 Citizens’ Bond Committee Recommended Project List Survey.

The Citizens Bond Committee, made up of 19 residents, met weekly each Thursday from Aug. 18 through Oct. 6, to discuss potential projects and develop a recommended project list that will be presented to the Arlington City Council this December. Click here to visit the Citizens Bond Committee webpage.

The Arlington City Council approved the $597 million Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget, which includes the largest property tax rate reduction in the past 30 years, and increases for residents’ water rate, the garbage collection rate and stormwater fee.

Plans for next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, include investments in public safety, city streets, buildings and other public infrastructure, and support for Arlington’s award-winning parks and recreation amenities. This includes new playgrounds, smoother parking lots for park patrons and money to make sure parks services are equitably accessible for residents. Click here to see budget highlights.

The City Council also voted to lower the Arlington’s property tax rate for a seventh consecutive year – this time by two pennies. The City’s property tax rate, which is currently $0.6198 per $100 of assessed value, will be $0.5998 per $100 of assessed value.

The Council also reauthorized a variety of residential property tax exemptions, including the largest homestead exemption by state law of 20% of the property value. The City also offers a senior tax freeze as well as $60,000 exemptions for those who are over 65, disabled veterans and disabled persons. Exemptions are also available to surviving spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members and first responders who are killed in action. Seniors over the age of 65 in Arlington may also be eligible to defer payments.

The City’s budget and business plan is built around supporting the City Council's six priorities: Build Unity, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Support Youth and Families, Invest in Our Economy, Enhance Regional Mobility and Leverage Technology.

Arlington strives to provide quality services and amenities to its residents, visitors and business community at the lowest possible cost.

Arlington Water Utilities will continue to have some of the lowest water and sewer rates in North Texas when new rates for Fiscal Year 2023 go into effect on Oct. 1, 2022. Rate changes for Fiscal Year 2023 are primarily related to increases in debt service, chemical and equipment costs, and other costs associated with operating the utility. The average residential water and sewer bill will increase by about $1.18 a month, or by about 2.02%. Commercial customers who use 50,000 gallons of water and 50,000 gallons of wastewater will pay an additional $32.04 or 5.26% each month.

In September 2020, the Arlington City Council approved an ordinance change that allows Arlington Water Utilities to reward customers with excellent payment histories by refunding their city services account deposit as a credit on their bills. Residential customers become eligible for this credit when their bill has been paid on time for 12 consecutive months. More than $1.89 million in deposits has been refunded to customers under this policy since October 2020.

The Arlington City Council has authorized $3,839,559 from the Water/Wastewater Rate Stabilization Fund to be used to cover cost increases in chemicals used to treat raw water. This action prevents those costs from being included in 2023 rate increases for customers.

Driven by fuel and wage increases, the garbage collection rate will increase by $3.29 per month increase starting Oct. 1. The stormwater rate will also increase fifty cents per month.

The Arlington City Council voted Tuesday, Feb. 22 to approve a $160.4 million Capital Budget for this fiscal year, which includes funding to build the voter-approved Active Adult Center.

The annual Capital Budget cycle is part of the City’s multi-year plan to maintain and build out Arlington’s infrastructure, which includes streets, water and sanitary sewer, parks and the preservation of green space, recreational facilities and city facilities. The Capital Budget cycle repeats each year with a bond election every three to five years. Arlington’s last bond election was in 2018.

In addition to the Active Adult Center, capital improvement projects in the Capital Budget include improvements to numerous streets, sidewalks, traffic signals and intersections across the city, as well as for select parks and trails. The City will also begin work on projects such as the design to rebuild Fire Station No. 8 in north Arlington, construction of a new, larger police evidence storage facility and making improvements to the Arlington Municipal Airport. Planned water utilities and storm water projects include water and sanitary sewer main replacements, improvements to the Pierce-Burch Water Treatment Plant and strategic efforts to reduce neighborhood flooding.

Many of the capital improvement projects in this year’s Capital Budget were approved by voters in the 2018 Bond Program. The Active Adult Center, which will be located near the Pierce Burch Water Treatment Plant and is expected to be constructed by late 2024, was approved by voters in in special bond election in 2017.

These projects align with the Arlington City Council’s priorities to Champion Great Neighborhoods, Put Technology to Work, Enhance Regional Mobility, Invest in our Economy, and Support Youth and Families.

Projects include:

• River Legacy Park Trail Replacement – Construction

• Debbie Lane (city limits to SH 360) – Construction

• Mansfield Webb Road (Silo Road to Collins Street) – Design

• Mitchell Street (Collins Street to Perrin Street) - Design

• Fire Station No. 8 Rebuild – Design

• Richard Simpson Park improvements – Construction

• $1.4 million for the annual sidewalk program

• $10.3 million for the annual residential street rebuild program

• $3 million for intersection improvements at nine locations

• $1.25 million for signal and ITS program

• $1 million for park land acquisition (last project in 2014 Bond Program)

• $19.9 million in stormwater-related improvements, including localized drainage projects, stormwater infrastructure maintenance, flood mitigation buyouts and drainage improvements for California Lane, Harvest Hills Lane and Briar Meadow Drive, Bonneville Drive and Greenbrook Drive, Kippers Courts and Jason Drive and Randol Mill Road. These projects are funded through stormwater fees and revenue bonds.

 • $47.3 million in water utilities improvements, including $20.8 million for Pierce-Burch Water Treatment Plant, water and sanitary sewer main replacements, and continued expansion of the City’s remote read water meter network infrastructure. These projects are funded through water utilities revenues and revenue bonds.

Residents can learn more about active infrastructure improvements and bond-funded projects planned across The American Dream City by visiting the Bond Tracker webpage.