Budget Work Session & CCPD | August 18, 2026

The City of Fort Worth held a budget work session on August 18, 2026, focusing extensively on proposed budget reductions, staffing vacancies, and service impacts across multiple city departments including parks, libraries, code compliance, animal care, fire, and police. Key procurement-related discussions included the potential elimination or freezing of various positions to achieve budget savings, with concerns raised about impacts on public safety and resident-facing services. The council requested detailed analyses of service hour reductions and cost implications, particularly for community centers, parks maintenance, and code compliance inspectors. The police department presented a $146.7 million budget proposal for FY27, highlighting staffing, overtime costs, and equipment needs, including vehicle and radio replacements. The session also covered fee adjustments, pay-as-you-go capital projects, and the potential reallocation of neighborhood improvement funds to cover critical services like animal shelter partnerships and alleyway mowing. Public speakers urged the council to scrutinize expenditures on automated license plate reader technology (Flock Safety) and called for greater transparency and oversight. The council agreed to continue budget discussions in upcoming sessions and requested further information on CCPD budget details, savings, and program evaluations.