Infrastructure reliability, public safety investment, municipal bonds, and lawful non-tax revenue strategies together shape:
Cost of Capital
Strong public credit and disciplined bond issuance lower the interest rate Fort Worth — and every developer, employer, and homebuyer financing here — pays to borrow. Cheaper capital means more projects pencil out.
Transaction Speed
Predictable permitting, zoning, and infrastructure delivery let deals close in months instead of years. Speed is a competitive advantage Fort Worth can own against Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Investor Risk
Reliable infrastructure, well-funded police and fire, and transparent fiscal planning lower the risk premium investors and operators price into Fort Worth. Lower perceived risk pulls in more — and more patient — capital.
Economic Base
Converting bond proceeds and lawful non-tax revenue into productive assets — not recurring entitlements — compounds the city’s tax base over decades. A broader base funds public safety and services without raising rates on residents.
Municipal Independence Concerns
Fort Worth's fiscal independence is tightening due to proposals from the Governor that are gaining traction. Review proposed ideas on lawful, non-tax capital engines to secure the city's long-term sovereignty and solvency.
Governor Abbott's property tax proposals would modify municipal bond requirements by mandating two-thirds voter approval for bond elections and capping annual spending growth at the lesser of population plus inflation or 3.5%.
Current law under Texas Government Code Chapter 1251 governs bond elections and requires that all bond propositions include "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE" in capital letters with specification of the tax rate impact, as established by H.B. 3 during the 86th Legislature. The Texas Ethics Commission prohibits municipal officials from using public resources for advocacy related to bond measures, limiting communications to purely factual information.
Alternative capital mechanisms available under Texas law include revenue bonds backed by enterprise fund income per Local Government Code provisions; certificates of obligation authorized under Chapter 271 of the Local Government Code for essential public works; public improvement districts established under Chapter 372 of the Local Government Code; tax increment financing zones authorized under Chapter 311 of the Tax Code; and public-private partnerships governed by various statutory frameworks.
Each mechanism operates under distinct authorization requirements, debt service structures, and permissible use restrictions defined in state statute.
Proposal: Fort Worth Civic Wealth Engine & Intergenerational Growth Fund
The Chicotsky family has been honored to serve Cowtown for over 100 years.
Pol. adv. paid for by Worthian PAC, Fort Worth, Texas. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.