Valerie Colapret, Fort Worth's communications manager, said that the city is developing its 2026 Bond Program, which will be presented to voters in the May 2026 election. Colapret shared this information and other financing strategies with the Lone Star Standard on February 6.
"The City of Fort Worth is planning for its 2026 Bond Program now, which is scheduled to go to the voters in May 2026. This bond program is expected to include transportation projects, park and open space projects, and facility projects, similar to the voter-approved 2022 Bond Program," said Colapret.
During the last bond election in 2022, voters approved a $560 million bond package. According to the city of Fort Worth's website, this package included funding for street and pedestrian mobility infrastructure, park and recreation improvements, public library upgrades, police and fire safety enhancements, and open space conservation.
Colapret explained that during its planning process, the city of Fort Worth identified over a billion dollars in total capital project needs. However, she noted that the city's total debt capacity for the 2026 Bond Program is expected to be less than $800 million.
To finance infrastructure projects, Fort Worth employs various methods. In addition to bond dollars approved by voters, Colapret mentioned that Fort Worth utilizes Pay as You Go (PayGo), which leverages city cash instead of debt to maintain, improve, or invest in infrastructure needs. This approach helps the city avoid paying interest on debt. The city also explores grant opportunities and other funding sources such as gas revenue.
According to Fort Worth’s Aviation and Economic Development Departments, the city also uses a local government corporation (LGC) to finance and construct certain public infrastructure projects within the city's tax-increment financing (TIF) boundaries. Debt for these projects is approved by the City Council and is backed by TIF revenues. Projects financed through the LGC include Magnolia Green, Pinnacle Bank, and Crescent parking garages.
Fort Worth is noted as being the fifth-largest city in Texas and the 12th-largest city in the United States with over 900,000 residents. According to its website, Fort Worth spans nearly 350 square miles and includes Tarrant County as well as parts of Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise counties.
