\u201cThey\u2019re ours to maintain,\u201d Beck said during a staff presentation on the updated proposal.<\/p>\n
The $2.3 million would total 0.21% of the recommended $1.1 billion general fund, which is the city\u2019s primary operating budget used to pay for most public-facing services. The total proposed budget for 2026 is $3.09 billion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The additional dollars for maintaining the alleys were reallocated from funding initially set aside for the city\u2019s far northwest library branch<\/a>, slated to open by the end of 2026. FWLab Director Christianne Simmons, whose department leads the budget planning process, told council members the library\u2019s delayed opening freed up about $250,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n The rest of the alleyway maintenance funding will come from the budget\u2019s nondepartmental fund, which covers expenditures not tied to a specific department.<\/p>\n Chapa said finding money to maintain Fort Worth\u2019s alleys has been a struggle since the \u201990s, when he worked as a budget analyst for the city. The maintenance was previously financed with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which the city no longer receives.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always been, \u2018Well, what about the rest of the alleys?\u2019 \u2014 almost every year,\u201d Chapa said. \u201cIf nothing else, next year, hopefully that question won\u2019t come up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n After 2026, the funding needed for alleyway maintenance would decrease to $868,400 per year, according to the staff presentation. Simmons said the extra dollars in 2026 are necessary for an \u201cinitial investment\u201d that includes 22% inflation, hiring a contract compliance specialist, purchasing a vehicle for inspections, and increased maintenance for alleyways that will be mowed for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n The updated budget proposal comes two weeks after city staff briefed council members on what it would cost to pave all city alleyways with gravel. That effort would cost $58 million annually, an ineffective use of taxpayer dollars<\/a>, staff said, as gravel doesn\u2019t eliminate the need for ongoing grass and weed control.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the Aug. 19 presentation, council member Carlos Flores asked staff about using recycled asphalt for paving alleyways and whether that would be an effective maintenance tactic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Park and recreation director Dave Lewis said his department is reviewing peer cities that used such methods and researching best practices.<\/p>\n Chapa said it\u2019s unlikely that money for recycled asphalt would be included in the 2026 budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n Council members are tentatively planning to meet for their next budget workshops Aug. 26 and Sept. 9. They\u2019re expected to adopt the budget and city tax rate Sept. 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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