Fort Worth finance staff: April valuation estimates push FY26 general fund shortfall to about $15–17 million

Fort Worth finance staff told council on Tuesday that April property‑value estimates and other adjustments increase the city’s projected FY26 general‑fund shortfall to roughly $15,200,000, and that pending state legislation could add to the shortfall in subsequent years.

Brady (Fort Worth Lab), newly promoted to assistant director overseeing revenue and special districts, said the April roll shows 8.6% nominal growth in values compared with last July, but staff expect protests and other final adjustments to reduce collections by roughly 5.5% (an effect staff called "erosion") before July’s final values, leaving the city about $12.5 million lower than the earlier forecast. Changes to delinquent‑tax collection assumptions and penalty/interest estimates produce a net reduction as well. Taking the adjustments together, staff estimated a July forecast shortfall near $15.2 million; when two pieces of pending state legislation are included, that number rises toward $16.7 million.

Brady warned the Council to expect further changes before…