Public records obtained by The Dallas Express reveal that Arlington Mayor Jim Ross is facing serious financial trouble, with the IRS garnishing his wages to collect more than $174,000 in unpaid federal taxes.
A document from the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector dated June 2025 shows Ross incurred $940.39 in penalties and interest. Another filing lists his total back taxes owed at $174,945.93.
In mid-2023, Ross publicly praised a Pride event that drew criticism from some community members for featuring content they deemed inappropriate for children.
“We have a little saying in Arlington that says, ‘We’re better together,’” Ross said at the time, according to Texas Scorecard.
“And I don’t care what your skin color is, I don’t care what your age is, what your gender is, what your religious differences are, or your sexual preferences. We are all better together.”
Earlier this year, Ross directed the City of Arlington to allocate taxpayer funds toward investigating the legality of Tarrant County’s redistricting efforts, a move covered by Arlington Report.
Under Ross’s leadership, the Arlington City Council passed a $722 million operating budget for fiscal year 2025 — one of the largest in the city’s history.
Ross’s personal financial instability has raised concerns among residents about his ability to manage the city’s finances responsibly.
“If the mayor of Arlington makes financial decisions affecting citizens, they should manage their finances well. Jim Ross struggles financially, unable to pay his taxes,” Arlington resident Lisa Ventura told The Dallas Express.
With federal wage garnishment now in effect and his financial records drawing public attention, some taxpayers are questioning whether Ross can credibly lead a city with a three-quarters-of-a-billion-dollar budget while facing unresolved personal liabilities.
The Dallas Express reached out to Mayor Ross’s office for comment but did not receive a response.