Fort Worth voters approved a City Council pay raise on May 2 while rejecting several proposed charter changes that would have shifted more authority inside City Hall.
Unofficial Tarrant County results showed Proposition G passed with 12,401 votes, or 55.29%, in favor and 10,028 votes, or 44.71%, against. The measure drew 22,429 total votes.
The charter amendment raises the mayor’s annual salary from $29,000 to $60,000. It also raises City Council members’ salaries from $25,000 to $50,000. The raises take effect October 1, according to city ballot language.
The vote marks a reversal from Fort Worth voters’ two previous rejections of council pay increases. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, voters rejected a 2022 proposal that would have raised the mayor’s salary to $99,653 and council members’ salaries to $76,727. Voters also rejected a previous pay raise proposal in 2016.
City Manager Proposal Fails
Voters rejected Proposition M, which would have given the city manager more flexibility to create, abolish, and reorganize city departments by removing the requirement for ordinances. The measure results with 12,652 votes, or 57.84%, against and 9,224 votes, or 42.16%, in favor.
The outcome split the ballot message. Voters agreed to pay elected officials more but declined to approve a change that would have expanded administrative flexibility for the unelected city manager.
Voters also rejected Proposition H, which would have removed certain hearing requirements tied to department heads. They rejected Proposition K, which would have removed an annual reporting requirement for public service corporations. Proposition L, involving grants of privilege for use of city streets, also failed.
Five Charter Changes Pass
Fort Worth voters approved five of the nine charter amendments.
In addition to Proposition G, voters approved Proposition I, which removed redundant charge and hearing requirements for certain council-appointed positions. Proposition J passed, allowing the city budget to be adopted at the same meeting as a budget hearing. Proposition N passed, updating special election timelines to align with state law. Proposition O passed, changing claim-payment language to allow documentation beyond a “purchase order.”
Mayor Mattie Parker thanked voters in a statement after the election.
“Voters have also supported efforts to modernize our City’s charter to update administrative processes and better align with changes to state law, as well as advance pay increases for the mayor and council members, ultimately allowing more residents the opportunity to serve,” Parker said.
The charter amendments appeared on the same ballot as Fort Worth’s $845 million bond package, which voters also approved.
