Arlington City Council Adopts FY27 Budget, No Property Tax Rate Change

Published on September 16, 2026

FY 2027 Budget

By the Office of Communication

The Arlington City Council voted Tuesday to keep the City’s property tax rate the same as last year when it adopted the $766 million Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget.

Arlington’s property tax rate will be $0.6298 per $100 of assessed value, which is what the Council also adopted for FY26. To further help keep the tax burden low for property owners, the City will fully fund all of its allowed property tax exemptions, such as the senior tax freeze, homestead exemption, as well as senior and disabled exemptions.

FY27, which begins Oct. 1, 2026, will include small increases in residents’ water and wastewater rates and garbage and recycling collection rates but no increases in the stormwater fee.

View FY 2027 Budget Information

Budget Highlights

Planned investments include:

  • An additional $5.4 million for street maintenance, which is a 25% increase over FY26 spending. Street maintenance is primarily funded by the voter-approved, quarter-cent Street Maintenance Sales Tax but is also supported by the City’s General Fund. The street maintenance budget for next fiscal year is $27.1 million.
  • $1.1 million to increase the Police Department’s fleet by 10 patrol vehicles
  • $303,987 in additional parks facility custodial services and parks maintenance
  • $4.6 million in information technology improvements, including the first phase of a three-year project to replace the computer-aided dispatch system used by 9-1-1 for police and fire service calls. Other investments include replacing the Municipal Court’s audio-visual system and adding video cameras to enhance public safety in parking lots at some public parks.
  • 41 firefighters and 24 police officers whose salaries were previously grant funded will be transitioned to being paid for through the City’s General Fund.

Funding Restoration

The FY27 budget will restore funding that was cut while balancing the FY26 budget in these areas:

  • Animal Services will again be open six days a week starting later this fall. The shelter will be closed to the public on Sundays as usual.
  • the Public Library’s collection budget will increase by $100,000
  • the employee annual picnic will return. 

Adopted Utility Rates

  • Water and Sanitary Sewer Fees: For the average residential user: a 6.37% increase to their monthly bill, resulting in an increase from $80.10 to $85.20.
  • Garbage Collection Fee: The residential garbage collection rate will increase 3.5%, resulting in an increase from $22.71 to $23.49 per month.
  • Stormwater Fee: The stormwater fee remains unchanged. This fee generates approximately $29 million a year to help Arlington reduce the existing potential for stormwater damage to public health, safety, life, property and the environment through mitigation projects as well as to preserve, protect and enhance the city’s waterways.

With these adopted rates, the average homeowner will see a decrease of 40 cents a month, or a total decrease of $4.81 for the year, in City of Arlington property taxes, water and sewer fees, garbage and recycling fees combined compared to FY26. This overall savings is possible thanks to a budget built on the cost-saving principles the City practices every day, even as valuations from the appraisal district fell this year. 

 

 

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