What is a street maintenance sales tax?

The Texas Tax code authorizes all cities to establish a special sales tax for the repair and maintenance of existing city streets. Establishment, or continuation, of the tax must be approved by a city’s voters. Currently, a one quarter-cent sales tax is collected from all sales transactions occurring within the City of Arlington that are subject to sales tax.

What is its purpose?

The funds collected provide cost-effective rehabilitation and preventive maintenance of public streets within the city limits of Arlington. The goal is to improve mobility and maintain roadways to prevent deterioration and costly rebuilds.

How long has Arlington been collecting a sales tax for street maintenance?

Arlington voters initially approved the street maintenance sales tax in September 2002. Voters reauthorized a sales tax in 2006, 2010, 2014, and most recently in May 2018. Prior to the existence of the street maintenance sales tax, a fee for street maintenance was collected through water utility bills.

How much has been collected so far?

Approximately $196 million has been collected since collection of the street maintenance tax began in January 2003.

How has the money been spent?

Texas Tax Code limits the use of the funds collected to the maintenance or repair of municipal streets and sidewalks in existence on the day of the election to adopt or reauthorize the tax. Funds collected may not be used to build new roads. Maintenance programs funded by the street maintenance sales tax include:

Asphalt Reclamation: Is where the full depth of the asphalt surface is pulverized 10 – 12 inches, and the road base material under the pavement is mixed with lime/cement stabilization to ensure the new road base has the proper density to support the new asphalt surface. Asphalt is then repaved at a depth of 6 inches. This method is for streets that rate poorly on the OCI rating. (red streets)

Concrete Panel Replacement: References the repair process of concrete roadways either residential, arterial, or major thoroughfares. When making appropriate repairs to concrete streets – it often requires excavation of multiple sections of individual concrete panels that are damaged or in poor condition. Each individual section or square is referred to as concrete panel. The damaged panels are excavated/removed, new base material is filled/compacted prior to new concrete being poured into place. (red & yellow streets)

Crack Seal: Filling cracks in the road surface with rubberized crack sealant to prevent moisture penetrating the sub-grade and causing pavement failure.

Mill & Overlay: Is where the asphalt surface is milled down 2 inches and then repaved with new asphalt surface. This method is for streets in mid-average OCI rating, where the road base is in good condition. (yellow streets)

Miscellaneous Concrete and Handicap Ramps: Removal and replacement of curb, gutter, sidewalks, and driveway approaches in advance of the asphalt reclamation process. This program also includes replacement of adjacent sidewalks to ensure proper grade and installation of compliant ramps as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Sidewalk Replacement: Permanent repair of locations throughout the city that have been temporarily patched with asphalt to eliminate tripping hazards. 

How do I find out if my street is on the schedule for preventative maintenance or repair?

View the list of locations to be completed under the 2022 Reclamation Program and 2022 Mill and Overlay Program.

When will the street maintenance sales tax expire?

Unless reauthorized by voters in a subsequent “reauthorization election”, the tax will expire December 31, 2026.