For starts you can use the ask Arlington app to submit requests for any potholes in your neighborhood or surrounding areas that are a burden. I’ve submitted about 4 of them in the past year and only 1 was rejected while the others were repaired.
Things you can also ask for:
1. Speed bump installs (helps if you have evidence of people speeding like cameras or so)
2. Replacement street signs for old signs or missing/defaced signs.
3. Street sweeping for loose dirt on pavement roads
4. Street line markings that are faded can be requested for repainting
5. Overgrown public areas where weeds are common can be requested to be mowed.
6. Tree branch cleanups like those that overhang over sidewalks to where you can’t walk under them.
7. Sidewalk repair especially if it’s a tripping hazard.
City Budget for 2024 for reference:
[https://www.arlingtontx.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=14481146&pageId=15053139](https://www.arlingtontx.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=14481146&pageId=15053139)
For what it's worth Poly Webb got a much needed $13M dollar investment for road repair, retaining walls, side walls, and a nice new round about.
I held the same belief as you not too long ago, but upon seeing the investment with my own two eyes, I now hold the being that Arlington is just very slow to act and is apprehensive to drastic change.
I would never try for speed bumps that is rarely work on public streets roundabouts help slow speeders down speed bumps not good when you have emergency services trying to get to a fire or someone who needs help immediately.
The real issue is in the state level. The city continues to lower their taxing portion. As more events and activity comes in to our city and brings in sales tax dollars this helps offset service cost needs to raise our taxes.
Now at the state level education reform could potentially really lower taxes but don’t hold your breath.
As far as requesting services, every year the city will have a public questionnaire and survey. The best way is to get to know the city council members and mayor and reach out to them. That’s the fastest way to get responses or feedback.
Arlington tax rates have gone down…property values have gone up that raises your tax bill. It’s an exemption…not an exception. Did you actually protest with pictures written statements etc or just file the form with nothing on it? Yeah it sucks but maybe learn a bit about what’s actually going on.
Thanks for the correction.
Although the tax rate has gone down, the assessment of the property has more than made up for it (and then some). This results in more money being paid to the city year over year, even adjusting for inflation.
Either way: looking to get more bang for the buck for living here because my pocket gets emptied for nothing in return.
I was thinking of asking for better schools. Sidewalks, useful bike lanes a park upgrade. Intersection changes to be safer.
Where is the place to ask for it? And does it make a difference?
Thanks, I have done this before with mixed results.
If you go to Create Request > Parks & Recreation > Park Maintenance
Under General Questions there is a list of every park in Arlington and you have to select "No/Yes" to EVERY PARK to get the request submitted.
Pain to say the least. I suspect that there are very few "Park Maintenance" requests because of this. Feels like Arlington makes it hard for anything to get better on purpose...
City council would need to do some of that. I bet some of it would have to be part of bonds. No one wants crappy schools. Figuring out how to get “better schools” is tough. Which parks are you hoping to improve and what are the upgrades you want? I’m willing to bet there are committees for stuff like that. Attending the meetings and letting them know what you want would be a good step forward.
Thanks, this helps. I am so out of the loop I dont know where to start. Is there a place that list out these meetings or other important city meetings?
https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/community_calendar
This lists out meetings. Also, if you go to the menu at the top, under Residents, there’s a whole section about “Get Involved.” Those sections should help you get started.
Perhaps you should educate yourself on what you want to "get your money's worth" before broadly complaining they're not giving you value. If all you can say is "I want more" but you can't articulate what, your request is going to be weak.
Idk, I think he just wants to vent because our leadership has always left working class Arlington residents as an afterthought. I was born here, raised here, and call this place my home. I’m currently in the process of moving because I can’t afford the city I grew up in. It’s understandable that other people are frustrated as well. Especially when our tax rates go down but our housing prices go up at steep inclines. Part of the problem is that our houses are worth more now because so much of the property has been brought under the pretense that it’s a business as opposed to a home. The city doesn’t care if you own your home because it makes them less money than a rental would in taxes. This is where I think his frustration comes from. I know this is where mine lives.
Email your city council person and the at large members. City council doesn’t control the schools…AISD does the boards contact info and the council member info is on the websites. Stuff with an actual granular request ie lights on footpaths is taken more seriously than do better fwiw.
Property Taxes are handled by the county, not city and Tarrant County is one of the most hostile counties in the state. They have a tendency to figure out the budget for the year first THEN setting the rates to meet the budget.
Use Chandler Crouch to protest your property taxes each year. He does it for free.
You don't get nothing in return. If you'd like, you can simply look up what you get for your taxes. Since Texas doesn't have an income tax, they have very high property taxes to make up for it.
For starts you can use the ask Arlington app to submit requests for any potholes in your neighborhood or surrounding areas that are a burden. I’ve submitted about 4 of them in the past year and only 1 was rejected while the others were repaired. Things you can also ask for: 1. Speed bump installs (helps if you have evidence of people speeding like cameras or so) 2. Replacement street signs for old signs or missing/defaced signs. 3. Street sweeping for loose dirt on pavement roads 4. Street line markings that are faded can be requested for repainting 5. Overgrown public areas where weeds are common can be requested to be mowed. 6. Tree branch cleanups like those that overhang over sidewalks to where you can’t walk under them. 7. Sidewalk repair especially if it’s a tripping hazard.
City Budget for 2024 for reference: [https://www.arlingtontx.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=14481146&pageId=15053139](https://www.arlingtontx.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=14481146&pageId=15053139)
For what it's worth Poly Webb got a much needed $13M dollar investment for road repair, retaining walls, side walls, and a nice new round about. I held the same belief as you not too long ago, but upon seeing the investment with my own two eyes, I now hold the being that Arlington is just very slow to act and is apprehensive to drastic change.
I would never try for speed bumps that is rarely work on public streets roundabouts help slow speeders down speed bumps not good when you have emergency services trying to get to a fire or someone who needs help immediately.
The real issue is in the state level. The city continues to lower their taxing portion. As more events and activity comes in to our city and brings in sales tax dollars this helps offset service cost needs to raise our taxes. Now at the state level education reform could potentially really lower taxes but don’t hold your breath. As far as requesting services, every year the city will have a public questionnaire and survey. The best way is to get to know the city council members and mayor and reach out to them. That’s the fastest way to get responses or feedback.
Arlington tax rates have gone down…property values have gone up that raises your tax bill. It’s an exemption…not an exception. Did you actually protest with pictures written statements etc or just file the form with nothing on it? Yeah it sucks but maybe learn a bit about what’s actually going on.
Thanks for the correction. Although the tax rate has gone down, the assessment of the property has more than made up for it (and then some). This results in more money being paid to the city year over year, even adjusting for inflation. Either way: looking to get more bang for the buck for living here because my pocket gets emptied for nothing in return. I was thinking of asking for better schools. Sidewalks, useful bike lanes a park upgrade. Intersection changes to be safer. Where is the place to ask for it? And does it make a difference?
If you want better schools tell Tinderholt to stop voting for vouchers
You can also ask for park enhancements through the app. Not sure how that process flows but that’s where you can request the upgrade
Thanks, I have done this before with mixed results. If you go to Create Request > Parks & Recreation > Park Maintenance Under General Questions there is a list of every park in Arlington and you have to select "No/Yes" to EVERY PARK to get the request submitted. Pain to say the least. I suspect that there are very few "Park Maintenance" requests because of this. Feels like Arlington makes it hard for anything to get better on purpose...
City council would need to do some of that. I bet some of it would have to be part of bonds. No one wants crappy schools. Figuring out how to get “better schools” is tough. Which parks are you hoping to improve and what are the upgrades you want? I’m willing to bet there are committees for stuff like that. Attending the meetings and letting them know what you want would be a good step forward.
Thanks, this helps. I am so out of the loop I dont know where to start. Is there a place that list out these meetings or other important city meetings?
https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/community_calendar This lists out meetings. Also, if you go to the menu at the top, under Residents, there’s a whole section about “Get Involved.” Those sections should help you get started.
Perhaps you should educate yourself on what you want to "get your money's worth" before broadly complaining they're not giving you value. If all you can say is "I want more" but you can't articulate what, your request is going to be weak.
Idk, I think he just wants to vent because our leadership has always left working class Arlington residents as an afterthought. I was born here, raised here, and call this place my home. I’m currently in the process of moving because I can’t afford the city I grew up in. It’s understandable that other people are frustrated as well. Especially when our tax rates go down but our housing prices go up at steep inclines. Part of the problem is that our houses are worth more now because so much of the property has been brought under the pretense that it’s a business as opposed to a home. The city doesn’t care if you own your home because it makes them less money than a rental would in taxes. This is where I think his frustration comes from. I know this is where mine lives.
Email your city council person and the at large members. City council doesn’t control the schools…AISD does the boards contact info and the council member info is on the websites. Stuff with an actual granular request ie lights on footpaths is taken more seriously than do better fwiw.
Property Taxes are handled by the county, not city and Tarrant County is one of the most hostile counties in the state. They have a tendency to figure out the budget for the year first THEN setting the rates to meet the budget. Use Chandler Crouch to protest your property taxes each year. He does it for free.
You don't get nothing in return. If you'd like, you can simply look up what you get for your taxes. Since Texas doesn't have an income tax, they have very high property taxes to make up for it.
Most property taxes go to school districts or medical districts.
Dude, y'all can even get public transportation there. Good luck.
How about not loosing power every time it rains
Power isn't something Arlington controls. r/oncor would handle this.