Tax increment financing (TIF) is a public financing tool that uses increased property tax revenue within a designated area—a TIF district—for redevelopment projects. In Texas, a TIF district is called a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). TIRZs are governed by Chapter 311 of the Tax Code.
Taxes & Spending
Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Arlington
Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Arlington? And, if so, have local decision-makers actively helped or hurt the situation? To help answer these questions, let’s review the city’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and gather four types of data—i.e., tax levies, local population, total tax rates, and taxable values—over a 10-year time horizon. Using these audited estimates, we can gauge the growth of government (i.e., tax levy trends), assess its reasonability...
February 20, 2026