The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth commissioned a voter survey conducted by Perception Insights, headquartered in Austin, Texas. The survey was conducted March 13-18, 2019. With 400 Fort Worth voters participating, the survey has a 4.9% margin of error. Participants reflect the historical voting demographics of community voters.
The survey touched on public policy and quality of life issues important to the membership of the Real Estate Council. Survey topics include transportation and mobility; economic development; development and housing; urban flooding; public safety; and public education.
General Findings
Fort Worth voters believe the city is “heading in the right direction” and that city officials listen to their concerns. Voters believe property taxes, education, traffic and crime are the most important issues facing the community (in order of importance).
The Stats:
Do you think things in Fort Worth are headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track?
62% believe Fort Worth is “heading in the right direction”
20% believe Fort Worth is “off on the wrong track”
What is the most important issue facing Fort Worth? And what is the next most important issue?
The most important issues facing Fort Worth, in order of importance are:
43% Local property taxes
36% Education
34% Traffic and mobility
28% Crime
24% Jobs and the economy
22% Healthcare
Note: respondents rated the two most important issues
Do you agree or disagree that Fort Worth city officials are open to hearing the concerns of city residents?
64% believe Fort Worth city officials are open to hearing citizen concerns
24% believe Fort Worth city officials are not open to hearing citizen concerns
Transportation and Mobility
Voters in Fort Worth overwhelmingly support rail service as a means of travel. When it comes to paying for rail, buses, or even road and street improvements, voters would consider expansion of the sales tax, by a narrow margin. Paying for improved transportation and mobility by increasing the vehicle registration, even marginally, is not supported.
The Stats:
Do you favor or oppose rail service as a means of travel within Fort Worth and North Texas?
83% favor rail service “as a means of travel within Fort Worth and North Texas”
10% oppose rail service “as a means of travel within Fort Worth and North Texas”
Would you favor or oppose a 1/2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand and improve transit services such as rail and busses?
52% favor a “1/2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand … services such as rail and buses”
44% oppose a “1/2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand … services such as rail and buses”
And would you favor or oppose a 50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand and improve transit services such as rail and busses?
41% favor a “50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand … services such as rail and buses”
56% oppose a “50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand … services such as rail and buses”
Would you favor or oppose a 1⁄2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand and improve road and street construction and maintenance?
56% favor a “1/2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand and improve” roads and streets
41% oppose a “1/2 cent increase in the local sales tax to expand and improve” roads and streets
And would you favor or oppose a 50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand and improve road and street construction and maintenance?
44% favor a “50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand and improve” roads and streets
53% oppose a “50 cent per month fee on vehicle registration to expand and improve” roads and streets
Economic Development
Voters solidly favor tax incentives for job-creating business to locate in Fort Worth. Voters strongly favor tax incentives for locally-owned small business wanting to grow.
The Stats:
Do you favor or oppose the city and county providing tax incentives for job-creating businesses to locate in Fort Worth?
63% favor city and county tax incentives for “job-creating businesses to locate in Fort Worth”
32% oppose city and county tax incentives for “job-creating businesses to locate in Fort Worth”
Do you favor or oppose the city and county providing tax incentives for job-creating businesses to locate in Fort Worth?
78% favor city and county tax incentives for “locally-owned small businesses in Fort Worth”
17% oppose city and county tax incentives for “locally-owned small businesses in Fort Worth”
Development and Housing
Survey findings reveal voters evenly split on the need for more lower cost housing options for younger workers. Fort Worth voters strongly oppose more high-density townhomes and condos near existing neighborhoods, unless the high-density development supports younger and educated workforce participants.
The Stats:
Do you agree or disagree that there are enough lower cost housing options available in the area for younger workers who want to move here for high-skill, higher paying jobs?
44% agree there are enough “lower cost housing options available in the area for younger workers” who move here for high-skill and high pay jobs
42% disagree there are enough “lower cost housing options available in the area for younger workers” who move here for high-skill and high pay jobs
Do you favor or oppose allowing more high-density development, such as townhomes, condos, and garden homes, near existing traditional neighborhoods within mixed-use zoning and urban residential designated areas?
36% favor more high-density development (townhomes, condos) near existing traditional neighborhoods
60% oppose more high-density development (townhomes, condos) near existing traditional neighborhoods
Would you be more likely or less likely to allow more high-density development in residential areas if its objective was to support and attract a younger and more educated workforce to Fort Worth?
52% more likely to favor high density development if it supports a younger and more educated workforce
41% less likely to favor high density development if it supports a younger and more educated workforce
What would be your biggest concern if Fort Worth allowed more high-density development in residential areas? And what is your next biggest concern?
The biggest concerns if the City of Fort Worth allowed more high-density development in residential areas, in order of importance are:
47% More traffic in neighborhoods
35% Increase in crime
28% Decrease in property values
28% Disruption of existing neighborhoods
22% Impact on local schools
20% Higher local taxes
Note: respondents rated the two most important issues
Urban Flooding
While voters favor publicly listing areas in Fort Worth that have recently flooded, voters do not favor paying more per month in storm water fees.
The Stats:
Do you favor or oppose an increase of $5 per month in the City Storm Water Utility fee in order to alleviate urban flooding in Fort Worth?
32% favor an increase of $5 per month in the storm water utility fee
64% oppose an increase of $5 per month in the storm water utility fee
Would you favor or oppose publicly listing areas in Fort Worth that have recently flooded?
75% favor publicly listing areas in Fort Worth that have recently flooded
15% oppose publicly listing areas in Fort Worth that have recently flooded
And would you favor or oppose having your property or neighborhood publicly listed as a flood prone location, if flooding were to occur?
66% favor having their property or neighborhood “publicly listed as a flood prone location” if it floods
26% oppose having their property or neighborhood “publicly listed as a flood prone location” if it floods
Crime Control and Prevention District
Voters overwhelmingly favor the Crime District.
The Stats:
Do you favor or oppose the City of Fort Worth’s Crime Control and Prevention District, which has been funded through local sales tax for over 25 years?
78% favor the CCPD
13% oppose the CCPD
Fort Worth Independent School District
Voters are evenly split on their impression of the School District (positive or negative). Many voters believe the District is getting neither better nor worse at meeting the educational needs of students. Fewer believe the District is getting wore and still fewer believe it is getting better.
The Stats:
Do you have a strong positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative or strong negative impression of Fort Worth Independent School District?
44% have a positive “impression of Fort Worth Independent School District”
42% have a negative “impression of Fort Worth Independent School District”
8% have no opinion
6% are unsure or refused to answer
And do you think the job the Fort Worth Independent School District is doing meeting the educational needs of students is [Improving/Staying about the Same/Getting Worse/Unsure or refuse]?
44% think FWISD is “staying about the same” on “meeting the educational needs of students”
26% think FWISD is “getting worse” on “meeting the educational needs of students”
16% think FWISD is “improving” on “meeting the educational needs of students”
14% are unsure or refused to answer
The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth is made up of over 500 companies, firms and individual professionals involved in the commercial real estate profession. Members represent both large and small businesses and have a wide range of interests and resources related to commercial real estate.
The Biannual Vision Fort Worth Voter Opinion Survey is sponsored and funded exclusively by the Real Estate Council. The inaugural Survey was conducted in March 2019. The Survey is scheduled to be conducted next in February of 2021 and then February of 2023.