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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-056 Budget Survey ReportSeptember 11, 2026 Report No. 2026-056 INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: Evaluating community input on revenue generation and budget allocation. SUMMARY: This City launched a budget feedback survey on Aug. 10 and ran for 30 days through Sept. 9. BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to gauge residents’ support for methods of raising future revenue, and where they would like that increased funding to be spent. These findings can be used to aid in ensuring future budget decisions are made in line with residents’ interests. This is a continuation of research from prior years’ budget simulator/surveys. DISCUSSION: General Budget Feedback The overall feedback on the City’s budget approach is positive. Opinions on the overall value for tax dollars followed a positive skew, with the consensus opinion that respondents’ ‘Overall Value for Tax Dollars’ was in the middle somewhere between average and good. Only a single respondent rated their value as ‘Very Poor’ (compared to 29 for ‘Good’ and 8 for ‘Excellent’). With regards to revenue, a comfortable majority (72%) would support the City exploring efforts to increase revenue *if* it meant increased funding to their preferred community priorities. Of those, 35% would be supportive in a property tax increase, 52% would be supportive of an increase in user fees, and 17% support some other means of revenue generation. Community Priorities Respondents were given 100 points to assign across 11 community priorities according to how they would like the distribution of additional revenue to be spent. Of the options provided, the top three highest rated priorities were: 1. Utility Infrastructure (15.9) 2. Maintenance of Streets and Sidewalks (14.5) 3. Public Safety Services (13.3) The three lowest rated priorities were: 1. Code Enforcement (4.3) 2. Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues (4.8) 3. Economic Development Efforts (5.3) Some of the priorities ended up with high levels of variance in the data, meaning while the ranking may be in the middle or even high, there was a sizable amount of disagreement on both ends of support. The three highest variance priorities were: 1. Public Safety Services (± 13.3) 2. Utility Infrastructure (± 10.3) 3. Issues Related to Homelessness (± 9.2) September 11, 2026 Report No. 2026-056 Dataset Challenges Following the trend from last year, participation in this year’s budget survey is continuing to increase year over year. There were 81 complete responses and 18 partial responses, marking a 35% increase in complete responses from 2025. Despite the trend, the sample remains small relative to the City’s population, making it hard to forecast specifics of public opinion beyond general trends. The make-up of the respondents was not representative of the City’s overall population. The 18-29 cohort is under-represented in this data (by about 30%), and simultaneously the 30-49 and 70+ cohorts are both over-represented (by 33% and 20%, respectively). When it comes to location, the biggest discrepancies are 76205 (under-represented by 41%), 76208 (under-represented by 76%), and 76207 (over-represented by 90%). As a result of this reality, the results from this survey should be taken in the context of the make-up of respondents. Low participation from 18-30 residents is in line with the participation rates from prior surveys within the City. Cohort Variance Each age-range had individual priorities with variance from the overall mean. This is useful to highlight preferred priorities specific to individual cohorts and can be helpful to consider the effects of our unrepresentative sample, with respect to age. Keep in mind this is not the top three priorities for each cohort, but rather the degree to which each cohort rated something higher than the overall average across cohorts. 18-29 Preferred Priorities 1. Environmental Sustainability (+ 2.3) 2. Issues Related to Homelessness (+ 2.2) 3. Community Amenities (+ 1.7) 30-49 Preferred Priorities 1. Environmental Sustainability (+ 1.8) 2. Issues Related to Homelessness (+ 1.7) 3. Community Amenities (+ 1.0) 50-69 Preferred Priorities 1. Public Safety Services (+ 7.7) 2. Utility Infrastructure (+ 7.4) 3. Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks (+ 3.4) 70+ Preferred Priorities 1. Design & Layout of Denton (+ 2.7) 2. Public Safety Services (+ 2.6) 3. Economic Development Efforts (+ 1.6) Conclusion Based on the 2026 Budget Survey results, residents continue to show growing engagement and constructive interest in shaping the City’s fiscal direction. While the sample remains limited and not fully representative of the broader community, the findings provide useful insight into general preferences around future revenue generation and priority areas for investment. Respondents expressed overall satisfaction with the value of their tax dollars and showed strong willingness to support revenue increases when tied to their community priorities. Infrastructure, public safety, and maintenance remain core areas of focus, while cohort-specific variations highlight the diverse needs and values across age groups. These September 11, 2026 Report No. 2026-056 results, taken in context with demographic limitations, offer valuable guidance to inform future budget decisions and ensure they align more closely with the interests and expectations of residents. NEXT STEPS: As part of the upcoming budget public hearing on Sept. 15, Council may take these survey results as supplemental feedback to help inform final budget deliberations. ATTACHMENTS: • Exhibit 1 - FY 2026-27 Budget Survey Report STAFF CONTACT: Aimée Kaslik Chief Strategic Officer Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance Aimee.Kaslik@cityofdenton.com REQUESTOR: Staff initiated STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 90 hours PARTICIPANTS: Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance FY 2026-2027 Budget Survey Update OƯice of Strategy, Budget, & Performance Participation 179 Opened Survey -> 18 Partial Responses & 81 Complete Response 45.25% Completion Rate 35% Increase in Complete Responses from Prior Year (60 Responses) Age Range: Count: % of Results % of Adult Population Representation 18-29 22 24.7% 35.2% 0.70x 30-49 35 39.3% 29.6% 1.33x 50-69 21 23.6% 24.8% 0.95x 70+ 11 12.4% 10.3% 1.20x Postal Code: Count: % of Results % of Population Representation 76201 23 26.4% 19.7% 1.34x 76205 7 8.0% 13.6% 0.59x 76207 19 21.8% 11.5% 1.90x 76208 4 4.6% 19.4% 0.24x 76209 17 19.5% 20.1% 0.97x 76210 17 19.5% 15.7% 1.24x 22 35 19 11 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 18-29 30-49 50-69 70+ Responses by Age Range Source: 2020 Decennial Survey (% of Population) Source: ACS 2023 1-Year Estimate (% of Adult Population) Age Range of Respondents Zip Code of Respondents 23 7 19 4 17 17 0 5 10 15 20 25 76201 76205 76207 76208 76209 76210 Responses by Zip Code Thoughts on Budget Among those who support the city pursuing opportunities for increased revenue, about half were supportive of an increase in User Fees to fund their community priorities. Note: Respondents were allowed to choose multiple options they would support 35% 52% 17% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Support by Revenue Method Property Taxes Fees Other 72% Support for Additional Fund Generation 1 11 40 29 8 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Very Poor Poor Average Good Excellent Overall Value for Tax Dollars Budget Allocation Respondents were asked to distribute 100 points across 11 Community Priorities according to their preferences for future investment. Variance is very high in the data with some priorities having standard deviations larger than their mean value. This implies a lack of consensus present in this dataset for some priorities. Top 3 Categories: 1. Utility Infrastructure, 2. Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks, 3. Public Safety Services 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks Public Safety Services Transportation & Mobility Utility Infrastructure Issues Related to Homelessness Economic Development Efforts Design and Layout of Denton Community Amenities Code Enforcement Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues Environmental Sustainability Avg. Allocation Across Community Priorities Cohort Variance (18-29) Top 3 Cohort-Skewed Topics: 1. Environmental Sustainability (+2.33), 2. Homelessness (+2.23), 3. Community Amenities (+1.68) Ranking diƯerences among Age-Ranges may be indicative of diƯerences in priorities, but are also aƯected by unrepresentative age distribution in sample -1.86 -3.91 0.59 -4.67 2.23 1.33 1.36 1.68 -0.27 1.29 2.33 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks Public Safety Services Transportation & Mobility Utility Infrastructure Issues Related to Homelessness Economic Development Efforts Design and Layout of Denton Community Amenities Code Enforcement Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues Environmental SustainabilityVariance from Mean18-29 Cohort Variance Cohort Variance (30-49) Top 3 Cohort-Skewed Topics: 1. Environmental Sustainability (+1.84), 2. Homelessness (+1.72), 3. Community Amenities (+0.95) Ranking diƯerences among Age-Ranges may be indicative of diƯerences in priorities, but are also aƯected by unrepresentative age distribution in sample -0.34 -2.95 0.91 -1.34 1.72 -0.81 0.45 0.95 -0.45 0.12 1.84 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks Public Safety Services Transportation & Mobility Utility Infrastructure Issues Related to Homelessness Economic Development Efforts Design and Layout of Denton Community Amenities Code Enforcement Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues Environmental SustainabilityVariance from Mean30-49 Chohort Variance Cohort Variance 50-69 3.44 7.74 -1.35 7.45 -4.53 -0.90 -3.76 -2.48 0.42 -1.50 -4.59 -8.00 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks Public Safety Services Transportation & Mobility Utility Infrastructure Issues Related to Homelessness Economic Development Efforts Design and Layout of Denton Community Amenities Code Enforcement Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues Environmental SustainabilityVariance from Mean50-69 Chohort Variance Top 3 Cohort-Skewed Topics: 1. Public Safety Services (+7.74), 2. Utility Infrastructure (+7.45), 3. Streets & Sidewalks (+3.45) Ranking diƯerences among Age-Ranges may be indicative of diƯerences in priorities, but are also aƯected by unrepresentative age distribution in sample Cohort Variance 70+ -1.55 2.60 -1.48 -0.37 -1.37 1.55 2.69 -1.62 1.10 -0.12 -1.85 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 Maintenance of Streets & Sidewalks Public Safety Services Transportation & Mobility Utility Infrastructure Issues Related to Homelessness Economic Development Efforts Design and Layout of Denton Community Amenities Code Enforcement Engage/Inform Residents about Key Issues Environmental SustainabilityVariance from Mean70+ Chohort Variance Top 3 Cohort-Skewed Topics: 1. Design & Layout (+2.69), 2. Public Safety Services (+2.60), 3. Economic Development (+1.65) Ranking diƯerences among Age-Ranges may be indicative of diƯerences in priorities, but are also aƯected by unrepresentative age distribution in sample Raw Respondent Comments I think puƫng any of our budget towards AI data centers are an insulƟng waste of resources that only advance environmental catastrophe for extremely short term gain It's important to preserve in growth what has made denton a great small town. The needs of the poor/ struggling should outweigh the importance of growth potenƟal. Thank you for all that you do for us. I'm truly grateful. I want to take a bus to the first available train, and take a train back to downtown Denton at midnight, all weekend. I'd like the weekend transit service to be worthwhile. I'd like the busses to actually run on the adverƟsed schedule, instead of having unannounced gaps in service. The traffic on 380 at razor ranch is completely unregulated, and these Texans need to learn not to enter an intersecƟon they can't clear. The bike guƩers, 'bike lanes' are dangerous. Cars park in them, delivery vehicles park in them, there is no accounƟng for a cyclist going straight at an intersecƟon, vehicles block both them and sidewalks with no idea they're breaking traffic laws. It is enƟrely safer for me to cycle in the lanes where I can be seen. There is no meaningful traffic enforcement. The train is full of rowdy unhoused people since the world cup. They aren't rowdy on the busses usually. Get those dang go zone vans off the road. Taxes paid by Denton residents should be used for ALPR systems, regardless of brand, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES. Nobody wants the darn things. Seriously. Help the working class I understand the roads definitely do need improvement, but man, does the never-ending construcƟon get annoying aŌer a while! I think the budget that goes to "public safety services" should be distributed to other departments that focus on the upliŌing & improvement of the community. Our streets are impossible to drive on, the wildlife have had their homes drained, and there is liƩle public transportaƟon opƟons. We're focusing too much on people who have established themselves without helping the folks who need help geƫng their first steps. DME it is a concern every month fund it and think of ways to lower kWh/hour Police and fire next Street Maintenance next All the other stuff is fluff Please please preƩy please do not fund or permit the construcƟon of an AI datacenter that will pollute our air, water, and environment. I don't know what the board room pitch looked like, but it is not sustainable as a public work project and does nothing to contribute to our community. cut upper level bloat Bring back the egg hunt for Easter We don't want any data centers. Our uƟliƟes skyrocket and our environment and ciƟzens deserve beƩer. Kids with asthma don't need to breathe in the toxic fumes that'll be emiƩed. We need to protect our ciƟzens best interests. DEFLOCK AND SAY NO TO DATA CENTERS I encourage the city to prioriƟze funding for the Children's Advocacy Center. It is a vital resource for so many Denton residents. Our police officers and roads need help! Our homeless populaƟon also deserves help for building a beƩer life, and shelter in extreme weather. I was very surprised to hear that the Denton Community Market had goƩen $60k in the past. That's a lot of money and seems to sustain a service that the community isn't interested in supporƟng enough. What other areas of the budget are supporƟng things like this? Also, water (and likely other uƟliƟes) - the city buildings (or maybe county) seem to use uƟliƟes far more than residenƟal homes - we are encouraged to save but do the city buildings do the same? UƟliƟes are a significant porƟon of my monthly budget so I assume city buildings are the same. I would support just about anything that can be done to slow down or stop the construcƟon of apartments. On the surface they seem like a good idea. But rent really isn't much more (if at all) than a house payment. It's the tax and insurance that drives the price up. What if we could help support people trying to buy houses. Home ownership is helpful in so many ways to a community. Could we help with the taxes or insurance for people who have a lower income or similar? If we could get them out of the endless process of paying rent, we'd be invesƟng in the community instead of big apartment complexes owned by who knows who. Thanks! As a Denton resident and homeowner, my primary request is to exercise fiscal responsibility and restrain from increasing property taxes. With rising cost across the board, the city should prioriƟze the essenƟals — maintaining streets, public safety and keeping our municipal uƟliƟes infrastructure reliable” within our current budget. AddiƟonally, taxpayer dollars, municipal incenƟves and public uƟlity capacity should not be factored into electricity and water intensive data centers. Our local budget and shared uƟlity resources should serve current residence in neighborhoods first, and not high impact industrial operaƟons that strain our electricity and water uƟliƟes. Our current system is untenable because we have deferred maintenance for so long that residents expect our current taxes and land use can pay for the infrastructure we enjoy when that is simply not true. The sooner the city understands and explains this to people, the sooner we can have a producƟve conversaƟon about what future sustainable model for Denton our residents want. Otherwise every budget year is just a kid in a candy store with no long term guide or focus. What is our process for pursuing state/ federal grants that could be considered? Are we applying for enough? What is our percentage achieved vs applied? Should we focus our efforts on qualifying for more grants? Please prioriƟze pedestrian/mobility improvements! Na I am very concerned and upset that our electricity is going up by 18% and the business is in the city are paying less than half that amount beginning September one i believe the budget should support the things that make denton a great place to live (culture, local environment, local businesses, community relaƟons, etc.) instead of trying to promote endless suburban sprawl and cater to big business! Stop providing tax rebates to corporaƟons like Buc-cee's. That shit is absurd. If they can't exist here without suckling off the public's teet, so be it. I'd rather you take the $8.1M you afforded them and spend it elsewhere on the community. I think the Jazz Fest should be in the park NOT THE FAIRGROUNDS! Adding fees to pay by credit card is a tax increase by another name. Don't raise any taxes. Find ways todo more with less. Need to play catch up on deferred street maintenance on main thoroughfares and assess speed limits and traffic congesƟon. I would like to see more put towards parks and public spaces for all to enjoy around downtown and less towards focus on economic development. My prioriƟes as a long-Ɵme ciƟzen of the city of Denton are: affordable single-family housing development for those of us who have families but no means of ever owning a home, decrease in apartment development, generaƟng relief for and support for Denton/local small businesses, and ensuring libraries and parks are funded, conƟnued growth and revitalizaƟon of the downtown Denton area, building community culture through events/ Denton-themed seasons. I love that the city does lots of incenƟves for residents and helps residents I think that's amazing. Like the rebates for eco friendly stuff. I appreciate the city being open with how the budget is allocated and how much of the money is spent over Ɵme. It can give a beƩer feeling to residents about their tax dollars. I feel like enhancing public mobility, with a variety of methods, goes a long way towards improving the quality of life and economic opportuniƟes for residents of the city. Anything to resist the consequences of suburban sprawl. MORE BUS STOPS! I live in North Denton and the closest bus stop to me is a 50+ minute walk. Inaccessible! I'd like to invest more in our public parks. The sports fields are geƫng beƩer, but Northlakes sees a lot of traffic and several fields are in major need of improvement and repairs. More public spaces that encourage bird watching, outdoor acƟviƟes, and community gardens. There is no where to compare what is currently being spent in these areas. No tax rate increase, balance the budget, encourage dept heads to spend frugally not.use it or lose it. Invest year end surplus in future rainy day fund. faciliƟes/maint charges for water and electrical uƟliƟes are excessive Reduce the amount of parking spots required at establishments as it wastes land that could be used for addiƟonal tax revenue. Large companies want to come to Denton. There is no reason to offer large discounts to large companies to move in. stop wasƟng money on needless trips for employees Property taxes are already extremely high, so these taxes should not be raised to pad the city budget. stop increasing our property taxes The City should establish key objecƟves and goals and then align/allocate resources to ensure progress in the direcƟon of each. I would love to see more money go towards community spaces and beauƟfying current landscapes/medians. Our city is spread out. I feel like community spaces are beƩer near downtown. South Denton (where I reside) has fewer spaces for families to gather. South Lakes park is great, but there isn't anything south of that where I see residents spending Ɵme outdoors. We could also use our own rec center in South Denton. Maintain public safety as a priority. Also look a providing community high quality ameniƟes i.e. libraries and parks/rec facilƟes and programs.