What Property Taxes Fund

We know that when your property tax bill arrives in the mail each year, you probably think, “This is a lot of money.” And you’re right—it is.

But have you ever wondered exactly how much of that amount actually goes to the city of Burleson, and what those dollars pay for?

The truth is, only a portion of your total property tax bill stays with the city. The rest goes to other taxing entities like the school district, county, and special districts.

What portion of your property tax goes to the city of Burleson?

That depends on if you live in the Johnson or Tarrant County portion of the city. 

Tarrant County Residents

Graph of Tarrant County Residents Tax Rate Pie Chart
The city of Burleson receives 28 percent of the total property taxes paid by residents who live within the Tarrant County portion of the city. For example, if a resident pays $5,000 in property taxes, the city receives $1,400 of that amount.

Johnson County Residents

Graph of Johnson County Residents Tax Rate Pie Chart
The city of Burleson receives 28 percent of the total property taxes paid by residents who live within the Tarrant County portion of the city. For example, if a resident pays $5,000 in property taxes, the city receives $1,450 of that amount.

Do Property Taxes Cover Everything? Not Quite.


It’s a common misconception that property taxes pay for all of the city’s services—but that’s not the case.

This year, the city of Burleson expects to collect $31.3 million in Maintenance & Operations (M&O) property tax revenue. While that may sound like a lot, it’s not enough to fully fund public safety, which includes police, fire/EMS, and 911 dispatch. In fact, the proposed cost to operate those services is $35.2 million—meaning property taxes don’t even cover public safety alone.

So how does the city make up the difference—and continue providing all the other important services you rely on, like the library, street maintenance, animal services, and building inspections?

We rely on a diverse mix of revenue sources, including:

  •  Sales tax revenue 
  • Franchise fees (like utility and cable providers)
  •  State and federal grants
  • Other local income streams

This balanced funding approach helps us stretch every dollar while delivering the high-quality services our community expects and deserves.

graphic of stick figure with text that says property taxes don't cover all public safety needs
graphic of stick figure with text that says collected property taxes is $31 million and public safet
graphic of stick figure with text that says without other revenue sources the city wouldn't have

Is Public Safety Fully Funded? 

While public safety is a top priority in Burleson, property tax revenue alone does not fully fund our current public safety operations—and additional needs are already on the horizon.

Police Department Needs

As Burleson grows police staffing is struggling to keep pace. Hiring isn’t instant: it takes about a year to recruit, train, and graduate a new officer from the academy and field training. And not all candidates make it through.

Ongoing needs include:

  • Additional sworn officer positions to match population growth, approximately 18 additional officers
  • Expanded training resources to support readiness and safety
  • Recruitment support to maintain service levels as the city expands

Fire & EMS Needs

The Fire Department is also preparing for a future of continued growth, and that means new investments are required to maintain rapid response times and high-quality care.

Key future priorities include:

  • Staffing for Station 4 (opening by 2030): 14 new firefighter/EMTs will be needed to staff the new station’s engine company.
  • Staffing for a fourth ambulance to meet increasing EMS demand: 7 additional personnel required.
  • New equipment needs: A new ladder tower will be required at Station 1 to improve response capabilities across the city.
  • New positions: A Training Lieutenant and Deputy Emergency Manager are also needed to support department-wide readiness, safety, and emergency planning.

Burleson Fire/EMS already maximizes efficiency with dual-role firefighter/paramedics, ensuring that every crew is ready for both medical and fire emergencies. But to stay ahead of demand, proactive planning and funding are essential.

How Will the City Fund Future Public Safety Needs?

It’s true—property tax revenue alone no longer covers the full cost of public safety in Burleson. And as our city continues to grow, the demand for police, fire, and EMS services will only increase.

So how will Burleson meet these future needs?

Like many communities, we recognize the challenge and are taking proactive steps to plan ahead:

  • Smart Cost Management: The city will continue to prioritize efficiency, carefully managing resources to maintain the high level of service residents expect.
  • Exploring Creative Solutions: The city manager has encouraged departments to seek innovative, community-aligned ways to support public safety, including pursuing competitive grant opportunities and leveraging technology to improve efficiency. Burleson has already seen success with this approach—for example, securing SAFER Grants multiple times to support firefighter staffing and obtaining grant funding for the Victim Assistance Coordinator within the Police Department. As the city grows, these kinds of targeted funding sources and smart technology investments will continue to play a key role in expanding capacity without placing the full burden on local taxpayers.
  • Long-Term Capital Planning: For larger, long-term investments like new fire stations or major equipment purchases, Burleson maintains a responsible capital improvement plan and debt management strategy to ensure critical needs can be met without overburdening current resources.

By planning today, we’re working to ensure public safety remains strong, responsive, and well-supported for the Burleson of tomorrow.