The measure was part of a larger package of 13 charter amendments included on the ballot.
Proposition F lost by about five percent or 1,300 of the total 28,238 votes cast in the election.
It would have created an indexed salary for the mayor and council members based on the pay scale for city department heads and assistant department heads.
For Fiscal Year 2023, the new salary was estimated to be $99,653 for Mayor Mattie Parker, up from $29,000 annually, and $76,727 per year for council members, up from $25,000 per year. As average city employee salaries change, the mayor and council members’ salaries would change as well.
Five bond proposals, which total $560 million, passed by sizable margins. The largest, Proposition A, provides $369 million for streets and mobility and accounts for about two-thirds of the total bond package. It passed by a margin of over 35 percentage points.
Unofficial results also show that Proposition H, a charter amendment that would have deleted the “references to certain appointees and employees having the option to request a City Council public hearing regarding their removal” failed by about 500 votes.
In response to The Texan’s inquiry, Parker’s communications coordinator, Bethany Warner, sent a link to the mayor’s statement on Twitter which did not directly address the failed salary measure.
“As election results are still being finalized, I want to say thank you to the voters for passing this bond, enabling us to fund vital projects that will build stronger communities and support a growing Fort Worth for generations to come.”
She added, “I also appreciate that voters provided us valuable feedback on City Charter changes, which included passing many important technical amendments to address the ever-evolving needs of a big city.”
Fort Worth residents of District 4 also voted for a city council member to replace Cary Moon, who ran for the state legislature earlier this year.
Alan Blaylock won a four-way race with over 52 percent of votes cast. On his campaign Facebook page, Blaylock thanked the voters. “Last night, voters voiced their desire for low taxes, safe neighborhoods and better streets. I’m honored they chose me to be their voice at city hall advocating for our community. The campaign is over and now it’s time to get to work.”
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Kim Roberts
Kim Roberts is a regional reporter for the Texan in the DFW metroplex area where she has lived for over twenty years. She has a Juris Doctor from Baylor University Law School and a Bachelor's in government from Angelo State University. In her free time, Kim home schools her daughter and coaches high school extemporaneous speaking and apologetics. She has been happily married to her husband for 23 years, has three wonderful children, and two dogs.