HomeMy WebLinkAbout28432-04-2026 - City Council - OrdinanceOrdinance No.28432-04-2026
AN ORDINANCE INCREASING ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE
JUSTICE ASSET FORFEITURE FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $879,584.00 FROM AVAILABLE
FUND BALANCE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING
EXPENSES; PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE
CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That in addition to those amounts allocated to the various City departments for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in the
Budget of the City Manager, there shall also be increased estimated receipts and appropriations in the Justice
Asset Forfeiture Fund in the amount of $879,584.00 from available fund balance, for the purpose of funding
current Fiscal Year 2026 operating expenses.
SECTION 2.
That should any portion, section or part of a section of this ordinance be declared invalid, inoperative or void
for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or judgment shall in no way impair
the remaining portions, sections, or parts of sections of this ordinance, which said remaining provisions
shall be and remain in full force and effect.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of Ordinance 27979-09-2025 and all other ordinances and
appropriations amending the same except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance are in
direct conflict with such other ordinances and appropriations, in which instance said conflicting provisions of
said prior ordinances and appropriations are hereby expressly repealed.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Keanan aI (Sep 17, 2026 10:58:28 CDT)
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: April 28, 2026
CITY SECRETARY
Jannette S. Goodall
City Secretary
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 04/28/26 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 26-0336
LOG NAME: 35ASSET FORFEITURE FY26
SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt Appropriation Ordinances in the Justice, State, and Treasury Asset Forfeiture Funds for a Combined Amount of $1,596,275.00 for
Fiscal Year 2026 for the Purpose of Safety, Wellness, and Resiliency Programs for the Police Department and the Community
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund in the
amount of $879,584.00 from available fund balance, for the purpose of funding current Fiscal Year 2026 operating expenses;
2. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund in the
amount of $466,691.00 from available fund balance, for the purpose of funding current Fiscal Year 2026 operating expenses; and
3. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund in the
amount of $250,000.00 from available fund balance, for the purpose of funding current Fiscal Year 2026 operating expenses.
DISCUSSION:
In the 35 plus years since the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, authorized federal officials implemented a national Asset Forfeiture
Program (Program). The Program has become a powerful tool for targeting criminals, including drug dealers and white-collar criminals who prey
on the vulnerable for financial gain. Forfeiture statutes are now prevalent and their use, along with other important anti -crime measures, have a
significant impact on crime reduction.
One of the most important provisions of the Program is the authorization to share federal forfeiture proceeds with cooperating state and local law
enforcement agencies.
Funds received from the Program can only be used by the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) to fund items that are permissible under the
United States Department of Justice Guide to Equitable Sharing for State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies and the Texas Code of Criminal
Procedure Chapter 59, Forfeiture of Contraband. These funds may not be used to supplant or replace existing resources dedicated to law
enforcement purposes through, either the reduction of general operating budgets or to cover costs assigned to other funding sources. In Fiscal
Year (FY) 2026, the Chief of Police has prioritized these funds for the purpose of enhancing the safety, wellness, and resiliency of the Department,
its officers, and the community. In order to achieve this, FWPD estimates using up to $1,596,275.00 of these funds to cover permissible law
enforcement operating expenditures, including:
• Body Armor
• Radios
• Group Violence Intervention Contracts
• Officer Mental Health Counseling Services
• Specialized DNA Testing of Homicide Cold Cases
• Jail Operations Support
• Constitutional Policing Unit
• Gaming Machine Destruction Support
• Classified Services
Funding for Asset Forfeiture was not included in the FY 2026 Operating Budget, because by federal and state laws, revenues and project funding
cannot be anticipated or planned in these types of funds. This action in this Mayor & Council Communication (M&C) will adopt the necessary
appropriation ordinances described in the recommendation section of this M&C and attached hereto.
Funding is available for appropriation from fund balance of the Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund with a current balance of $1,578,799.52 and after
recommendation No.1 above, it will have a balance of $642,384.62.
Funding is available for appropriation from fund balance of the State Asset Forfeiture Fund with a current balance of $968,146.72 and after
recommendation No. 2 above, it will have a balance of $291,944.72.
Funding is available for appropriation from fund balance of the Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund with a current balance of $313,732.60 and after
recommendation No. 3 above, it will have a balance of $63,732.60.
These projects are located in ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that funds are currently available in the fund balances of the Justice Asset Forfeiture, State Asset Forfeiture, and
Treasury Asset Forfeiture Funds, and upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the attached appropriation ordinances, funds
will be available in the Justice Asset Forfeiture, State Asset Forfeiture, and Treasury Asset Forfeiture Funds. Prior to an expenditure being
incurred, the Police Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for City Manaaer's Office by: William Johnson 5806
Oriainatina Business Unit Head: Eddie Garcia 4212
Additional Information Contact: Keith Morris 4243