Infrastructure Funding and Debt Management

When it comes to funding major projects such as roads, fire stations, water lines and other critical infrastructure, the City of Burleson relies on a combination of financial tools.

Bonds, grants, cash reserves and development contributions are used to fairly distribute costs across both current and future residents. Through careful debt management and long-term financial planning, the city ensures today’s needs are met without placing undue burden on tomorrow’s taxpayers.

How does the city fund infrastructure projects?

Funding for infrastructure depends on the type of project and how long it will serve the community. For long-term assets—like roads, water and sewer lines, or public safety facilities—the city often issues debt (similar to taking out a mortgage or a car loan). This spreads the cost over many years, so both today’s residents and future residents who benefit from the improvements share in paying for them. The debt is typically repaid through property taxes, 4A and 4B sales taxes, or water and wastewater revenues.

The city also works hard to bring in outside funding to reduce the burden on local taxpayers. This includes pursuing state and federal grants and collecting development fees from builders to help cover the cost of infrastructure needed for new growth.

By combining these funding tools, Burleson can maintain and expand critical infrastructure responsibly—while stretching local dollars as far as possible.

The city also partners with regional agencies to encourage investment in the infrastructure facilities they operate within Burleson’s city limits. This shared approach helps keep projects moving forward and maximizes benefits for the entire community.

GO Bonds

Project	Cost
Neighborhood Street Rebuilds	$750,000
Police Expansion	$13,607,500
Hulen Street at Wilshire Boulevard Intersection	$1,501,027
Hulen Street Widening (SH 174 to Candler Drive)	$6,003,653
Elk & Hillside Drives & FM 731 Pedestrian & Intersection Improvements	$204,871
FM 1902 and CR 910 Pedestrian Mobility	$300,000
Total	$22,367,051

General Government Additional Projects

Project	Cost
Hulen Street Widening (SH 174 to Candler Drive)	$11,770,242
Village Creek Parkway Expansion (Tarrant Co. Bond 50% Match)	$259,059
Wicker Hill Road and Greenridge Drive Reconstruction	$1,200,000
CR 914 Reconstruction from CR 914A to CR 1021	$1,000,000
Two New Ambulances	$1,326,000
One Replacement Street Sweeper	$325,000
Total	$15,880,301

4A Projects (funded through sales tax, not property tax)

Project	Cost
West Side Infrastructure	$5,000,000
Total	$5,000,000

4B Projects (funded through sales tax, not property tax)

Project	Cost
Warren Park-Study	$75,075
Green Ribbon	$120,750
BRiCk - Dry Sauna	$444,087
Russell Farm - Domestic Water	$21,000
Russell Farm - Bathroom at Chesapeake Building	$75,448
Master Plan for Russell Farm	$32,051
Golf - Fence	$262,500
Golf - Additional Well	$183,750
Total	$1,214,661

Water Projects (funded through water/wastewater revenue, not property tax)

Project	Cost
Waterline Rehabilitation	$2,000,000
Industrial Blvd Pump Station Expansion & Alsbury Pump Station Decommission	$3,857,228
Hulen Ground Storage Tank Rehabilitation	$152,000
Mountain Valley EST and GST Demolition	$84,395
12" Waterline Loop for Mountain Valley	$1,072,813
Total	$7,166,436

Sewer Projects (funded through water/wastewater revenue, not property tax)

Project	Cost
Sewer Line Rehabilitation	$1,687,839
Trunk Relief Line (Town Creek Basin Parallel Buildout Interceptors)	$24,178,034
Parkview Dr Sewer Upsizing to 10"	$139,285
12" Wastewater line Replacement in Village Creek Basin (Golf Course)	$2,454,224
FM 917 and 35W Lift Station and Pressure Main	$600,724
Future Sewer Capacity Study	$105,000
Chisholm West Lift Station Force Main / Collector	$913,500
Legacy Hill Sewer Extension	$651,000
Total	$30,729,606

How does the city manage debt and long-term financial planning?

Burleson’s financial approach is guided by a simple principle: the cost of services and projects should be shared fairly by the people who benefit from them—both today and in the future. That principle shapes how the city uses bonds, cash reserves, grants, and long-term planning to fund improvements.

Bonds – For large, long-lasting projects like roads, fire stations, or water lines, the city often issues bonds. This is similar to taking out a mortgage—it allows the cost to be spread over time, so future residents who also benefit help share in paying for it.
Reserves – Just like a household keeps savings for unexpected expenses, the city maintains reserves to handle emergencies or stabilize finances during economic downturns.
Grants – Whenever possible, the city seeks out state and federal grants to reduce the cost of projects for local taxpayers. Importantly, Burleson only counts grant revenue after it’s officially awarded, keeping our budget conservative and realistic.
Long-term planning – Every year, the city prepares a five-year financial forecast for its major funds. This forecast includes both day-to-day operating costs and expected debt payments from the Capital Improvement Plan. It gives the City Council and community a clear picture of upcoming needs and trends, helping guide responsible decisions.

Together, these tools—bonds, reserves, grants, and forward-looking planning—allow Burleson to meet today’s priorities while preparing for tomorrow, all while maintaining strong fiscal responsibility.

Addressing Common Misconceptions About City Debt

Debt can sometimes sound like a negative word, but in municipal budgeting it works differently than personal debt. Here are a few common misconceptions:

“Debt means the city is overspending.”
Not necessarily. Cities often use debt to fund large, long-term projects—like fire stations, roads, or water lines—that serve residents for decades. This allows the cost to be shared fairly by current and future residents, rather than putting the full burden on today’s taxpayers.

“We should pay for everything with cash instead of borrowing.”
While reserves and cash are used for smaller projects, paying upfront for major infrastructure would quickly deplete savings and prevent the city from handling emergencies. Bonds allow the city to spread out costs and maintain financial stability.

“Issuing debt just piles on financial risk.”
Burleson follows strict financial policies and state laws that limit how much debt can be issued and require repayment plans. Debt levels are carefully monitored, and our strong credit ratings help ensure borrowing is done responsibly and at the lowest possible cost. The city of Burleson holds a AA rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investors Service. These are both considered very strong ratings. Read more about why these ratings are important.

“If the city is taking on debt, it must be because they mismanaged funds.”
In reality, debt is part of long-term financial planning. Just as families might use a mortgage to buy a home, cities use bonds to invest in infrastructure that supports safety, growth, and quality of life.

“Debt repayments take away from everyday services.”
Debt is repaid from specific revenue sources (like property tax for general projects or water fees for utility projects). These payments are included in the city’s financial forecasts to ensure they remain sustainable without undermining daily operations.