North Richland Hills Voters Weigh $146 Million for Fire Stations, Streets and Library
Four propositions would rebuild two fire stations and 50 streets. The city puts the cost for an average home at about $70 a year.
North Richland Hills voters are deciding four bond propositions totaling $145.97 million on the Nov. 3 ballot. The money would rebuild two aging fire stations, reconstruct 50 streets, replace the city's public works complex and expand the library's community room. Early voting continues through Friday.
It would be the city's first bond election since 2020. The figures below come from the city's 2026 bond election page. Each proposition appears on the ballot with the words "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE."
Proposition A: Fire Stations 2 and 3, $26.3 million
Fire Station No. 2, at 4001 Rufe Snow Drive, was built in 1989 and has 7,154 square feet. Fire Station No. 3, at 5328 Davis Blvd., was built in 1980 and has 9,892 square feet. The city says both need to be rebuilt because of their age and layout, modern operating standards, and firefighter health and safety.
The new Station 2 would have 10,712 square feet. It would be built at the southwest corner of Rufe Snow Drive and Victoria Avenue, 0.6 miles north of the current station, a site the city says would help response times in that district. The new Station 3 would have 12,822 square feet and sit on two lots just north of the existing station. Both new stations would include decontamination and fitness areas. The city says the land for both sites is under contract.
Illustrative: Fort Worth Fire Station No. 1, photographed in June 2016. This is not a North Richland Hills station. Photo: Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Proposition B: 50 streets, $84.26 million
The largest proposition would rebuild 30 residential streets and 20 major or collector streets with low pavement condition ratings. Estimated costs range from about $140,000 for the smallest residential street to $7.74 million for the largest major street.
The city points to its record on the last street bond. In 2020, voters approved $49 million to rebuild 27 streets. The city says 24 are finished and the program is on time and within budget. Harmonson Road and North Richland Boulevard are under construction, and a contract for Chapman Road is expected later this year.
Proposition C: City Services Complex, $24.7 million
The complex at 7200 Dick Fisher Drive South, behind Fire Station No. 5, was built in the 1980s. It is the base for 86 public works employees and for the 13-person fleet shop that services the city's 350 vehicles, including fire engines, ambulances and police cars. The city says its fleet has more than doubled since the complex opened. The 25 parks maintenance workers, who care for 34 parks and 30 miles of trails, work out of a former city building on the site. A new building would bring parks, public works and fleet together under one roof.
Proposition D: Library, $10.71 million
The library at 9015 Grand Ave. has a 1,660-square-foot community room that holds 102 people. A 6,500-square-foot addition would raise capacity to as many as 500 people and include bigger restrooms. The city says this year's Mayor's Summer Reading Club events averaged 219 people, so large programs often spill onto the second floor beside study rooms and computers. The project does not add parking.
What it would cost
If all four pass, the debt part of the city tax rate would rise by up to 2.5 cents, with bonds sold in phases from fiscal 2028 to 2037. For the average home, valued at $351,861 with a taxable value of $281,489 after the homestead exemption, the city puts the cost at about $70.37 a year, or $5.86 a month. By proposition:
Proposition A, fire stations: $12.67 a year
Proposition B, streets: $40.62 a year
Proposition C, services complex: $11.91 a year
Proposition D, library: $5.15 a year
Homeowners with the senior or disabled tax freeze would see no change. The city holds AA+ and Aa2 credit ratings from S&P and Moody's. The projects came from a 31-member resident advisory committee that held 15 meetings between August 2025 and May 2026. The cost figures are planning estimates, and the city notes it cannot take bids until voters approve the money.
Since 1953, voters have rejected only one city bond proposition: a $1 million expansion of this same service center in 2003.
Where to vote
Early voting runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Oct. 30. North Richland Hills voters may use any Tarrant County site, including NRH City Hall at 4301 City Point Drive. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. See our guide to the last week of early voting, and compare how nearby Cleburne is weighing a public safety bond.
