Tarrant & Denton Counties Settle Border Feud

For years now, Tarrant and Denton counties had been engaged in a border dispute. Both counties have claimed a 3,500 acre parcel of land on the county line, but the real dispute is over who gets to collect the taxes on this land.

We're not talking about some worthless scrub land here. This land sits between Fort Worth and Denton, in an area that has seen enormous growth in recent years. The land generates $2 million in tax revenue each year, and that will probably go up as development continues in the fast-growing area. The land includes parts of Flower Mound, Trophy Club and Southlake.

Back in 2004, we thought this mess had been settled. That year, a 2nd Court of Appeals decision gave the land to Tarrant county. But Denton county continued to collect taxes in the area, and before long the court battle was raging again.

Yesterday, the two counties signed an agreement. Hopefully, this will end the border dispute. Denton county has agreed to stop collecting the taxes this year and give up their legal claim to the land. They also agreed to pay $134,008 for court costs and a surveying fee. Tarrant county agreed to drop its request for court-ordered sanctions against Denton county.

Of course, Tarrant county was jubilant over the decision. Assistant District Attorney Marvin Collins, chief of Tarrant's civil division, said jokingly, "I feel like I should notify the secretary-general of the U.N. because this will go a long way toward the advancement of world peace."

Denton County Judge Mary Horn was more subdued. She said, "I'm glad for everybody's sake that it's over. Obviously, I'm not happy with the outcome."

I do hope this dispute is finally over now. It has gone on too long and cost both counties too much. Maybe now, instead of throwing money down the legal-system "black hole", both counties can benefit from the rapid development of northern Tarrant and southern Denton counties.