Garland briefing: adopted tax rate would fund 10 police officers, 9 firefighters and 8 dispatchers

In an informational presentation to the All Abilities Committee, Garland staff detailed public-safety positions funded under the council-adopted tax rate. The presenter said the adopted budget requests funding for 10 police officers (salary about $824,000, plus overtime and fringe benefits), nine firefighters (salaries about $700,000) and eight emergency dispatchers (salaries about $424,000).

Staff described equipment and vehicle costs tied to those positions, including outfitting patrol Tahoes and setting aside replacement reserves. "We're requesting for Chevy Tahoe's... the base unit themselves is about 75,000 each," the presenter said. He added that overtime adjustments, fringe benefits (FICA, Medicare, health insurance, and retirement-stability benefits for civil-service employees) were included in the cost calculations. Staff warned that if the proposition fails, the council would need to adopt budget amendments to remove or reduce items funded by the difference between the adopted rate and the voter-approval rate.