Denison council adopts FY 2026 budget after heated debate over fire staffing and grant timing

The Denison City Council adopted the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget on a 5-2 roll call after several hours of public comment and council debate about fire-department staffing, pay adjustments and reliance on a federal SAFER hiring grant.

The budget ordinance, presented by Miss Alsaba, city staff, was adopted after a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Adams and second by Councilman Thorn. The council voted to approve an ordinance adopting the City of Denison budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026. Mayor Pro Tem Adams, Council member Court Wright, Council member Thorn and Mayor Robert Crowley voted yes; Council member Massey and Council member Thomas voted no.

Why it matters: The adopted budget assumes the current tax rate and does not include a property-tax rate increase. Council members and residents warned that the budget’s removal of a market adjustment for city employees and the delay of hiring for a planned fire station could hurt retention and public safety. Opponents urged the council to find alternative funding or accept a tax increase to cover the department’s needs.

Council heard that the budget is built using the current tax rate of 0.712034 and that state law requires adopting a budget before adopting a tax rate. Miss Alsaba said the presented budget “is based on our current tax rate of 0.712034,” and clarified the city would return with an amended budget if the council later adopts a different rate.

Fire department leaders and residents urged the council to preserve firefighter pay and staffing. Layton Privet, president of the Denison Firefighters Association, said the August budget had included a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant assumption that appears to be omitted from the version presented Sept. 9. “This was done to ease the tax burden of the hiring of the personnel required for station 4,” Privet said, adding the SAFER grant would represent “a roughly 6 and a half million dollar total savings to citizens” if awarded.

Privet told the council that the market adjustment previously included in older drafts — intended to retain and attract qualified employees — had been removed from the version before the council. He said the department has “seen well over half our department and countless decades of experience go elsewhere” and asked that the change be reconsidered.

Several council members framed the decision as a timing issue tied to the Preston Harbor development. One council member said that, although excavation permits have been pulled for the Preston Harbor project, there are “no homes out there right now” and that a ribbon-cutting (and subsequent need for station staffing) may not occur until construction advances. That member said the city could defer hiring until a clearer construction timeline emerges.

Chief (Fire Chief, unnamed in the transcript) explained the SAFER grant pays 75% of personnel costs in the first two years and 35% in the third year, with the city responsible for ongoing costs thereafter. The chief said the department would need to hire and train personnel quickly if the grant is awarded: “If we were notified… we have 6 months to hire those people. We have 30 days to accept it,” the chief said. He also warned that not hiring would increase overtime costs and that some overtime is driven by federally defined FLSA requirements beyond the department’s direct control.

Several firefighters spoke during public comment. Kendall Shaw, a Denison firefighter, told the council there is industry research tying staffing levels to firefighter and civilian outcomes: “Staffing, there is. NIST… shows time and time again, 3-man staffing blows 2-man staffing on the water,” Shaw said, arguing more personnel are needed for safe interior firefighting operations.

Council action on taxes: After adopting the budget, the council also took two related votes required by state law. First, council voted unanimously to ratify the increased property tax revenue generated by the adopted budget; Miss Alsaba said the budget raises $640,617 in revenue from value changes and an additional $624,568 from new property, for a total recommended increase of $1,265,185. Second, the council voted 6-1 to maintain the tax rate at 0.712034 (effectively a 0% rate increase). Council member Massey cast the lone no vote on the tax-rate motion.

The mayor announced a plan to create a task force to revisit the budget and search for reallocation options that might address staffing and compensation concerns without a tax increase. The mayor said the task force would review potential adjustments and return recommendations to council.

What’s next: City staff will monitor the SAFER grant decision (the chief indicated the city expected notification within days) and return to council if the tax rate or other revenue decisions change. Council members said they would consider amendments after monitoring year-end financials and grant outcomes.

Ending: Council members who voted for and against the budget cited competing responsibilities: ensuring city financial stability and addressing resident and department concerns about public safety and employee retention. The adopted budget takes effect Oct. 1, 2025, and staff said any change in the tax rate would require a return trip to council to amend appropriations.