Addison Council directs staff to include accelerated police and fire step-plan options in FY‑26 budget materials

Addison City Council members discussed a plan to move sworn police and fire personnel from the town’s current open-range pay table to a multi-step pay plan and asked staff to include the most aggressive (one-year) option in the draft budget while showing the cost difference if the council chose a two‑year transition.

The council’s discussion at its June 24 work session focused on four options presented by town staff intended to address recruiter/retention pressure: Option 1 shifts the pay plan by 2% and uses the remaining 2% of the 4% compensation pool for step movement over two years; Option 2 shifts by 3% and would require a decision package (estimated first-year cost about $138,000); Option 3 would reach the town’s stated “desired market position” (average plus 1) over two years (estimated first-year cost about $275,000); and Option 4 — an “all in” approach — would accomplish the market position in one year (estimated first-year cost $475,000). The town’s presenters said the FY‑27 ongoing cost for the police portion of some options was estimated around $132,991 and for fire about $122,970.

Why it matters: Staff said Addison’s last market study completed in 2023 left the town 2–5%…