Coppell council approves FY26 Crime Control and Prevention District budget, removes CISD reimbursement

Coppell — The Coppell City Council, sitting as the Crime Control and Prevention District board, approved the district’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget on a motion that removed a planned salary reimbursement from the Coppell Independent School District (CISD).

Almond Dawson, presenting the CCPD budget, said, “The total crime control and prevention district revenues are projected to be approximately 5,050,000.00 for the next fiscal year.” She told the board the fund’s primary revenue source is a quarter‑cent sales tax projected at about $4,100,000, with a CISD salary reimbursement shown at $772,115 and interest earnings of $150,000. She said proposed expenditures total about $4,400,000.

The budget matters because the CCPD is a voter‑authorized special revenue fund, governed under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 363, funded by a dedicated sales tax and restricted for crime prevention programs. Dawson noted the district was originally approved by local voters, reauthorized in 2013, expired in April 2023, and was reauthorized again in November 2022 for a 10‑year term.

In an overview of expenditures, Dawson said salary and benefits are budgeted at about $2,200,000 — roughly half of the total — funding 15 positions tied to the school resource officer (SRO) program plus one civilian administrative compliance officer. She reported supplies of about $177,650 and services around $1,900,000; the services line includes payments to the North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTEC) for dispatch, a continuing jail services contract with the city of Grapevine, and a general fund administrative reimbursement tied to the city’s cost allocation study. A transfer for capital replacement — vehicle lifecycle funding — was listed at $153,284.

Council members focused questions on SRO staffing, the planned CISD reimbursement, and one‑time contract items. The police chief said the department was not fully staffed: “No. We’re, technically, we’re 3 shy.” Council members and staff clarified that the FY26 budget assumes funding for SRO positions and includes a projected reimbursement from CISD, but that last year the council chose not to pursue the reimbursement.

Council member John Carroll (listed in the transcript as Carroll) urged continued full support for the SRO program and moved the motion to close the public hearing and approve the budget with the modification that next year’s CISD salary reimbursement be removed. Council member Nevills seconded the motion. The board voted in favor and the motion carried; no public commenters spoke during the CCPD hearing.

Council discussion also touched on prior large‑value purchases. Council members confirmed that the city’s multiyear contract with Axon for body cameras — previously budgeted at about $1.5 million — was budgeted in fiscal year 2025 and carried as encumbrances into current records rather than being newly loaded into FY26. Dawson explained the FY26 ending fund balance projection was presented after accounting for encumbrances and planned transfers; she reported a projected ending fund balance of about $27,200,000 as presented in the fund balance walk forward.

The board’s adoption instructs staff to publish required notices ahead of further budget hearings referenced on the calendar and incorporates the board direction to remove the CISD salary reimbursement from the FY26 CCPD budget.