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Northlake presents preliminary FY25 budget; council hears proposal to raise police pay ranges to boost recruitment
Summary
Town staff presented preliminary FY25 projections showing roughly $8.8M in property tax revenue, $3.7M in sales tax and a $321,000 gap for new service requests; council discussed a proposal to raise police base pay and step spacing to improve retention and recruitment.
The Northlake Town Council received a preliminary FY25 budget briefing July 25 that showed property-tax revenue currently programmed at about $8.8 million, sales-tax projections near $3.7 million and utility revenue projections of roughly $19.2 million combined for water and sewer. Staff said taxable values had risen about 18% year over year and that the town is awaiting final county numbers before setting a tax rate.
The presentation outlined three rate benchmarks used in local budgeting: a no-new-revenue rate (about 0.294), the town’s current rate (about 0.295) and a de minimis option near $0.30. Staff said preliminary revenue projections exceed maintenance-service needs but that about $321,000 would be needed to cover all new service requests presented to council.
In a high-profile portion of the briefing, staff and representatives of the North Lake Police Association recommended moving the police pay range upward to improve recruitment and retention. The association’s president, Officer Daniel Martinez, and Patrol Sergeant Doug Williams told the council the association unanimously supported shifting the starting base from about $72,000 to $73,000 and increasing step spacing from 2% to 2.5%. Staff said those changes would raise the top step to roughly the low-$90,000 range and make lateral hires more competitive with neighboring departments.
Council members asked how the adjustments would affect the general fund and whether the town could sustain step increases once officers reach the top step. Staff noted the step system remains complemented by cost-of-living adjustments and promotional opportunities and emphasized ongoing recruitment difficulties in the region.
The budget presentation also reviewed capital projects programmed for FY25, including about $89.7 million in projects led by the Dallas Star Center and associated infrastructure, water and sewer projects and a multi-year CIP. Staff said most large projects are funded through previously issued GO and CO bonds.
What happens next: staff will present a proposed budget on Aug. 1 and hold public hearings on the proposed budget and tax rate later in August; council signaled support for continuing to evaluate the police pay proposal as part of the FY25 process.
