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Balcones Heights chiefs plead for staffing after terminations, urge grants to offset costs
Summary
Police and fire chiefs told council the FY2027 budget looks higher because frozen positions are being refilled; police requested one officer citing high call volumes and the fire chief said a FEMA SAFER grant could fund three positions while council asked for documentation after three leadership terminations.
Council members and department chiefs focused extensive discussion on public-safety staffing during Balcones Heights’ budget workshop.
Chief Cavazos (police) said the department looks more expensive this year because previously vacant positions are now filled and dispatch services are included; he told council he is requesting one additional officer, and presented monthly call-volume figures — "on average 1,800 to 2,000 calls that the officers are handling just with 2 officers, on patrol, on a daily basis per shift" — to justify the need and to explain long response times and overtime costs.
Cavazos said a change from 12-hour Panama schedules to overlapping 10-hour shifts cut overtime by about 80%, but filling positions and covering absences still produces overtime. Council members asked for an organizational chart and comparative staffing data; one asked for a new salary study that compares cities by traffic volume as well as population to better assess staffing needs.
On the fire side, Chief Barroquin said the city applied for a FEMA SAFER grant to fund three positions that would be paid 75% by the grant for the first two years and 35% in year three: "It pays 75% of the salaries for the 1st 2 years, and then the 3rd year, it pays 35% of the salaries." He said the application was submitted late September/October and a decision is expected next fiscal year.
Council members pressed for documentation after hearing three fire-captain leadership positions had been terminated before the budget cycle began. One council member said the interim city administrator at the time (the mayor) made those terminations and asked staff to provide records, statistics and an accounting showing the purported savings and any safety impacts.
The workshop produced no immediate personnel action; council directed staff to produce the requested documentation, staffing charts and comparative analysis to inform final budget decisions.
