Denton reviews 2025–26 draft budget, flags revenue gains and staffing pressures

Staff member (S2) presented the town's proposed 2025–26 budget and led a section-by-section review after software delays delayed distribution to board members.

S2 said ad valorem (property tax) collections are running at about 97% and reported that "we are actually, at current actual at $943,550.09," with a coming-year projection of $987,347. The presentation noted that county offices supply the official projections. On motor-vehicle taxes, S2 said collections exceeded projections by roughly $17,000 and current receipts are about $97,000; she projected $100,000 for next year based on added housing in the corporate limits.

The draft budget includes a $500,000 placeholder under a loan process to fund a remodeling project; S2 said the board could choose to draw from savings instead. Board members discussed prioritizing paving and sidewalk work and the possibility of piggybacking on state contracts to lower costs.

Public-safety equipment purchases and staffing drew focused discussion. S2 reported ordered replacement vehicles for the police department and recommended replacing aging handguns and adding rifle-plate carriers and ammunition line items. On staffing, S2 told the board county pay increases make hiring harder: "their base rate for the police officer with no experience is going to $52,300," while Denton's current entry rate is roughly $44,750. S2 outlined options including a July 1 COLA and targeted developmental-pay increases and said bringing police pay in line could require a double-digit adjustment when holiday pay is included.

The board approved the meeting agenda early in the session after a motion and voice vote.