Rowlett work session integrates police pay boosts and council training into FY26 budget; certified property values reviewed

At the Aug. 4 Rowlett City Council work session, staff confirmed that the FY26 proposed budget already includes multiple police compensation enhancements and $1,500 per councilmember for land-use and planning training; councilmembers indicated no objection to those inclusions. Staff also briefed council on recently certified property values and unusually large values filed under protest.

City Manager David explained the compensation items staff added to the budget model: $120,000 in direct salary enhancements for police officers, an additional $10,000 directed at assistant chiefs, and an enhancement for corporal pay. City staff said Councilmember Gibbs previously added $15,000 during a July session and that an additional $15,000 request had been integrated into the current model at staff’s presumption of council support.

Councilmembers asked how the new police dollars would be allocated; staff said allocations will be made by the police chief with input from command staff and the association. Councilmembers voiced general support, citing recruiting and retention as objectives.

Council training

The budget model also includes $1,500 per councilmember to provide planning-related training (the amount matches training provided to the planning and zoning commission). Councilmembers had no objection to adding the training allocation.

Certified values and values under protest

Staff provided an update on certified property values and budget projections. The July certified values differed from earlier May preliminary estimates primarily because jurisdictions did not include values under protest in May. City staff said combined values under protest reached roughly $500 million this cycle (a sharp increase from prior years) and explained the city used a conservative approach in the budget model by assuming a partial recovery of protested values.

Staff noted the budget projection assumes a conservative recovery (staff modeled receipt of about 25% of protested values for revenue estimates) and that the proposed FY26 budget still shows a modest positive net change and estimated ending reserves near $35 million under current assumptions.

Ending

Council did not change the certified-value assumptions but were briefed on the trends and staff—s conservative approach to values under protest. Staff said they will continue to monitor final tax-roll outcomes and adjust projections before the budget is finalized.