The FY 2013 budget for the City of Forney will be discussed publicly at the September 4, 2012 City Council meeting at City Hall. One of the items on the proposed budget is a pay raise for City employees, with a larger raise going to the Police and Fire Departments.
The FY 2013 budget for the City of Forney will be discussed publicly at the September 4, 2012 City Council meeting at City Hall. One of the items on the proposed budget is a pay raise for City employees, with a larger raise going to the Police and Fire Departments.
In FY 2010-2011 no raises were given to City employees, and in FY 2011-2012 an across the board cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3% was given to all City workers. The FY 2013 budget proposes a 1% COLA for all City of Forney employees, plus a 3% merit increase for all non-step employees. The FPD sworn officers and FFD firefighters are step-employees, and the FY 2013 budget proposes a 4% raise for those officers and firefighters, in addition to the 1% COLA.
As the population of Forney increases, the calls for service to the Police and Fire Departments increase as well. FPD officers responded to 1,136 calls in July of 2005, 1,648 calls in July of 2011, and 1,786 calls in July of 2012. The FFD responded to 125 calls in July of 2005, 264 calls in July 2011, and 257 calls in July 2012. From January to July 2012, the Police Department responded to 11,188 calls for service. The Fire Department responded to 2,032 calls for service in that same time period. FFD responded to over 2,600 CFS in all of 2011.
Though the FFD relies heavily on volunteer firefighters, they do have a squad of 14 full-time firefighters, plus Chief Rick Townsend. The City is hoping to find money in the FY 2013 budget to hire a Fire Captain to assist in managing the department's responsibilities. The Police Department has 24 sworn officers, including Chief Rick Barnes. FPD was able to hire two additional officers in 2012.
Both the Forney Police Department and Forney Fire Department must compete with surrounding cities to obtain and keep the best personnel available. That means salaries and benefits will need to be competitive to that of other DFW area police and fire departments.
Fortunately for the City of Forney, the sales tax revenue continues to grow as new businesses come into the community. The increase in revenue makes it likely that Forney's bravest and finest will see raises in FY 2013. Those raises, if approved in the budget, will begin on October 1, 2012, the start of the new fiscal year in Forney.
Forney residents urged to prepare a basic Emergency Supply Kit
