On Monday, Aug. 21, the Mesquite City Council unanimously approved the City’s annual budget for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year.
The budget includes funding for additional police officers, a new fire station, staffing and equipment to operate the fire station, a new Behavioral Health Division and additional funding for roadway and alley maintenance. The budget will require an increase in the tax rate of $0.03186 per $100 ad valorem value.
“This budget is about the future of Mesquite,” said Mayor Daniel Alemán. “We are a growing community and an aging community. We need staffing to address the growth and funding for repairs to aging infrastructure. A new fire station and the staffing needed to operate it will ensure that residents in our new housing developments will have the same response times that residents in established parts of the community count on every day.”
Fire Station No. 8 will be located in the Trinity Pointe area of Mesquite in Kaufman County. Currently more than 4,000 homes are planned in this area with retail and commercial development already underway. The new station is scheduled to open in 2025, but personnel must be hired in the current budget cycle.
The Behavioral Health Division will oversee the City’s Community Care Team, which is currently funded by a grant through Dallas County. The Division will also include a coordinator position to assist with homelessness in the community.
Major 2024 Budget initiatives at a glance:
- 4 additional Police Officer positions
- 14 additional Fire Fighter positions for Station No. 8
- New Behavioral Health Division with increased services for homeless persons
- $1,237,000 in new funding for roadway and alley reconstruction
- Competitive pay for all public safety and general government positions
State law requires voter approval of the tax rate increase due to the additional revenue exceeding the tax cap of 3.5 percent. The election will be held on Nov. 7, 2023.
More information about the budget and city finances can be found at www.cityofmesquite.com/Budget.