Public safety budgets account for half of the City’s general fund

City of Ft. Worth
Published on September 26, 2022

Most Fort Worth residents may never need help from police officers or firefighters, but having a well-equipped, well-trained workforce ready to respond is crucial in fostering a safe community.

The costs to fund public safety departments and programs represent nearly 54% of the City’s general fund. The majority of the costs can be traced to both departments’ human capital – salaries and benefits represent the largest segments.

Fort Worth Police

The Fort Worth Police Department’s share of the proposed 2023 budget is $289.5 million (32.6% of the general fund). If approved, additional patrol officers would join the ranks to decrease emergency response times and boost the department’s visibility at a cost of $1.8 million. Added resources would be funded for the Crimes Against Children unit and Homeless Outreach Program Enforcement and also seven additional 911 call-takers to reduce wait times.

For Police, the bulk of the proposed budget funds salaries and benefits, at $263.8 million; while general operations and maintenance accounts for most of the rest at $34.3 million.

Fort Worth Fire

The Fort Worth Fire Department’s share of the proposed budget is $192 million (21.1% of the general fund). The Fire Department’s mission to provide education, fire prevention initiatives and emergency response. It operates 45 fire stations and employs more than 900 employees in its 345-square-mile service area. The department responds to more than 110,000 calls each year, with more than half related to Emergency Medical Services.

Major Fire initiatives include opening a new fire station – Station 45 at 1901 Quail Grove Drive – to provide fire protection to the fast-growing far northwest part of the city near U.S. 287 and I-35. To serve that area, the proposed budget includes $1.18 million to add a second engine company of 14 firefighters to provide faster response times and better coverage.

The majority of the Fire Department’s proposed budget is salaries and befits at $173 million, with the rest going toward operating and maintaining the department’s assets at $19 million.