Page 19 - Keller FY20 Approved Budget

City of Keller Growth

The City of Keller population continues to slowly grow each year as measured by the North Central Texas
Council of Governments. As of January 2019, the City of Keller has an estimated population of 45,090,
which is up 150 people or 0.3 percent from the prior year and 5,463 people or 13.8 percent from the 2010
Census. Approximately $131 million in new construction was added to the tax roll this year and represents
2.5 percent of the total taxable value of the city. Of the new value, $122 million was new residential
construction and $9 million was new commercial construction. The new construction value is an increase
of 1.47 percent from the current year and a decrease of 40.6 percent compared to the record‐setting
2016‐17 Fiscal Year.

Public Safety

The safety of our citizens continues to be one of our top priorities, and it shows. Our police and fire
departments, both of whom continue to be recognized at the state and national levels for their successes,
make up 22.7 percent of the city’s total budget and 46.8 percent of the General Fund budget.

Keller regularly earns a spot among the 50 Safest Cities in Texas as well as the 100 Safest Cities in America.
The Keller Police Department has also recently been awarded the highest national accreditation possible
for a second time: the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ Gold Standard
Accreditation with Excellence. Keller PD was the first agency in Texas to be both nationally and state
accredited, and NETCOM 911 followed suit last year in becoming the first regional dispatch center in Texas
to earn national accreditation from CALEA. In FY 2019‐20, the city is adding a police officer to the budget
based upon anticipated funding from the Town of Westlake as part of the regional police services
agreement. However, the funding is still being considered by Westlake and if not approved, the officer
position will remain vacant for FY 2019‐20 and reconsidered for FY 2020‐21. The city is also adding a
dispatcher with approximately two‐thirds of the dispatcher costs will be funded by Southlake and
Colleyville as part of the regional dispatch partnership. Because of the regional partnerships, the net
impact of the two positions to Keller’s budget is $19,923 instead of $162,254.

During FY 2017‐18, the Keller Police Department began partnering with the Keller Center for Advanced
Learning to allow students interested in public safety to be considered for part‐time positions upon
graduation. This is a recruiting and hiring initiative that we hope will engage students who wish to pursue
careers as first responders and will be continued during FY 2019‐20. Additionally, Keller PD continues to
invest in equipment and in its headquarters on Rufe Snow Drive. In FY 2019‐20, the Keller Police
Department will upgrade their Computer‐Aided Dispatch and automated Records Management System
for $500,000 to meet new standards required at the federal level, purchase a SWAT/crime scene van,
replace motorcycles and patrol vehicles, and purchase new equipment.

The Keller Police Department is also on the cutting edge of regionalization, finding cost savings and
improved service through working with our surrounding communities. By regionalizing 911 dispatch as
well as jail and animal services with our area partner cities, the total cost of police services will be offset
by $3.8 million in annual revenue this year.

In 2016, the Keller Fire Department became the seventh fire department in the state and the first in
Tarrant County to earn status as a Recognized Best Practices Fire Department by the Texas Fire Chiefs
Association. The EMS capability of the department has also recently been recognized, receiving the
American Heart Association’s 2019 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus recognition for success in treating

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