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Manager’s Message Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents

and training that were cut from most departments. A complete list of budget requests approved for inclusion in the Proposed
Budget is shown in the Other Budget Information section; this list indicates all requests that involved restoration of items that
had been cut during FY 2021.

New and Expanded Programs for FY 2022

A primary focus in the coming year will be strengthening the capabilities of our first responders and staff dedicated to public
safety. The pandemic increased our reliance on these resources like never before and showed the importance of improving our
ability to respond to public health and safety emergencies.

Over the last 10 years, the Fire Department has experienced an approximate 40% increase in emergency incidents while
response unit levels have seen only minimal adjustments due to funding issues. Overall average response times have increased
by 35 seconds over that period. This increase has largely been driven by EMS calls, comprising 80% of all AFD unit responses.
A growing population and community demand for service have contributed to the increased need for additional emergency
medical response capacity. The department has used lightweight response units to address the increasing demand. This effort
has had positive impacts, accounting for an average of 18% of emergency unit responses over the last 3 years. However, this
increased capacity is dependent on daily staffing. During periods of high attrition or periods of high demand such as what was
experienced at the height of the pandemic, lightweight response vehicles are not able to be staffed. The most effective way of
lowering response times and continuing to meet rising EMS demand is adding more rescue units that are staffed full time. The
FY 2022 Proposed Budget includes the addition of 39 positions in the Fire Department to convert the light response teams to
full squad status. It also includes two new positions to enhance public health services, three new positions for Battalion 3, and
three new positions to create a third squad to reduce emergency response times. Heavy apparatus replacement funding of
$2.59 million is also provided in FY 2022, along with funding from the ATF for the second year of a three-year program to replace
bunker equipment. Including the restoration of cuts made in FY 2021, a total of $7.36 million is proposed in additional resources
for the Fire Department in the coming year, all of which is funded with resources available from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Significant resources will also be added in the Police Department for FY 2022. A new Behavioral Health Law Enforcement Unit
will include $1.5 million in new funding and nine new positions. Eleven other positions will also be added to the department,
including a Police Chaplain, three Investigative Sergeants, a DEA Task Force Officer, one position to expand accreditation and
policy analysis services, four Geographic CID Detectives, and one part-time office assistant position converted to full-time status
at the Training Center. One-time funding of $750,000 will be provided to expand the facilities at Ott Cribbs and the California
Lane garage. Including the restoration of cuts made in the prior year, a total of $3.94 million will be added to the department.
Of this total, $2.64 million (all new spending except the Behavioral Health Unit) is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.

In addition to the resources added to restore the cuts made during FY 2021, the other departments in the General Fund will
receive increased funding for the following items:

 Asset Management: $2.5 million in one-time funding for facility maintenance, and $111,451 to add two positions in
Facility Services
 Audit: $13,000 to convert one position from Staff Auditor to Internal Auditor, and convert one position from Internal
Auditor to Senior Internal Auditor
 Business Diversity: This new division will receive $20,000 in start-up costs to initiate its administrative functions
 City Attorney’s Office: $124,035 for a new Senior Attorney for Economic Development
 Communication and Legislative Affairs: One new Outreach Communication Coordinator position ($90,974), three new
positions at the Action Center ($156,492), Citibot Community Engagement Program ($24,000), and a new
Communication Coordinator position
 Code Compliance: $81,354 for the Animal Services Access Control System
 Court: $50,000 for docket software maintenance increases, and $6,424 for replacement scanners
 Finance: $97,919 for two new positions (offset by reductions in contracted services) in the Accounts Payable program,
and $264,302 for two new positions in the Financial Sustainability program

FY 2022 Adopted Budget and Business Plan iv City of Arlington, Texas