Page 18 - CityofArlingtonFY26AdoptedBudget

Business Plan

The Finance Department provides support and information to assist the City Manager
and the Mayor and City Council in management decision-making. The department
facilitates the development and tracking of the City’s business plan and performance-based
budget and acts as a strategic partner with departments to provide financial expertise and
guidance with City-wide impact. The department is also responsible for preparing the City’s
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, processing payments to City vendors, preparing
City payroll, procuring goods and services, monitoring consolidated tax collection efforts,
and directing the City’s cash and debt portfolio management activities. Divisions in the
department include Administration, Accounting, Payroll/Payables, Purchasing, Treasury
Management, and the Office of Management and Budget. The Office of Management and
Budget has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the past 39 years.
Under the department, Arlington was the third Municipality to be awarded five of the State Controller’s Transparency Stars; a
sixth star was added to the program in 2024. In 2025, Arlington was recognized as a Transparency Trailblazer, an award
honoring local governments that have achieved all possible Transparency Stars, fewer than 20 local governments have reached
the pinnacle of the Transparency Stars program.

Fleet Services manages the City’s entire vehicle fleet, overseeing preventative and unplanned maintenance, fuel procurement,
and vehicle purchasing. The division ensures that all City departments have safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation and
equipment to support their operations.

The Arlington Fire Department (AFD) consists of Operations Division, Fire Prevention Inspections/Explosive Ordinance
Disposal Services, Medical Operations/Public Health, Fire Training, Logistics, the Office of Emergency Management, 9-1-1
Dispatch/Public Safety Communication Services, Office of Special Events, Special Operations, and Business Services. The
Arlington Fire Department’s mission is to meet and exceed our community's needs and expectations by providing high quality
emergency response, life safety, and community support services.

AFD, Tarrant County College, and the Arlington Independent School
District (AISD) continue to collaborate providing a two-year college
credit program for high school students who wish to pursue a career as
a Firefighter/Emergency Medican Technician (EMT). The program
allows students to graduate with a certifiable status in Basic Fire
Suppression from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP)
and a National Registry EMT certification, with college credits and
increased job opportunity potential. This initiative serves as a model for
additional AISD vocational credit career programs, as well as other
programs across the United States. For the 2025-2026 school year,
AISD will continue funding for a dedicated Fire Academy Officer to coordinate the program. To date, AISD Fire Academy has
completed 13 total classes and 13 alumni have been hired by AFD.

In FY 2025 and into FY 2026, the Arlington Fire Department is actively engaged in strategic planning to ensure operational
readiness for the future. This includes a comprehensive study focused on potential development of additional fire stations over
the next 5, 10, and 15 years. Renovations to Station 8 are currently underway, with a scheduled reopening in 2026. The
department is also advancing its staffing model, implementing four-person crews supported by the graduation of Basic Training
School (BTS) classes 44 and 45 in 2025, and the planned recruitment of BTS 46 later that same year. These initiatives align
with the department’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for emergency services and achieving compliance with
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standards.

The Arlington Fire Department is prioritizing service delivery, operational efficiency, and responder safety through the strategic
use of grant-funded traffic attenuators. Community risk reduction efforts are also being strengthened with the installation of fire
alarm assistance systems to increase public awareness and safety.

FY 2026 Proposed Budget and Business Plan 12 City of Arlington, Texas