Statement from Dallas City Council Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert on Meet and Confer Agreement
"Our police officers and firefighters are the backbone of public safety in Dallas, and I value the dedication and sacrifice they bring to this community every day. The City of Dallas remains firmly committed to providing fair, competitive compensation that supports both the recruitment of new talent and the retention of experienced uniformed employees who keep our residents safe.
Since 2019, we have made substantial progress in raising starting police officer pay through the Meet and Confer agreement positioning Dallas as a leader among our peer cities in entry-level compensation and ensuring pay parity for fire-rescue personnel. Building on that foundation, the City will continue investing in market-based and step pay adjustments that maintain competitiveness, reward advancement through the ranks, and align our pay structure with agreed peer-city benchmarks.
The current Meet and Confer agreement, effective through September 30, 2026, is grounded in a market-based pay philosophy informed by salary surveys of comparable cities and includes both Step Pay and market-based pay components. Even as a new agreement is under development, the FY 2026-27 budget will fully fund these elements so that officers and firefighters continue to see predictable progress in their compensation. Step Pay increases recognize career growth and are applied on an employee's promotional anniversary, while market-based pay adjustments are determined annually through a survey of 17 peer cities, ensuring that our pay remains competitive in a dynamic labor market.
The budget further strengthens starting police officer pay through a five-county regional comparison that includes not only base pay but also other compensation. This resulted in a 7.7 percent increase in starting pay in FY 2025-26 and makes Dallas more competitive across the region. In addition, the City is 100% in compliance with Proposition U on contributions to the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System (DPFPS).
Together, these actions reflect our unwavering commitment to supporting the men and women who protect and serve our city."
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