The Dallas HERO organization, which advocates for public safety in the city , claims that the starting salary for the police department in the new budget violates the charter — and now they plan to hold city leaders accountable.

The Dallas City Council passed the fiscal year 2025-26 budget early Thursday morning. Council members set the proposed starting salary for police and fire department recruits at $81,232, an increase from the current rate at $75,397 .

Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland previously told the city council that the new rate would rank Dallas 12th out of 24 peer cities in North Texas. However, the city ranks third — after Allen and Frisco — with combined salary and non-pension benefits.

That 12th place ranking is a violation of Proposition U, Damien LeVeck, Dal

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