2025-006 Election Day as Holiday November 15, 2024 Report No. 2025-006
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide a response to a Two-Minute Pitch request to redo a previous Work Session presentation
evaluating the pros and cons of making Election Day a municipal holiday.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On May 16, 2023, Council Member McGee requested a work session to consider making Election
Day a municipal holiday, which received majority support. However, after the work session
presentation, the City Council voted against proceeding with the holiday. On May 17, 2024,
Council Member McGee made a second pitch to revisit the discussion, requesting another work
session to re-evaluate the proposal for adding Election Day as a municipal holiday.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Denton observes 11 holidays,during which city business and facilities are closed,plus
two personal floating holidays,totaling 13 paid holidays for employees each year. If a holiday falls
on a weekend, it is observed on the nearest weekday. Full- and part-time employees receive paid
time off for observed holidays. Non-exempt employees who work on a holiday can either take
equivalent time off during the same week or receive holiday pay along with their worked hours,
potentially resulting in overtime pay.
In August 2023, Human Resources updated a 2021 survey of 136 municipalities on the number of
holidays provided.The findings showed that none of these cities offered Election Day as a holiday.
Human Resources observed no significant shift in organizations, either in the private or public
sector, towards adding the Election Day holiday. The City of Denton remains competitive in
holiday offerings, providing the most holidays among its comparator cities in the metroplex.
Holidays Offered (All Surveyed Cities)
Holidays #of Cities Percentage Holidays Offered (Comparator Cities)
9 12 1 8.8%
10 21 15.4% Holidays #of Cities Percentage
11 33 24.3% 9 5 35.7%
12 28 20.6% 10 3 21.4%
13 22 16.2% 11 4 28.6%
14 11 8.1%
15+ 9 6.6% 12 1 7.1%
Total 136 100.0% 13 1 7.1%
Total 14 100.0%
City Policy#111.03, Absence for Voting, grants
employees "short-term paid leaves of absence when work scheduling would prohibit
participation as a voter in national, state, county, district, and municipal elections."Approval for
November 15, 2024 Report No. 2025-006
absence is "based on the workload of the department and whether or not the employee's work
schedule prohibits voter participation". No concerns have been reported regarding employees'
requests for time off to vote.
The estimated payroll cost for an additional holiday is $571,614. While this expense is budgeted
and would be incurred without a designated observed holiday, the holiday would allow most
employees to receive the wages as a paid day off rather than as productive hours for the City.
Additionally, to cover essential staffing, the City incurs an estimated average of $130,200 in
overtime costs per holiday. Below is the allocation by fund:
Amount
General Fund $78,120 (60%)
Electric Fund $21,678(16.65%)
Water/Wastewater Fund .. $10,286 (7.9%)
Solid Waste Fund $13,671 (10.5%)
Other Funds -' $6,445 (4.95%)
CONCLUSION:
The last holiday additions by the City Council were on January 1, 2022, with Juneteenth,
Veterans Day, and two personal floating holidays. The proposal to make Election Day a
municipal holiday in even-numbered years (on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November)
would require a budget amendment. If Council Member McGee wishes to advance the pitch
beyond an Informal Staff Report, City Staff will present the information to Agenda Committee
with a staff recommendation to route a holiday proposal as a supplemental item through the
FY25/26 budget process.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Council Work Session Presentation, September 19, 2023, ID#23-1403
2. City of Denton Policy 107.02, Holidays
3. City of Denton Policy 111.03, Absence for Voting
STAFF CONTACT:
Megan Gilbreath
Human Resources Director
November 15, 2024 Report No. 2025-006
REOUESTOR:
Council Member Brandon McGee
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Human Resources and Finance
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT:
4 Hours