[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6565875,"mediaKeyId","3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec","parentId",3212609,"title","Victoria city subcommittee proposes roughly $3.6 million pay program to address police, fire and public works shortages","audioSeconds",1826,"startMs",4925000,"endMs",6751000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec&start=4925&end=6751","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec/thumbnail_4925000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565875/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Victoria-city-subcommittee-proposes-roughly-36-million-pay-program-to-address-police-fire-and-public-works-shortages","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565875-bc675b8cd00f1d959291ec097ea7866b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157652&Signature=N24YwgLPY-exa~YrkSuPEErIHbIXZGxU68vfMmxQaamJH16x47Q6sC1gly0zAP4XMkvjIL5GBm3708FrY8iYoZz27CGu6S3ACe6Q2o4GAcfPzHRsR5XEcPtLDTd0wOGSiLskk20cy2a8v2u~zg3SerJYzF09KxMgekGRKB8w4Oe1dZBNyEjo3DjHOJT43IpDXZvwL9ucpmSjS3HpXOFNhdMKvdgeCZMJ2Uv6yphV0ewcb9tNarBIJcP7Yzu-nV0wN4rE2uJh-NxINnFPuoo3cDcpwubf7BX4hZNajfSvQ6BaoNO3DJYMCG9X7toUZJ73VG6VKltcnVE19FVsVVdZYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T12:01:29Z","article","The City of Victoria’s compensation and benefits subcommittee presented a recommended pay program on the council’s May meeting that it said would cost roughly $3.6 million and would take effect Oct. 1 if adopted in the fiscal year 2026 budget.

The subcommittee, made up of three city council members and city staff, recommended targeted market adjustments and restructured step progressions primarily for the police department, the fire department and public works. The plan also includes a one-time stipend for some employees who would not receive an annual market increase and a proposal to spread that stipend in two $500 payments (Oct. 1 and March 1).

Why it matters: City leaders said the adjustments respond to persistent staffing shortages and turnover, particularly in police, fire and utilities. The presenters said pay misalignment was the most common reason cited in employee exit interviews. The committee framed the recommendation as a near-term, data-driven investment intended to improve recruitment and retention while remaining financially sustainable.

The recommendation in brief: police would receive a structured six-step pay track and increases to starting and senior pay (the presentation estimated a roughly $1.4 million cost and about 28 employees impacted); fire would receive a separate six-step firefighter track and an EMS-specific track (estimated $1.3 million cost, ~23 employees affected); public works would receive clarified progression paths and focused increases where vacancy is highest (about $400,000, ~25 employees); solid waste driver pay would increase from about $16/hour to $19/hour to better compete with private haulers (estimated $124,000); and the general population adjustments would affect 243 positions to varying degrees.

Details and implementation: The committee recommended that most changes be implemented Oct. 1 as part of the FY2026 budget. For employees already in the city’s step program, future step increases would occur after each employee’s work anniversary in the new structure, and promotions would create a new anniversary for the promoted position. For employees who were not recommended for an annual pay increase under the market formula, the committee proposed a $1,000 stipend (split $500 on Oct. 1 and $500 on March 1) for 42 employees, including employees funded by grants or whose calculated increase would have been less than $500.

Funding assumptions: The presenters outlined several funding assumptions and one-time and recurring sources they expect to rely on if council proceeds: an unallocated recurring balance of about $1.1 million left from FY2025; a planned increase in ambulance-billing revenue (the presentation cited $171,000); a $225,000 shift of retiree medical liability from the self-insurance fund to the OPEB trust; $300,000 from a landfill post-closure fund; and a potential $400,000 relief from establishing a stormwater utility (the stormwater utility would require a separate council decision). Presenters noted these are assumptions, not final commitments, and said the program must be finalized through the budget process.

Council and staff reaction: Council members who served on the subcommittee described the work as data-driven and collaborative. One councilmember said, \"I think we're headed finally in the right direction after years of neglect.\" Staff emphasized the plan prioritizes the departments with the most severe recruitment and retention problems and that the program was developed to avoid cutting employee benefits.

Next steps: The recommendation is an informational update; no council action was taken at the meeting. Staff and the subcommittee said they will continue to refine cost assumptions and present the proposal as part of the FY2026 budget for formal consideration this summer.

Ending note: City staff and the subcommittee framed the proposal as the beginning of a multi-year effort rather than a one-time correction; they recommended continued market analysis and follow-up steps for FY2027 to address positions not fully remedied in this round.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Victoria City Council Meeting - 5/6/25","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Victoria’s compensation and benefits subcommittee presented a recommended pay program on the council’s May meeting that it said would cost roughly $3.6 million and would take effect Oct. 1 if adopted in the fiscal year 2026 budget.","taxTitle","Victoria City, Victoria County, Texas","taxId",9266,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6565862,"Preservation groups, city and developers reach agreement to save Anchor Lumberyard building",215,2592000,2807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec&start=2592&end=2807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec/thumbnail_2592000.jpg","/articles/6565862/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Preservation-groups-city-and-developers-reach-agreement-to-save-Anchor-Lumberyard-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565862-556b32f61d6de1bd0eb4307ac95da042/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157652&Signature=GBCxsSSYch3sUhudZmWq~Y5TdL-U6h7MoXgZqOku-xAdaDQVWXIBsJT5q4FhfkzLNbEZlJYDCnoP0GLrf2dQ~D5rd0dTzo8Dr6jfhKOvARmlmlT6iGhBvAK3weWDPQ2sfL8SzZv~ELBWQegSF9f9z5zEucZwS5bGUvUqRwPLuxjMfgMNcBgkKFbvvGQWdF2xdMBn7Levt6gpyHo8FW0bFRrITxlcHedfLug7ovgogTPhzmWZ6dgHoLAohVKEVUhXZ3-BhP70S5bq1yTgENpbDYrJ0ivoEDsK8bxIpEZcPjX~ZBgtWmvur7fXg8FK4SW2hj~Rfcw~LCLfRxFKN3ERFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers from Victoria Preservation and the Victoria County Historical Commission told the council during citizens communications that the long-threatened Anchor Lumberyard building has been preserved while new development proceeded on the site.

James Wearden of Victoria Preservation said the group worked with city staff and the developer to save the building after the property sale to a Dollar General developer put the site at risk. \"We were able to save that building,\" Wearden said, and he noted the project also yielded new grocery options on the south side.

John Griffin, a member of the Victoria County Historical Commission, said the saved structure is a Kai Lefflin design and praised the combination of private investment and public support: \"We've saved a beautiful architectural specimen ... it is now a project everyone in this community can be proud of.\" Council members and staff credited the development director and the building official by name for helping negotiate the preservation outcome.

What was said and why it matters: Preservation advocates said the saved structure maintains a sense of place and that its repurposing for a commercial use was preferable to demolition. Council and staff involvement, they said, helped enable an outcome in which the developer built a DG Market and the historic building is slated for restoration and private reuse.

Ending: Advocates urged the council to keep preservation in mind for future projects and said interest exists from outside investors for other historic adaptive-reuse projects in Victoria.","Victoria Preservation and city staff said they reached an agreement that allowed the historic Anchor Lumberyard (a Kai Lefflin structure) to be saved while the site moves forward with a Dollar General market and other redevelopment on the south side of Victoria.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6565866,"Council issues public warning after reports of rabid bats in Eagle Creek area",214,1971000,2185000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec&start=1971&end=2185","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec/thumbnail_1971000.jpg","/articles/6565866/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Council-issues-public-warning-after-reports-of-rabid-bats-in-Eagle-Creek-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565866-3d9eb3ae5f34076cd2543e3572cd8bd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157652&Signature=GjQQ9Y9XaeDX10vKa85bfmByiDwDmdpvWs~nsTG7gmkFtUu~KjexL6sf1YAWsigB~Dkec1IEIiHLjn~t5KfYcmG07xmR4PjAKIfJYgxSTfRmc0LCq5IpnfgWoTSVg02h-sZ5ejXASInUK3xOxeB27do9kSwYESNNcsIKowJQhBRK8iWUgH2n4hteOr9PLC2VWfzWK4-ZraET6Xov-hcc2mFF~f4-u3dTctPz9~M98zxxU6l77dK6HkzLJZti00s4F-SdexTFUMkYqE9yBz~IJWVo-CkOVKrl7rGaIXvJaXBmhIjJWofZsgoTErWifauEh9Z1oBl0bxyRe-Nuo9u17g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilwoman Scott used her items-from-council time to warn residents that rabid bats have been observed in and near the Eagle Creek subdivision and to encourage residents to avoid contact with wildlife.

Scott said she had become aware of at least two instances in which people had been in contact with bats that later tested positive for rabies, and she urged residents: \"If you see an animal on the ground, don't go investigate it. Contact animal control, but just be aware not to have contact yourself.\" She described Eagle Creek as a residential subdivision on the city’s east side and asked residents in adjacent neighborhoods to be vigilant.

A Victoria County public-health/zoonosis official who identified himself to council also addressed the chamber, noting that Texas is home to many bat species and that rabies is a known risk. He said the county had recently identified positive rabies cases among bats and skunks and reiterated the public-health rule: \"By state law, your cats and dogs and parrots 4 months of age or older have to be vaccinated for rabies.\" He also noted typical warning signs (odd daytime behavior, staggering) and said that any bat seen on the ground should not be handled.

What residents should do: The public-health representative told council members to contact animal control or public health if they encounter suspicious wildlife. If a person or pet potentially has contact with a bat, medical and veterinary follow-up—such as rabies prophylaxis for people or post-exposure protocols for animals—may be required.

Ending: Council asked the public to report unusual wildlife behavior and to avoid direct contact. City and county public-health officials said they are available to provide more information and guidance to residents.","Councilwoman Scott warned residents about at least two recent contacts with rabid bats in the Eagle Creek subdivision. A county public-health/zoonosis official urged residents to avoid wildlife contact and reminded owners that pets four months and older must be vaccinated for rabies under state law.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6565871,"Votes at a glance: city approves fire-fee change, fleet and facility purchases and consent items",52,3281000,3333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec&start=3281&end=3333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212609-bcf228b4f65ea41588425b45b765f3ec/thumbnail_3281000.jpg","/articles/6565871/Victoria-City/Victoria-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-city-approves-fire-fee-change-fleet-and-facility-purchases-and-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565871-654d579b173a4fdd62ee843df99acc1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157652&Signature=hoUHeV8BH2p~eWlw~NMDYeTLdbNjIFXyOK5vy5YzXqCGNBLB7WijVakWcYz9AVXRIBZNBJOFd6Xo70gp1LM7Xk5XOYbku8kZMCy0p55EzWX36lvtIFKvqw~TwVwV7nOuYJ64EMPsb9m5aMGbfjJLbBEu3fiC3~QXnBZSb8C-502JiNmxet1-YM4s36HhmwsMPRLTihHYw9wOKFuaVD~SGEFLKiJodmEqijrXkcsF07kUi6m8Oy8HmIKxtk1L023IRrfPkjEAdXyEw~7ORs9XqI35bRurdHZyqZRFxcKrDy02hdopeOVWa7upnzWP4mnRaokm9NtOvXAb8TXVvcOy0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Victoria City Council approved a set of routine and purchasing items during the May meeting, including a first-reading ordinance amending fire department fees, multiple consent agenda resolutions, and two fleet purchases intended to replace aging solid waste vehicles.

Key outcomes (votes taken on the floor)

- Ordinance (first reading): Chapter 24 (fire department fees). Council voted to revert a recently changed fee for the on-site crowd manager back to its original rate (the presentation said the fee had been adjusted to $75 per hour and would be reverted). Motion to approve passed on voice vote.

- Consent agenda (adopted): Minutes (regular meeting 04/15/2025); resolution to purchase a 2024 Ford F550 Skeeter flatbed brush truck from Siddons Martin Emergency Group LLC ($160,348); contract extension with AGCM Inc. for owner’s representation on the public safety headquarters project (terms not specified in the meeting summary); professional services agreement with Armco Industries for roofing and waterproofing consulting related to the Victoria Public Library roof ($58,000); and purchase of furniture for the public safety headquarters from Spencer and Company (not to exceed $799,742). The consent agenda was adopted by voice vote.

- Fleet purchases (separate resolutions): Purchase of one Freightliner M2106 plus rear-load commercial 25-yard truck from Heil Powertrack commercial via TIPS contract #230802 ($266,887) was approved. Purchase of three 2026 Max LR64 automated collection trucks with Heil 28-yard Python bodies from Vanguard Truck Center via TIPS contract #240901 ($1,406,947.26) was approved.

What the council said: Staff noted the need to place purchase orders now to secure production slots and estimated delivery windows: automated trucks 8–10 months and a rear-loader 7–9 months if ordered now, with delivery and payment to occur after Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year budget is in effect. Council approved placing purchase orders to lock production timelines; payment would follow budget approval.

Votes and attendance: The meeting proceeded by voice vote. The council called the roll at the start of the meeting and seven members were present during votes; no voices were recorded as opposed to the motions that passed.

Ending: These approvals are intended to replace older equipment and keep city services operating; purchases and the ordinance change will be implemented through the usual procurement and budget processes.","The Victoria City Council approved an ordinance change to revert a fire crowd-manager fee, adopted its consent agenda including equipment and services, and approved two waste-collection truck purchases. All items were approved on voice votes during the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Victoria city subcommittee proposes roughly $3.6 million pay program to address police, fire and public works shortages

Preservation groups, city and developers reach agreement to save Anchor Lumberyard building

Council issues public warning after reports of rabid bats in Eagle Creek area

Votes at a glance: city approves fire-fee change, fleet and facility purchases and consent items