Votes at a glance: Aransas Pass council adopts budgets and tax rate; approves personnel change, contracts and event closure

The Aransas Pass City Council adopted the city’s fiscal-year spending plan and related measures and approved a package of routine contracts and event permits at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Key votes taken by the council included adoption of the city operating budget and the related tax rate, formal resolutions adopting special-district budgets, approval of personnel-policy changes, routine contract renewals and several administrative items.

The council adopted the city operating budget for fiscal year 2025–2026, which staff described in the meeting as roughly $29,100,000 and which includes a cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) of 11% for exempt employees and 2.5% for nonexempt employees, funding for two new positions (municipal court and public works), and absorption of an increase in employee health‑insurance costs. City staff said the general fund will show a projected deficit of approximately $49,699 for the year and a fund-balance level slightly under the council’s 40% policy goal.

The council adopted an ad valorem tax rate of 0.733163 per $100 valuation for tax year 2025; staff said that figure represents a 2.46% increase compared with the no-new-revenue rate but remains below the voter‑approved tax ceiling. A roll‑call vote recorded “yes” votes for Mayor Pro Tem Randy Haskins, Council member Ruth Camarillo Smith, Council member Elise Chacon and Council member Luanna Martin; the ordinance passed.

Resolutions were approved adopting the Aransas Pass Municipal Development District budget (staff summarized capital outlay, building maintenance, bond principal and a planned transfer to support Civic Center operations) and the Aransas Pass Crime Control and Prevention District budget (staff described minor line-item shifts, including increased patrol funding). Staff reported projected ending fund balances for those districts.

On personnel policy, the council amended the Aransas Pass personnel policy manual (chapter 27, paid time off/personal leave) to increase paid personal leave from three days to five days for city employees; council members voted to adopt the ordinance.

The council also approved routine contract renewals and amendments that staff said were previously budgeted: a one‑year renewal with Gulf Coast Geographic Services LLC for GIS services (amount not to exceed $18,360), an amendment to Task Order 1 with HDR Engineering for on‑call engineering services (amount not to exceed $73,951) and an amendment to Task Order 2 with HDR Engineering for construction observation services (amount not to exceed $20,000.40).

The council approved the temporary closure of Celia Street for the 2025 National Night Out event on Oct. 7, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Separately, the council un‑tabled and then approved a renewal of a conditional‑use permit allowing a recreational vehicle to remain on specified lots during construction of a single‑family dwelling; the renewal was granted for six months, with the applicant eligible to return to request additional six‑month renewals and with the requirement to show progress on the project when seeking further extensions.

After an executive session, the council approved a settlement agreement in the amount of $60,000 in City of Aransas Pass v. Rockport Terminals LLC.

Votes listed above reflect actions recorded in the meeting minutes and roll calls where staff recorded them; movers and seconders are not always identified in the public transcript.

Voting outcomes and ordinance/resolution subjects are recorded in the council minutes and reflected in this summary for public notice.