Victoria City manager proposes historic pay program, council posts voter-approval tax rate for later decision

Victoria City Manager Daryl Garza on Tuesday presented a proposed $254 million fiscal year 2026 budget and recommended the council publish a voter-approval tax rate of 0.482 to help fund a large compensation package, capital projects and one-time purchases.

The proposed spending plan includes a $4.4 million package of recurring and one-time pay increases labeled a “historic pay program,” a roughly $29 million fiscal‑2026 allocation toward a planned $35 million community center, and more than $6 million of public‑safety fleet purchases including police vehicles, ambulances and fire apparatus. Garza told the council the net effect would be an estimated $600,000 increase in general‑fund revenue if the proposed tax rate is adopted later in the process.

The package targets increases for police, fire, public works and other city employees. Garza described adjustments to starting pay and rank progression:…