Residents urge Waco council for retiree cost-of-living adjustments and expanded nondiscrimination, shelter and crisis services

Two visitors at the Aug. 19 meeting used the hearing-of-visitors period to press city leaders on policy and budget priorities: a retired city employee asked for a larger cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees, and an advocate urged the council to expand nondiscrimination protections and services for people experiencing homelessness and disability.

Randy Aleman, a City of Waco retiree, said he had served about 40years and that inflation had eroded his purchasing power. "Since 01/31/2015, I've lost about 34.4% in purchasing power," Aleman told the council. He asked council and management to consider approving a 70% retroactive repeating COLA for qualifying retirees if funding permits, and requested consideration for a January 2026 effective date.

Austin Hall, who identified himself as the partner of an LGBTQ person and the son of a McLennan County ARC employee, urged the council to adopt policies to reduce exclusion and support vulnerable residents. He told the council he estimates "Waco has about 200 people experiencing homelessness on a single night" and cited disability and poverty figures from state and local data to argue for policy changes. Hall asked the council to "expand nondiscrimination protections beyond city employees to housing, public programs, and contracts, increase low barrier shelter beds, and prioritize housing first placements, fund a mobile crisis team pairing mental health professionals with first responders, [and] enforce ADA access across all public spaces and our public transit." He said these measures would reduce costs and support workforce participation.

Council members did not take immediate action during the hearing but acknowledged the speakers and indicated staff follow-up would occur as appropriate.