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Eagle Pass approves FY 2025–26 budget, ratifies tax rate and authorizes staff pay increases
Summary
The City Council adopted the FY 2025–26 budget, ratified a tax rate of 0.480052 per $100 of value (same rate as prior year) and approved a 3.5% across‑the‑board pay increase included in the budget. Council discussed personnel items including an unfilled assistant city manager position and changes to the city's pay plan.
The Eagle Pass City Council adopted the city’s FY 2025–26 budget, ratified the property tax rate and approved a 3.5% across‑the‑board compensation increase for city employees as part of the adopted budget package.
The adopted tax rate is 0.480052 per $100 of assessed value, split as 0.284257 for maintenance and operations and 0.195795 for interest and sinking (debt service). City staff told the council the tax rate is unchanged from the prior year. The council voted unanimously to adopt the budget and ratify the tax rate.
The budget presentation by finance staff showed a previously projected surplus of $399,237; incorporating the 3.5% across‑the‑board increase reduced the surplus to an estimated $143,000 after proposed transfers. Finance staff and the city manager said the increase was intended to be equitable and to benefit lower‑paid employees proportionally. The approval also preserves previously proposed allocations to outside organizations and funding panels as presented to council.
Council debate focused on personnel and organizational structure. Council members discussed a vacant assistant city manager position that has been in the budget for two years but not filled. One councilmember asked that the job be removed to save money; administration said it would remove the position and circulate an updated budget document if council so directed. Other councilmembers argued the growing workload and upcoming projects — notably the international bridge expansion — supported retaining a second assistant city manager to improve capacity.
On pay policy, the council approved removal of the 14‑step compensation plan and authorized an annual process under which the council will set the percentage base increase; merit‑based increases would be available to directors. The council approved that change in policy; several councilmembers abstained from that specific vote. Council directed staff to return in October with any contract amendments for appointed positions (for example, the city attorney) if council wishes those contracts to reflect the new compensation approach.
The meeting record also shows the council discussed the police staffing budget line: an unfilled chief position and related step savings were reflected in the proposed budget until a replacement hire is made. The finance presentation included line items and fund‑level impacts for the general fund, bridge system, utility-related funds, and special revenue funds.
Provenance: The budget, tax‑rate hearing, and associated votes took place on the record during the Sept. 16 meeting. The item included a public hearing on the tax rate, staff presentation of the budget package and a council vote to adopt the budget and ratify the tax rate.
