Rio Grande City moves funds to boost police retention and authorizes several budget amendments and grants
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Summary
The commission approved a targeted $3,000 annual retention adjustment for sworn law-enforcement officers (funded by eliminating two vacant patrol positions) and passed budget amendments to recognize TWDB water grants and other re‑allocations; the council also approved a $290,000 Operation Stone Garden grant application for overtime and border security.
At its Feb. 27 meeting the Rio Grande City Commission approved a package of personnel and budget measures aimed at staffing and program funding.
The commission voted to eliminate two currently vacant patrol-officer positions and use those budgeted salaries to provide a $3,000 annual targeted retention salary adjustment to sworn law‑enforcement officers (the resolution as presented excluded the police chief). Commissioners discussed whether the chief should be included; staff said the chief’s salary will be reviewed later. Chief Jose Solis and the finance director described the action as an effort to retain officers amid high turnover and recent departures to federal agencies.
Separately, the commission approved a resolution to submit an application for the Operation Stone Garden program; Chief Solis said an approved application would secure about $290,000 to reimburse overtime and border-security expenses.
Finance Director Leo Cantu presented a budget amendment to recognize a Texas Water Development Board loan/grant award for a water‑meter swap project (a 70/30 loan/grant). Commissioners approved the amendment by roll call; staff said the amendment is budget‑neutral because the loan and grant cover the expense. Commissioners also approved other reallocations described by staff to align earlier administrative budget lines with specific departments (library, animal control, public works) and approved a separate, limited budget amendment to cover a municipal unemployment settlement and policy‑services costs.
Commissioners said they want improved prior notice on large reallocations but approved the items to keep projects moving. Staff will provide follow-up budgets and audits as requested.