Anthony trustees raise personal leave accrual caps for civilian staff and certified officers

The Anthony Board of Trustees voted to amend the City of Anthony Employee Handbook to raise maximum accrued personal-leave caps for civilian employees and certified law enforcement personnel.

Trustee Fernando G. Herrera moved to approve changes to Sections 6.1(4) and 6.1(17) of the handbook; MPT Jose G. Garcia Jr. seconded and the motion passed (recorded as Vote (3-0-1)). Mayor Gabriel I. Holguin presented the proposed amendments, saying the changes were intended to address staffing shortages, improve recruitment and retention, modernize accrual limits and prevent employees from forfeiting earned leave because of operational demands.

Under the approved amendment, the accrual cap for civilian (noncertified) employees increases from 160 hours to 240 hours while the payout cap remains at 160 hours. For certified law enforcement personnel the accrual cap increases from 160 hours to 480 hours and the payout cap increases from 160 hours to 240 hours.

Board members discussed balancing greater flexibility for employees with fiscal responsibility. The meeting minutes record general discussion of budgetary impacts and staffing levels; the board did not specify a funding source at the meeting. Mayor Holguin noted historically low staffing levels in the Anthony Police Department as part of the rationale for the law-enforcement-specific changes.

The amendment to the employee handbook was adopted at the special meeting following the board's return to open session; the mayor stated for the record that no action had been taken during the preceding executive session. The board did not provide an effective date for the handbook changes in the meeting record; the minutes list the handbook as adopted November 15, 2023, and show the amendment passage on May 21, 2026.