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City CFO warns new pay step and longevity increases could add millions to El Paso's costs
Summary
El Paso City's CFO told negotiators that adding a 12th pay step and expanded longevity and payout items would be materially expensive—he estimated the 12th step alone could exceed $3 million in impact—leading staff to propose phased implementation and negotiation safeguards.
Robert Cortinas, El Paso City's chief financial officer, told negotiators the proposed 12th step would be "very, very expensive" and estimated that the single addition could have an impact exceeding $3,000,000. He urged phased implementation and explained the city modeled the cost spread over multiple years to reduce immediate budgetary pressure.
Cortinas also outlined other significant cost drivers the city was tracking, saying longevity increases and sick/vacation payouts would add materially to the total. In presenting the contingency-process language, Cortinas emphasized that the proposed adjustment mechanism would apply only in narrow circumstances—state legislative action that materially reduces revenue authority or a failed voter tax rate—and would include disclosure and a 30-day negotiation window before any council action limited to the affected fiscal year.
City negotiators asked the union to send proposed alternative clause language for review; both sides agreed to continue work at the next scheduled meeting.
