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Abilene council approves emergency ordinance preserving firefighters’ pay
Summary
The Abilene City Council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance to keep current firefighter base, certification and specialized pay in effect through Sept. 30, 2026 (or until a new meet-and-confer agreement replaces it), avoiding a pay gap while negotiations continue.
The Abilene City Council voted unanimously at a special 1:00 p.m. meeting to approve an emergency ordinance preserving the current base pay and all ancillary pay for city firefighters so there is no interruption in compensation while meet-and-confer negotiations continue.
City Manager Emily Crawford told the council the ordinance would preserve "the existing current base pay and all specialized pay" as listed in the 2023 meet-and-confer agreement "through 09/30/2026, or until replaced by a new meet and confer agreement." She explained the city charter allows the council to adopt the measure in one reading if all members vote in the affirmative.
The ordinance was introduced as an emergency measure to avoid any gap in pay while the city and the Abilene Professional Firemen's Association work toward a longer-term resolution. Chief Candy Flores thanked the council for the action and said the step will help "allow time for relationships to heal" so both sides can return to the negotiating table.
During discussion, council members emphasized that the ordinance was not a pay cut or a freeze but an effort to protect the pay agreed to in 2023 for the remainder of the fiscal year. One council member said the council should discuss longer-term pay formulas during the next budget process and reiterated a commitment to minimum staffing and promotion-list continuity.
After the public hearing — where residents and firefighters urged the council to protect firefighters' pay and staffing — Councilman Beard moved to approve the ordinance as an emergency ordinance to preserve firefighters' salaries; the measure was seconded by Councilman Price. The clerk reported "All yeses" and the mayor declared the motion carried. The council adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
The emergency ordinance preserves existing salary structures until a replacement agreement is reached or until Sept. 30, 2026; council members said negotiations will continue and further budget discussion of pay formulas may occur during the regular budget process.
