Harlingen commissioners narrowly passed a policy calling on city officials to consider cost-of-living and merit raises for about 400 City Hall employees, subject to annual appropriation. The city's new $72 million general fund budget left no room for raises this year, so any increases could come after next year's budget talks.
The debate was tense. Mayor Norma Sepulveda and Commissioners Delia Cavazos-Gamez and Frank Morales exchanged words, some of them personal. Sepulveda said employees deserve a commitment that the commission will act on the results of a study aimed at setting salaries at market rates. She said a change in the tax rate could be considered to support that.
On the first vote, the commission deadlocked three to three, and the plan failed. After a closed-session meeting, commissioners voted again. Commissioner Michael Mezmar joined Sepulveda and Commissioners Daniel Lopez and Rene Perez in passing the policy. Morales and Cavazos-Gamez voted against it. Morales said, "So we're asking our employees to wait another year."