Del Rio · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Del Rio public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Firefighter specialized certification pay
Firefighters want monthly pay for specialized certifications like fire inspector, investigator, and plans examiner — work they say the state requires them to do already. The city wants to understand what's legally required before offering a counter.
City budget constraints and fund balance limits
The city walked the union through its finances: a $31.9 million general fund where fire takes about a fifth, and a $16.2 million fund balance where $10 million is legally tied to the second international bridge and can't fund raises.
Firefighter pay and certification compensation
The city and the firefighters union are negotiating pay. The city offered a 2% across-the-board raise costing roughly $75,000-$95,000, but certification pay — a key sticking point — is still being researched and won't be answered until the next meeting.
Solid Waste Rate Increase
Monthly trash collection rates for residents inside city limits will increase to $25.25 to cover operational costs.
Proposed Property Tax Rate and Budget
The council reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 during a public hearing, discussing online tools like the budget explorer to help residents understand city spending.
Voter Participation
The city officially certified election results from May 2 and set a runoff election for mayor between Efrain Valdez and Alvaro Arreola for June 13, 2026. Voters will return to the polls to decide the mayoral seat, while new district and at-large representatives take office.
FY 2026-2027 EDC Budget and Marketing Strategy
The EDC is revamping its upcoming budget to invest more heavily in travel, marketing, and business retention programs to aggressively chase new retail and industry.