by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

The Uvalde City council met for over two hours Tuesday night, September 12th considering a number of agenda items including most notably the 2023-

City of Uvalde Finance Director Felix Castillo presented the 2023-2024 Budget to the Mayor and Council Members. the City’s Budget and Tax Rate. The Uvalde City Council voted to approve a budget with revenues totalling  $29,065,336.00. Total budgeted expenses for the 2023-2035 Budget were listed at $28,403,888 leaving the City with a surplus of $661.448.

  According to Castro, he stated the budgeting for salaries would be around $800,000 and the average wage increase for employees is 8.8%.

 “This year we are trying to increase wages for all employees.  When preparing this document there were 11 (job) vacancies that were unfulfilled.” Castro said. 

  As part of the budget discussion at Tuesday nights, September 12th City Council meeting. 

 “This will make us more competitive and attract more and better candidates.” Uvalde City Manager Vince DePiazza.

  DePiazza said the planned salary increases in the budget would be offset by a decrease in Capital Expenses.

  According to Castro the budget for wages will be  increased from the previous year. The planned increase in salaries were primarily applied to the bottom of the pay scale. The City looked at salaries below $15 per hour and with the new budget, he indicated those salaries would be raised to meet that amount. According to Casto, the more money City employees earn, the salary increase decreases. 

 The budget for salaries was raised by 8.8% compared to the previous year’s budget. 

                                                                                           City of Uvalde’s budgeted allocations to community agencies

El Progreso Memorial Library                                                                                        $122,000

Community Heath Development Inc.                                                                       $65,000

Uvalde Nutrition Program                                                                                             $15,000

Uvalde Humane Society -Briscoe Animal Resource Center or BARC            $14,000

Uvalde Food Pantry                                                                                                           $6,500

Green Thumb Garden Club                                                                                             $5,500

Herby Ham Activity Center                                                                                             $2,500

                                                                                                                   2023-2024 Tax Rate approved at $0.54

                                                                                                                                        Agenda items tabled

  Two agenda items that were discussed but eventually tabled included the contract renewal for the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City’s Cemetery proposed rate increases and rules for headstones. The Council also tabled taking any action on nominating three Uvalde County Appraisal District or UCAD candidates to be considered for the 2024 election.

 

 Press Release

The City of Uvalde is pleased to announce the selection of Homer Delgado as Assistant Chief of Police for
the Uvalde Police Department. His start date is May 8, 2023.

Homer Delgado currently serves as the Chief of Police for the City of Dilley, Texas. In his tenure there, he
has done an excellent job of building strong, transparent relationships between the citizens of Dilley and
the police department. He has served the City of Ingleside, San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office, Medina
County Attorney’s Office, and City of Terrell Hills.

Chief Delgado’s history of relationship building was witnessed here in Uvalde when he served as Incident
Commander for Operation Coyote Overwatch in May 2022.

He brings 26 years of diverse experience including prisoner transportation, patrol, criminal
investigations, hostage negotiations, tactical response, prosecutorial investigations, and police
administration.

Chief Delgado is a master peace officer, FBI LEEDA Trilogy Award recipient and has over 3,000 hours of
TCOLE training.

His policing philosophy is to balance a foundation of traditional policing concepts with innovative and
progressive methods designed to evolve with our community’s future needs.

Chief Delgado and his wife Cindy have seven children and three grandchildren, who they enjoy spending
time with. In his time off, he focuses on family, personal and professional development, travel, and
saltwater fishing.

Assistant Chief of Police Homer Delgado