Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Weslaco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
15 issues in taxes budget
Enterprise fund finances and commission budget retreat
The general fund is healthy, but water/wastewater and airport funds ran deficits last year. The mayor wants a commission retreat to truly understand how sanitation and water revenues and costs work before big votes on streets, trucks, and rates.
Trash tipping fees and a possible transfer station
January's trash disposal bill hit $65,809 because short-staffed crews hauled to the closer but pricier La Feria transfer station — $43.11 a ton versus $17.75 in Edinburg. Staff will study the logistics and consider renegotiating the Republic Services rate.
Master Fee Schedule updates
A proposed $5-a-month opt-in recycling fee got pulled at the last minute. Commissioners worried it wouldn't cover trucks, bins, and driver time, and want a community survey and workshop before setting a price.
FY 2026-27 property tax rate reduction
Weslaco adopted a property tax rate of $0.6678 per $100 — nearly two cents lower than last year. The mayor credited long-term financial discipline, noting staff began working toward a cut before the Attorney General's rate ceiling letter arrived.
Property tax rate reduction
The city locked in a tax rate of $0.6678 per $100 — nearly two cents lower than last year. The mayor credited years of financial discipline, noting staff was already working toward a cut before the Attorney General's letter set the ceiling.
Cemetery fee review
Final action on raising non-resident cemetery plot fees was postponed until October; non-resident sales are paused in the meantime, and commissioners want to review all cemetery fees during budget season since neighboring cities charge far more.
Employee insurance renewals and rising health costs
The city's health insurance carrier initially projected a 40%+ renewal increase due to high claims; negotiations have brought it down but it's still a few points above target. The Commission let staff bid out all insurance lines while negotiating one more week on health.
TMRS retirement funding decision
The city chose to keep its annual ad hoc retirement benefit rather than the repeating option, which would have jumped the employer contribution rate from 9.14% to 13.41% in 2027.
FY26-27 Budget Wrap-Up
The final budget adds a 2% cost-of-living raise for every city employee and trims the property tax rate, all while keeping about $18.7 million — roughly 173 days of operating expenses — in reserves. This was just a workshop discussion; the actual adoption vote comes later.
Employee health insurance premium increase
The city's group health insurance is renewing at a 35% premium increase — negotiated down from 41% — costing roughly $4.5 million a year. It's a significant budget hit, but staff said it was the best available bid.
Workers' compensation carrier selection
The city picked Texas Mutual's out-of-network plan even though the in-network option was $44,000 cheaper, because local in-network providers are scarce. Texas Mutual has also paid the city nearly $461,000 in safety dividends over five years.
Commercial insurance package renewal at higher cost
Nobody else bid on the city's commercial property/liability package, so the commission had to take the Texas Municipal League renewal — a $310,000 increase over last year.
Delinquent tax collections improving
The city's tax law firm collected over $334,000 in six months and uses text-to-pay outreach; 123 lawsuits pending represent over $432,000 still owed.
Commission meeting schedule change
Starting June 2026, meetings return to the first and third Tuesdays, with workshops at 4:30 p.m. and regular meetings at 5:30 p.m.
Mid-Year Budget Amendment
The city's mid-year budget fix covers overtime, two garbage trucks, a refurbished ambulance, and two new director positions. All funds net out about $1.4 million positive thanks to property taxes, but the major operating funds run about $777,000 negative — and overtime is under scrutiny.