Megan Navarro
WIMBERLEY — City of Wimberley employees could see a 5% increase ito their salary following discussions at a city council budget workshop held Thursday, Aug. 6.
Previously, there was a lump sum given across the board, where there have been increases of $4,000-$5,000 to all employees before council opted to change to a percentage. Staff was looking at having a 3% salary increase for city employees — something that was also implemented last year — in the fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 budget, presented during the July 16 meeting.
It was then that council member Anne Ulfelder requested that city administrator Tim Patek look at what the impact would be to change the cost-of-living adjustment to 4-5%, which was brought forward during the most recent workshop.
There are 16 regular full-time, nine regular part-time and 23 seasonal part-time employees with the city of Wimberley in various departments, said Patek. Administration and Public Works are in the general fund, parks and the community center are in the Blue Hole fund and tourism is in its own fund.
The proposed FY 2026-27 budget, as it was initially presented to council, already has a 3% increase calculated in at the following, which is noted under salaries and wages in the expenditures:
• Administration (general fund): $322,000 full-time
• Public Works: $6,000 part-time; $209,000 full-time
• Community center: $21,000 part-time; $99,000 full-time
• Parks: $144,000 part-time; $402,000 full-time
• Administration (hotel occupancy tax): $2,500 part-time; $122,600 full-time
Patek presented that if council elected to change the adjustment to a different number, the impact would be an additional $5,595 for 3.5%, $11,190 for 4%, $16,785 for 4.5% and $22,380 for 5%.
“If you go to 5[%], the $22,380 would be added on into three budgets. Approximately $10,000 would be added to the general fund for salaries, $10,000 to Parks and around $2,000 to [Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)], added on to the 3% that is already included,” Patek said.
Last month, Patek presented a balanced budget across the board, with, for example, the general fund’s revenue and expenditures both totaling $2,147,000, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.
Ulfelder asked where the city administrator envisioned the new figures for the salaries coming from in the balanced budget and if it’s “really doable” to go up from the 3%.
Patek responded that it is possible because he always takes a conservative approach with the budget, so there is leeway for city spending: “It is doable. There will be tweaks here and there on the income that comes in, but it’s not an issue, in my opinion.”
Mayor pro tem Rebecca Minnick asked if the city of Wimberley’s pay scale is in line with the market of the immediate area.
“I do believe so. I remember I told you that in the past, we made some increases that I thought were very viable to get people up to where they need to be and to keep them,” Patek said. “We have a great staff. We have very little turnover and I think everyone is happy and I know they will be very appreciative if that is what you guys wanted to do.”
In response to Ulfelder’s question on if council could opt to do a lower increase after the next fiscal year, if needed, Patek shared that is a possibility, but hopefully, that would not be the case. He explained that there are some places, like the cities of San Marcos and Kyle, where they are having to eliminate positions or freeze pay raises.
“That’s happened to several cities throughout Texas, especially the ones that I’ve worked at. I’ve heard about that happening. One year, they don’t get a cost-of-living [adjustment], but then they come back the next year and then, they will be able to get one,” he said. “It just depends on that city and what they’ve got going on in their financial status.”
Trying to have a consistent baseline of a 3% increase is great, said council member Sam Werner, but as global conflicts and other issues that arise that put market pressures on a lot of people, it may not be possible to do something more every year.
Umfelder said that 5% is not scary, based on the numbers presented and knowing all of the work that city employees do.
“Just the amount that you all have on your shoulders and always perform flawlessly, that needs to be recognized in every way that we can,” she said.
Council member Chris Sheffield agreed, stating that the city has a fairly small budget, leaning him to be more inclined to do a 4% increase for a cost-saving measure, while still increasing the employees’ salaries.
Looking at what direction to give Patek when moving forward with the budget process, Werner said that he would “split the difference” and say 4.5%, to which Minnick agreed. According to Minnick, the mayor, who was absent during the meeting, shared that he would be comfortable with 4%.
After more back and forth across the dais, council gave Patek direction to include a 5% salary increase in the proposed budget.
“Given the volatile nature of markets and the world, that [5%] should not be an expectation year after year,” Minnick stated.
Council meets next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.
