Mesquite council approves amended 2025–26 pay plans for city employees and public safety
March 02, 2026 | Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas
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The Mesquite City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Monday adopting amended pay plans for 2025–26 that city leaders said reflect market adjustments and a council commitment to increase employee wages.
Councilmember Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross pulled the item for brief discussion before the vote and said the amendment was intended to demonstrate the council’s commitment to paying city employees more fairly. “You all deserve more,” Rodriguez Ross said, addressing city staff and workers in the chamber. “This is our effort to try and do better.”
Cliff Kaheeli, the city manager, and staff explained that revised ordinance language added a whereas clause to reflect a 5% market adjustment and clarified pay‑range language so long‑tenured employees could continue to receive merit increases even if they were at the top of a pay range. Human Resources Director Libby Craven provided an example explaining the need to allow merit increases for long‑tenured employees who have reached a range top.
Councilman Kenny Green moved to approve item 6 with the amended language; Councilman Brandon Martin seconded. The motion passed 7–0. The ordinance adopts the 2025–26 pay plans with the effective date of Oct. 1, 2025, for general government personnel and Jan. 1, 2026, for commissioned police and fire personnel.
What it means: The ordinance formalizes the pay plan changes discussed by staff and council; no ordinance number or dollar totals were provided during the meeting. City staff said the revisions reflect market considerations and aim to preserve merit progression for long‑tenured employees.
Councilmember Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross pulled the item for brief discussion before the vote and said the amendment was intended to demonstrate the council’s commitment to paying city employees more fairly. “You all deserve more,” Rodriguez Ross said, addressing city staff and workers in the chamber. “This is our effort to try and do better.”
Cliff Kaheeli, the city manager, and staff explained that revised ordinance language added a whereas clause to reflect a 5% market adjustment and clarified pay‑range language so long‑tenured employees could continue to receive merit increases even if they were at the top of a pay range. Human Resources Director Libby Craven provided an example explaining the need to allow merit increases for long‑tenured employees who have reached a range top.
Councilman Kenny Green moved to approve item 6 with the amended language; Councilman Brandon Martin seconded. The motion passed 7–0. The ordinance adopts the 2025–26 pay plans with the effective date of Oct. 1, 2025, for general government personnel and Jan. 1, 2026, for commissioned police and fire personnel.
What it means: The ordinance formalizes the pay plan changes discussed by staff and council; no ordinance number or dollar totals were provided during the meeting. City staff said the revisions reflect market considerations and aim to preserve merit progression for long‑tenured employees.
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