Police Bargaining Ends as Del Rio Officers Approve Contract 32–9

DEL RIO, Texas — Members of the Del Rio Police Officers Association have voted 32–9 to ratify a tentative three-year collective bargaining agreement with the City of Del Rio, according to information provided to Del Rio News Network, moving the months-long contract negotiations one step closer to completion.

The membership vote follows an Oct. 28 collective bargaining session in which negotiators for the city and police association reached a tentative agreement on the city’s final proposal. During that meeting, association representatives agreed to take the proposal back to their membership for ratification.

Under the tentative agreement, officers would receive a 2.5% salary increase effective Nov. 14, followed by an additional 0.5% increase on March 1, 2027. The agreement would then provide a 3.5% increase in the second year and a 4% increase in the third year.

The agreement also includes several other negotiated changes, including 36 hours of funeral leave, an increase in the Civic Center assignment rate from $40 to $50 per hour, and a revised evergreen provision governing what happens if a replacement agreement is not reached before the three-year contract expires.

The police association also agreed to the removal of the contract’s “Me Too” clause, which had tied certain police compensation adjustments to raises received by other city employees. A stipend provision was also removed, while police recruit compensation was taken out of the negotiated salary schedule so the city can address recruit pay separately.

Retroactive pay not included

One of the final issues discussed involved a request to make the new compensation retroactive to Oct. 1.

City representatives said the Texas Constitution prevented the city from providing additional compensation for work already performed. As part of the final negotiations, the city instead moved the additional 0.5% increase forward from April 1 to March 1.

City Council still has final step

Ratification by the police membership does not yet make the contract final.

During the bargaining session, city representatives said the agreement could be presented to the Del Rio City Council on Nov. 9. The proposed Nov. 14 effective date was selected because it falls at the beginning of a new city pay period.

If approved by City Council, the agreement would bring to a close months of negotiations between the city and its police officers over compensation, benefits and contract provisions.

The current status: Police membership — APPROVED 32–9. City Council — PENDING.