Pat Trevino | October 25, 2025

CUERO, TX — Cuero city employees will see strengthened retirement benefits beginning in 2026, following a unanimous vote by the City Council to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-16. The measure, approved during a special meeting on October 23, brings the city’s retirement policies in line with recent changes to the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) and mirrors benefit structures seen in similar-sized municipalities across the state.

The ordinance was introduced by Councilman Charles Tounlley and seconded by Councilman ShaNon Henson. It appeared for its second and final reading during the special meeting, where it passed unanimously with no opposition from the council.

Under the new plan, city employees who participate in TMRS will contribute 6% of their compensation to the retirement system starting January 1, 2026—a rate considered standard among small Texas cities. The ordinance also authorizes annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees and their beneficiaries, calculated at 70% of the Consumer Price Index change. These non-retroactive increases will begin the January following the ordinance’s approval and continue annually, pending actuarial review.

In addition to COLAs, the ordinance introduces annually accruing Updated Service Credits (USCs), which recognize both prior and current service with the City. Employees who have worked in other TMRS-participating municipalities will also be eligible to transfer service credits, a move aimed at improving retirement equity for public servants with diverse career paths.

One of the more notable provisions removes the cap on the City’s contribution rate to TMRS. This means Cuero will now make payments based on actuarial calculations rather than fixed limits—a change designed to ensure the City can fully fund its retirement obligations over time.

The updates follow the passage of House Bill 2464 by the Texas Legislature in 2023, which gave cities new flexibility in how they structure retirement benefits. Cuero’s adoption of these provisions places it among a growing number of municipalities modernizing their TMRS plans to better serve employees and retirees.

The new retirement structure is set to take effect January 1, 2026.

Pat Trevino | October 25, 2025

Today, I want to share my stance on Proposition 4 and explain why I’ll be voting yes.

HOW IT’S WRITTEN ON THE BALLOT:
“The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.”

What Does That Really Mean?
This amendment would set aside up to $1 billion per year from state sales tax revenue—after it exceeds $46.5 billion—to support the Texas Water Fund. That fund helps communities across the state build and maintain water infrastructure, including flood control, drought resilience, and clean water access.

As someone who lives in a county shaped by floodplains and drainage districts, I know firsthand how vital water management is—not just for agriculture and business, but for public health and safety. Proposition 4 doesn’t raise taxes. It simply ensures that when the state brings in more than expected, a portion of that surplus goes toward protecting our most essential resource.

I believe in planning ahead. I believe in protecting our land, our families, and our future. That’s why I’ll be voting yes on Proposition 4.