LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – It’s been a contentious issue, council members are divided on whether or not the council should continue to enjoy the recently approved salary increase.

The debate ended when Laredo City Mayor Dr. Víctor Treviño was asked to veto approval of the salary increase, and quickly refused.

The refusal to veto was met by a chorus of disapproval from community members in the Laredo City Council Chambers.

Network for Opportunity, Progress, Defense and Liberation (NOPAL) co-founder Dana Moreno says she was discouraged by the decision.

Moreno stated: “For us, as the people of Laredo, we feel that we must prioritize the voters and the people they represent over the money they earn each year.”

At the November 4 city council meeting, Mayor Treviño explained his refusal to veto, as he considered it undemocratic because it would nullify the majority vote of the sitting councilors.

Treviño noted: “I do not give in to pressure from the council or any other official, I give in to the public.”

Council members Melissa and Alyssa Cigarroa, along with Dr. Tyler King, created an online petition to collect signatures.

Moreno added that his organization, along with other popular movements, had worked to gather more than 4,000 signatures asking the mayor to veto the article. However, many of the community members did not even know that such a topic was being discussed.

Moreno said, “They didn’t feel like the councilors deserved that extra $20,000. And then, once you (Mayor Treviño) made it clear to the people what was happening, and once they were able to formulate their own opinions, a majority was against that salary increase.”

Councilwoman Melissa Cigarroa said her efforts continue.

Noting: “We didn’t look at the salary level, so I’m going to introduce an agenda item to look at that salary level and see if we can adjust it back to where it was.”

The base salary for councilors increased by about $20,000, establishing a salary of $50,000 for councilors and $75,000 for the mayor.

Current council members are already receiving the pay increase and only a few choose to continue receiving their previous salary.

It is important to note that the issue was not legality; The council has the authority to modify the text and the mayor can choose not to veto.

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