Alamosa council approves 2026 city pay plan, skips broad raise

Why it matters

Alamosa residents and city workers both feel this decision: council members held off on a broad raise staff said projected 2026 revenue did not allow, while still covering the state minimum wage and planning for certified water operator coverage if operators leave or retire.

Alamosa council gives final approval to 2026 pay plan

The Alamosa City Council unanimously approved the ordinance, a formal city law establishing the 2026 pay plan for city officers and employees, on second reading, its second formal consideration, with no broad raise included in the plan.

The council opened and then closed the public hearing with no public comment, and a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading was made by Councilor Jan, as recorded in the transcript, and seconded before the unanimous vote.

Staff explained the pay plan contained three primary changes covering a minimum wage adjustment, five positions from the Center for Restorative Programs and one water and wastewater reclassification. Those changes set the pay structure for city officers and employees for 2026.

State minimum wage drives 2.4% adjustment for some jobs

Staff explained the pay plan includes a 2.4% adjustment for certain positions to comply with the state minimum wage increase, but no cost-of-living adjustment, a broad raise meant to help pay keep pace with living costs.

Staff noted the city's projected 2026 revenues did not allow for a broad cost-of-living adjustment. The only pay increase staff described as part of the plan was the targeted 2.4% adjustment for certain positions tied to the state requirement.

Five restorative program positions move into city plan

The ordinance incorporates five full-time equivalents, a measure that counts positions by full-time workload, from the Center for Restorative Programs into the city pay plan for 2026.

Staff said the ordinance will place the five transferred full-time equivalents in appropriate pay plan positions. That incorporation was one of the three primary changes staff explained to the council before the unanimous vote.

Water job shift prepares for retirements, departures

The plan reallocates one full-time equivalent from a water and wastewater technician role to a water and wastewater plant technician role for succession planning, preparing a replacement pipeline before current operators leave or retire.

Staff said the ordinance will realign classifications to ensure certified operators are available if current operators leave or retire. Staff described the reallocation as the third primary change in the pay plan.

With adoption on second reading, the 2026 pay structure is now set for city officers and employees, including the transferred positions and the realigned water and wastewater classification.