Killeen council to vote on pay raise for city manager

Killeen Daily Herald
By Kevin Limiti | Herald
December 10, 2023

The Killeen City Council will vote on a $20,000 pay raise for the city manager Tuesday.

The City Council will vote on a 2% merit-based increase and a 6% increase for cost of living adjustments, which is the same for all city of Killeen employees per the 2024 budget, according to city documents for Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.

If approved, City Manager Kent Cagle’s salary will increase 8& — from $250,000 to to $270,000 annually.

According to a letter from the City Council attached to the meeting’s agenda, Cagle earlier this month received a grade of “Exceeds Expectations” on his annual job performance.

In January, Cagle received a 12% pay raise after his 2022 review. He was hired as Killeen’s top administrator in 2019, and has more than 35 years of experience in government.

Councilman Jose Segarra said at a previous City Council meeting that Cagle is the best city manager he has ever seen.

Cagle has been criticized at City Council meetings by residents for a variety of reasons. Some criticized his handling of getting a grocery store to the food desert of north Killeen, an issue which has drawn a lot of ire but not necessarily within the city manager’s control.

A citizens’ petition for removing the city manager was brought before the council last month, but the council members and Mayor Debbie Nash-King stuck by him and maintained their support for his continued employment.

Mayor Pro Tem Nina Cobb at that meeting listed some of Cagle’s accomplishments.

She referenced an improved bond rating, and the Anthem Park development agreements that she said will bring new housing and retail businesses, including a Dave and Buster’s to the city — something residents have been requesting for more than a decade.

Cobb also mentioned that Cagle had submitted four balanced budgets, hired a new police chief, hired a director of downtown development, improved employee salaries and reduced property taxes, among other perceived accomplishments.

Assistant city manager Laurie Wilson was hired and subsequently approved by the City Council in October which Nash-King said back then was expected to help with the city’s functions.

Other agenda items on Tuesday’s consent agenda include:

• Approving $461,800 for a General Aviation Terminal Building Design at Skylark Field.
• A replacement carpet for the Killeen Civic and Conference Center at $263,392.05.
• An application for a Justice Assistance Grant along with an interlocal agreement between Killeen and the city of Temple and Bell County.
• Purchase of Fusus Enterprise Package software for $125,000 per year for five years.

The council meeting begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers in City Hall, 101 N. College St., Killeen. The City Council’s regular meeting will be immediately followed by a council workshop meeting.

For those unable to attend the meeting in person, it will be web streamed live and archived for playback on the city’s website, KilleenTexas.gov. It will also be broadcast live on Spectrum Cable Channel 10.