Fort Worth wants to make its new city manager one of the highest paid officials in Texas 

Former Assistant City Manager could become the new Fort Worth City Manager pending the outcome of a Dec. 10 council vote. 

Courtesy of the City of Fort Worth

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

By Harrison Mantas 

Updated December 10, 2024 5:20 PM

 If Jay Chapa becomes Fort Worth’s next city manager, his new gig will come with a healthy salary. The city of Fort Worth is offering to pay Chapa a base salary of $435,000 along with a $600 per month car allowance, according to an offer letter provided by the city of Fort Worth’s human resources department. The city is also offering to pay for Chapa’s membership to the Fort Worth Club, according to the offer letter. The city is also looking at paying for other club memberships as well as membership in a pair of professional organizations catering to city managers.

The proposed base salary would make Chapa one of the highest paid chief executives of any large city in Texas, according to data provided by the human resources department. Austin City Manager T.C Broadnax, who makes a base salary of $470,000, is only city manager in Texas who would make more than Chapa. 

The salary is also higher than the city manager state average of $422,135, and the national average of $363,477, according to the city’s data. 

Outgoing city manager David Cooke makes $412,000, but will receive $20,000 on Feb. 1. 

He announced in July he would step down from the position in February after serving as city manager for over 10 years. 

The benefits promised in Chapa’s offer letter are similar to those offered to Cooke when he was hired in June 2014. Cooke was given the same car allowance as well as $2,500 monthly housing allowance for his first six months on the job, according to a May 2014 offer letter provided by the city. He was also offered the same club membership payments, according to the letter. 

Chapa’s start date would be Jan. 27, 2025, according to his offer letter. He still needs to be confirmed by the City Council at its Dec. 10 meeting. 

Chapa spent 25 years working for the city of Fort Worth before retiring in January 2022 to open a consulting business. During his time with the city he led the development of the 2022 bond program and helped shepherd several economic development projects, such as the city’s partnership with Texas A&M and the development of the Crescent Hotel in the city’s cultural district. 

While Mayor Mattie Parker praised Chapa for his experience and history of service to the city, council members Chris Nettles and Jared Williams have called for a halt to the hiring process in a push to include more public input on the decision. Nettles called out the process as being baked in favor of Chapa from the start. 

Parker and seven fellow council members released a letter prior to the Dec. 10 council meeting voicing their support for the process. 

District 9 Council Member Elizabeth Beck didn’t sign the letter, but said in a text message that her absence didn’t signal disagreement. “Robust debate is the sign of a healthy government body, and this council is no different,” the letter said. It highlighted how the city whittled a group of 150 candidates down to 14 before interviewing five finalists on Dec. 5. “Ultimately, we believe Jay Chapa is the best person for the job, and Fort Worth should celebrate his historic appointment as our city’s first Hispanic city manager,” the letter said. 

This story was originally published December 10, 2024, 3:17 PM.