COPPERAS COVE, Texas — Copperas Cove voters approved investing more in first responders and public safety this past election. There was a No New Revenue Tax Rate Election that, if passed, would directly support giving higher salaries for police and fire personnel.
The majority of voters checked "yes" for the tax rate that will give Copperas Cove police and fire personnel a 14% raise that will immediately go into effect once the votes are certified, which is expected to happen this month.
"Copperas Cove City Council took the effort to begin with by adopting those salary adjustments into the budget, so once the tax rate election occurred and is canvassed in the middle of November those pay adjustments go into effect," City Manager Ryan Haverlah said.
Voters approved the tax rate to be $0.6610, which is a decrease from 2023 at $0.6727. However, tax bills will increase after the tax election and that is because the average taxable values of properties have increased from 2023 to 2024.
Haverlah said giving the first responders a pay raise will help retain and recruit people.
"Our police and firefighters over the past several years have been very behind in salaries compared to our regional competitors such as Killeen, Belton and Harker Heights," Haverlah said. "We even compare to Lampasas, Gatesville. We also compare to Round Rock and Georgetown because while they are larger than us, our firefighters and our police officers are actually going there because that pay in those locations is better than what Coppers Cove's has been."
Although the 14% raise does not get Copperas Cove to the top or middle competitive range, and just the bottom tier -- Haverlah said it still makes Copperas Cove more competitive in an already competitive market.
"The great thing with both of our teams [police and fire] is our residents haven't noticed a significant delay in response by either of our departments and that's because our departments are so invested in our community and want to provide excellent service," Haverlah added. "This tax election and the adjustments to their pay will not only improve their salary but will continue that commitment to our residents."
Haverlah wanted to express a "thank you" to voters for partaking in the election and also supporting first responders. He credited the work of the city hosting town hall and informational meetings about the No-New-Revenue Tax Rate Election.