CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Robstown City Council held a meeting Tuesday night with a special budget item at the top of the agenda. City officials gathered to further assess where the community stands financially.
Mayor David Martinez told 3NEWS he's in favor of raising taxes for citizens, saying it's necessary to move the city forward.
But when it comes to budget cuts, first responders are off the table.
"I'm not going to hurt the police department, nor the fire department, nor the staff," Martinez said. "I don't plan to do that and I don't think some of the councilmembers are in favor of that either. We already cut whatever we had to do, but I'm not going to go forward with that."
Robstown Police Chief Mike Tamez also spoke during the meeting, celebrating the city's efforts to look out for his department.
"These officers can go work anywhere they want, but they're dedicated to this community," Tamez said. "For the money they're making, that itself speaks volumes of their character and their commitment to doing this job and in this city. That's what was at stake."
Tuesday's meeting was only a preliminary hearing. As the city moves forward with budget workshops, it will be up to officials to make any final decisions.
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