Harris County Commissioners Support Pay Raises for Constables
Harris County commissioners have voted to advance a proposal that could significantly boost the salaries of the county’s eight elected constables. The proposed pay raise would increase their annual salaries from $178,000 to over $290,000, which is at least 37% higher than the salary of Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The Need for Pay Raises
Proponents of the pay raises argue that they are necessary to retain qualified officers and to achieve pay parity with the Houston Police Department. The Houston Police Department’s highest-ranking officer, Chief Noe Diaz, earns over $320,000 per year. The discussion about pay raises for constables comes a few months after commissioners approved pay raises for constable and sheriff’s office deputies.
The Proposal Advances
The proposal to increase pay for Harris County constables was supported by Democratic Commissioners Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia, as well as Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey. The motion was approved, and the proposal will be considered in mid-September, when commissioners will make decisions on the county’s budget and vote on potential cost-saving measures.
Concerns About the Budget Deficit
However, not all commissioners are in favor of the pay raises. Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, expressed concerns about the proposal, citing the county’s budget deficit of at least $200 million. The deficit nearly doubled earlier this year after commissioners voted to increase deputy wages. Ellis introduced a motion for the Office of Management and Budget to return with recommendations on pay parity for all elected officials, except for commissioners court.
Alternative Solutions
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo suggested that commissioners pay for the raises from their own office budgets, but her motion was not supported by any of the four commissioners. Hidalgo and Ellis also voted against increasing deputy wages in May, saying that it would exacerbate the county’s financial problems.
Reaction from Constables
Mark Hermann, the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable, praised the commissioners who supported the raises. Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said that constables would figure out a way to support their increased wages without affecting the budget. In return, Commissioner Garcia asked that constables establish a working group to accomplish dispatching consolidation.
Conclusion
The proposal to increase pay for Harris County constables has sparked a debate among commissioners about the county’s budget deficit and how to achieve pay parity with the Houston Police Department. While some commissioners support the pay raises, others are concerned about the impact on the county’s finances. The proposal will be considered in mid-September, and it remains to be seen how the commissioners will ultimately decide on the issue.
