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Constables will press for $26K raise

County Budget
Thursday, August 30, 2018

Hays County constables are filing a salary grievance if their request for a $26,000 raise per constable is not granted.

Precinct 1 Constable David Peterson said that the constables are ready for a hearing with the county’s salary grievance committee, which the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to create on Tuesday. The formation of a salary grievance committee is routine for the end of each budget year, county officials said. 

Peterson said that Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hood will be the spokesman for the group, and that all of the county’s five constables will be present for the hearing.

Two weeks ago, during a budget workshop, the constables made their case to the county commissioners for a salary increase from $67,762 per year to $93,824. 

Precinct 5 Constable John Ellen presented the commissioners court with numerous figures, including increases in the numbers of warrants served and other services performed by constables, and population increases in the county. Ellen said Hays is the fourth fastest-growing county in the country, and that Buda alone has seen a 105 percent increase in its population in recent years. 

In his presentation to the commissioners court, Hood said the constables are using a market survey that the county human resources department and Hays County Law Enforcement Association uses.  

“That is a large number,” Hood told the commissioners. “We understand that. But we have to start somewhere.”

The increase would put Hays County constables on par with constables in Bexar and Denton counties, both of which have larger areas and populations than Hays County; Denton has 780,612 residents in 953 square miles and Bexar’s 1.898 million residents live within 1,256 square miles, whereas Hays County’s population is just under 195,000 people living within 680 square miles. 

Hood added, “The constables are not asking for any type of tax increase at all,” but are asking the commissioners to find the $130,000 in the budget to fund the salary increase.

The constables’ raises were not in the county judge’s recommended budget and also are not a part of the county commissioners’ proposed budget. 

The constables generate income for the county and perform a wide variety of duties, including serving subpoenas, summons court citations, writs and restraining orders; posting public notices; performing community services such as escorts for funeral processions, and collecting money on executions or orders of sale. 

The salary grievance committee will be made up of three county residents chosen from the grand jury list and six county officials: the sheriff, the assessor-collector, the treasurer, the county clerk, the district clerk and the criminal district attorney. 

The county’s general counsel, Mark Kennedy, explained in commissioners court Tuesday that the committee forms every year in anticipation of potential grievances.

“There’s such a tight timeline between now and when the budget is finalized,” he said. “This is anticipatory, and we’ll see what happens.”

Kennedy explained the process and the effects the grievance committee has on commissioners court decisions.

“It’s an open meeting,” he said. “The committee hears testimony — it’s not as formal as testimony in court. … There may be some materials presented from the county side of it to illustrate why the budgets were and the salaries were set where they are.”

If the committee votes unanimously on a salary increase, Kennedy said, “That is mandatory upon the court to accept it. It is the only instance where the court’s hand is forced.”

If six to eight committee members agree on an increase, the increase is sent as a recommendation to the commissioners, who can either accept or reject the recommendation. If fewer than six committee members want to grant an increase, Kennedy said, “There is no effect.”

Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell asked that if there is a salary grievance committee hearing, someone be present to explain that the county cannot raise taxes at this point and a decision to increase salaries would mean cutting someone else’s budget. 

The Daily Record has inquired about when the hearing will be scheduled but had not received a response by press time.

rblackburn@sanmarcosrecord.com

Twitter: @arobingoestweet 

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666