In what has become a contentious issue within the chambers of the Harris County Commissioners Court, a 3-to-2 vote has narrowly approved substantial pay raises for the county's law enforcement officers. This move sets the salaries for eight Harris County Constables at $293,000, a significant jump from their current $178,000 pay, as reported by ABC13. However, the budget to fund these raises has yet to be finalized, leaving the decision hanging in the balance until it is solidified by October.
Earlier in May, both commissioners and the Houston City Council decided to nearly uniformly increase law enforcement wages. Harris County deputies received a proposed raise that could see starting pay rise from around $57,000 to $78,000, as outlined by the Harris County Deputies' Organization. This was to maintain parity with the Houston Police Department that had their first-year officer salaries set at $81,600. According to CW39, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones emphasized the importance of the raises, stating, "We are losing our officers, because they can get paid more in a different agency," and "Not on our watch, because it’s affecting all of our safety. We want to make sure we have the deputies staying here in Harris County to respond to calls for you and your families."
However, the raises come at a time when the county is facing financial constraints. Judge Lina Hidalgo, who voted against the raises, pointed out that the county currently faces a $209 million shortfall. With the proposed increase in police pay costing around $100 million, there is a significant gap to be addressed. "My plea at the time, just as it was last time, was, let’s go to the voters," Hidalgo told CW39. "Let's not cut 100 million dollars worth of services without asking, hey, would you like to cover those law enforcement pay raises or would you like not to?"
Despite the financial hurdles, there are commissioners who believe the budget can be balanced without trimming essential services or increasing taxes. "I know we can get it done without any increase to taxes," Commissioner Adrian Garcia remarked confidently to CW39. The specifics on how to make up the $270 million deficit wrought by the deputy pay raises, in addition to existing budgetary shortages, remain to be thoroughly discussed and decided in the forthcoming budget meeting next month.
