WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve a 5% pay increase for all law enforcement officers in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget.
Law enforcement officers include those who work in the sheriff's office, constables' office, district attorney's office, county corrections and county attorney's office.
An additional raise of 1% to 5% will also be given to all tenured staff, making for an average 7% increase.
“Since I have been in office, we made a strong commitment to support law enforcement," County Judge Bill Gravell said. "We have provided the proper tools and resources, and now, the best compensation in the region when you include benefits and retirement."
Since October 2018, law enforcement pay has undergone a total increase of 11% as a result of three cost-of-living adjustments. They also receive a roughly 2% yearly tenure increase.
Corrections employee pay has seen a total increase of 21% as a result of three cost-of-living adjustments in the same time period.
"There's probably not a more challenging time to be in law enforcement, and I thank all the men and women who do serve in that role for what they do," Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said. “We appreciate all the sacrifices that you make, and I think this is the right step to take."
If a law enforcement or corrections employee has worked at Williamson County for one year, they will move forward one step on the tenure chart on Oct. 1.
In Hays County, a starting corrections officer makes $42,352 annually. In Travis County, an officer in the same position makes $46,839, according to the county websites. In Travis County, a beginning sheriff's deputy is paid $55,215.
Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason said the raises should be higher. He said the approved raise amount is based on current pay scales, but it needs to be based on surrounding communities.
Gleason said an officer in Round Rock makes almost $20,000 more than a county sheriff.
"We keep having this conversation over and over and over and over again, and they said, 'Mike, we'll help you out a little bit, and then we'll come back to it next year.' Next year never comes," Gleason said.
Mathew Decker, the president of the Williamson County Deputy's Association, said they're losing officers to nearby agencies.
"Cedar Park makes tons more money than us, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown, Hutto, even Liberty Hill. We're losing people. We don't have a seat at the table. We're the lowest paid," Decker said.
When people look for law enforcement jobs, Decker said Williamson County gets overlooked. So the association is asking Judge Gravell and the commissioners to come back with a higher offer.
"The largest disparity, it's 36.7%. So that 5% just doesn't do any justice for us. We appreciate the 5% but we would like to bring back on the table," Decker said.
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