Overview

• Commissioners voted 3–2 to lift elected constables’ salaries to about $260,000, more than double their 2024 pay, pending adoption of the fiscal 2026 budget.
• Judge Lina Hidalgo opposed the increases and criticized colleagues’ support for the raises, citing the projected deficit and lack of clear budget rationale.
• The county salary grievance committee voted 6–3 to recommend raising District Clerk Marilyn Burgess’ pay to $260,000 after she voted in favor of her own increase.
• County attorneys cited a 1998 Texas Attorney General opinion allowing such votes, yet commissioners voiced conflict-of-interest concerns and did not bring Burgess’ raise to a vote.
• Officials and residents warned of tradeoffs as law enforcement pay hikes are estimated at roughly $100 million of the county’s $275 million projected deficit, and the budget vote was delayed to next week.