NEW BOSTON, Texas-After working with a committee representing the local sheriff's office, Bowie County Judge James Carlow said Friday the county will consider offering pay increases in combination with buying the sheriff's office a fleet of new vehicles
Since early July, BCSO deputies have been asking county citizens to support efforts to increase their salaries to levels equivalent to those of the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department.
Research conducted in June shows the deputies are paid 31 percent less than both the Texas- and Arkansas-side police departments.
"First, it won't be a pay parity with city police. The state doesn't allow for that. It has to be a Texas county to Texas county comparison rather than a county-to-city comparison of salaries," Carlow said.
The initial requested pay increase proposed adding an estimated $501,220 to the county's overall annual budget for next year, according to figures released during the Aug. 8 Commissioners Court meeting. However, Carlow said the vehicle offer won't amount to much more than BSCO's initial pay increase request-at least for the first year. He added the vehicle offer would actually save the county money in the long term.
Other employees must be considered as well.
"The other issue is that we really can't give one group of county employees a pay raise without considering all the other employees."
As for the rest of the county's employees, Carlow said he believes some cost of living pay increases may be possible for the first time in a few years. These increases can potentially be made as the county continues to rebuild its contingency fund balance. Prior to 2011, the county had about $5.8 million in contingency funds.
Carlow added that the five-member employee salary petition committee was made up of residents who had business budgeting skills as well as the legal knowledge to research other Texas counties..
In other business, commissioners will consider setting dates for public hearings regarding the county's proposed 2016-017 Fiscal Year Budget as well as consider approving the treasurer's monthly budget report.