[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6456078,"mediaKeyId","5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46","parentId",5706728,"title","Clerks’ pay and constable compensation draw scrutiny during Waller County budget workshop","audioSeconds",415,"startMs",3059000,"endMs",3474000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46&start=3059&end=3474","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46/thumbnail_3059000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6456078/Waller-County/Texas/Clerks-pay-and-constable-compensation-draw-scrutiny-during-Waller-County-budget-workshop","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456078-698bc8a173cdbe3a48ad555afa9915bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930025&Signature=QYa732fo55SIBUA34mHRWesBKQY~tPlHOPPaG~5voyRSAcIxzqwPGx7BGFr1pOF7-3yeaPEjuEBHlI5eiM4je~1x~sofhAUzkz3I2lSGaLmyDI2V4PjBR4xR16WG~FID5uqewqKtvim2tnWjtfK~cpnofqf2Z4vHlvZ7oHe1SoMohprIH1lpVxAGHVHBTdQH~Bx9Wi~hey4ImV4z1DAL880sXKXhxyyetsZGuyI3Nf~0d4fc~C6rpyEy5FtYkaa1jy1imNISEZVAkYEzA2q8slCaHSKtS7noCHqAX-P4s8rObslWZDj67MI2diqwZbSF0kkz3uUiIJQhI5KFleSnqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waller","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","Several elected precinct officials raised concerns at the Waller County budget workshop about inconsistent pay practices for justices of the peace clerks and constable offices.

A precinct judge told the court he has clerks with decades of experience who do not earn as much as newly hired clerks in other precincts. “I have a clerk with 32 years of experience that is not gonna make what two brand new clerks are making in another precinct,” the judge said, calling for parity. He requested that the payroll and salary lines be reviewed and that the county provide a printout breaking out staff salaries by precinct so commissioners can resolve disparities.

Commissioners acknowledged the county previously performed a salary study and instituted job classifications, but the judge and other officials said the study’s outcomes are not being applied consistently across precinct offices. One county official asked for several days to pull records; court staff agreed to review the lists and return with a factual accounting ahead of the time the court sets the proposed budget.

Separately, the court discussed constable compensation and part‑time staffing. The budget includes a $6,000 certification pay increase for each constable’s office and a higher part‑time pay budget (raising part‑time lines to about $50,000 in some precincts). The court mentioned a state law mandate related to constable staffing but did not detail statutory language.

Ending: County staff agreed to provide detailed salary breakdowns and payroll comparisons to the court for review; commissioners asked staff to return with facts within a few days so any corrective steps can be considered before the proposed budget is set.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waller - Commissioners Court Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","Precinct judges and commissioners raised concerns about pay disparities across precinct clerks and constable staffing/pay, asking staff for a payroll comparison and promising follow‑up before the budget vote.","taxTitle","Waller County, Texas","taxId",54097,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6456083,"Court weighs hiring assistant construction manager vs. third‑party consultants for county projects",238,1978000,2216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46&start=1978&end=2216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46/thumbnail_1978000.jpg","/articles/6456083/Waller-County/Texas/Court-weighs-hiring-assistant-construction-manager-vs-thirdparty-consultants-for-county-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456083-6b0a8fda4e5fdf05c58ac72449067033/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930026&Signature=KhwFD4cMLlbtiYbaKGDCGnr1uIYu~5CSYNAPlCEKitZcU9WQw6hHCzcFYdBTGFniAUzr6aLzo9ftPM4QMII1ysZEPDXsCUGoHsQ6aiGSdf9IfZtjYMMOXJiHPQAi-z1qonEr-P96xLdNqqpEn4aDJl9vu-6UzXTrFqk~uy-cFC7ZrA1Frn4uWEdv3Mb4m4RbEqj5wOHzrOk7YMHjMO3B8vk~OWjceJBwjqxN2TH7oSYTB4hNziU7nVvo9RqtCESph7pSGnmc6zZHBNV-nqOY0Xe04i8uw~XKKicPHxN17GJe7DkE-Fhp8qg8ehCzjhZAfunIL8~cJVCxAtFMoYlZoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County commissioners discussed how best to staff construction oversight and project estimating for a slate of county capital projects, weighing an in‑house assistant construction manager against hiring third‑party consultants.

Commissioners and county staff described a growing workload that includes the courthouse work and two upcoming precinct annex projects. Danny, the county’s construction manager, and other commissioners said the complexity of construction estimating since the COVID‑era supply‑chain and tariff changes argues for outside expertise. “Estimating the cost of doing things is just not the same,” one commissioner said, adding that consultants have up‑to‑date market knowledge that entry‑level staff may lack.

The budget includes a proposed assistant construction manager position budgeted at approximately $65,000, and staff reported that the county increased contract labor by $50,000 this year to be used for outside contractors. Commissioners discussed pros and cons: an entry‑level in‑house assistant would require training and add employment burdens (benefits, insurance), while third‑party vendors can provide specialized, current cost estimating on an as‑needed basis.

Some commissioners favored providing Danny with a flexible contract budget to hire estimating and on‑call expertise when projects demand it rather than hiring an additional full‑time in‑house hire that may not immediately reduce his workload.

Ending: The court directed staff to consider how best to allocate the $65,000 assistant slot and the increased $50,000 contract labor budget — either to hire an in‑house assistant construction manager or to preserve flexibility for third‑party estimating and specialty contractors as projects proceed.","Commissioners debated whether to add a $65,000 assistant construction manager role or increase contract labor funds to hire third‑party estimating and project expertise for upcoming courthouse and precinct annex projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6456087,"Sheriff staffing, patrol coverage dominate budget questions as county grows",662,337000,999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46&start=337&end=999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46/thumbnail_337000.jpg","/articles/6456087/Waller-County/Texas/Sheriff-staffing-patrol-coverage-dominate-budget-questions-as-county-grows","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456087-ba5567932e36d70bc3fefc13d64556bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930026&Signature=L6USJXqloKzYUrS7VQCuSKvKbiG1b-9YDYJD2Ri4lVHEu594ztiKknSTucxA3q5dapLy~3a-Xb~vRk-cGKu0c-sBsG71jpsC~oWETxgODe~ACCIe4Fe-h6ovbccUeZtMDX0MY9cdU1f3enRrj0bY9x3uiQsTWEIzf3QP1IgVD~w7IyXTAonRfPViNBssMW9y9zT9n3vc9g9CD9yMAwOk1dnqg8FksgbuH0uFV5ls0Kb3-4PA8rLrT9uchH8Yr4ZGJ-2cIMDdLSiGZ7g1~u4~9-XT4aBXwOHZVGEIfViNNe-iUDAVvHX~Fa6op8S-8CLt22Na2u15sMDd7QO59kzZgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County leaders spent substantial time at a budget workshop discussing sheriff staffing, patrol coverage and the cost of adding deputies as population growth strains services.

Budget staff told the court roughly half of the recommended new positions — about 20 roles — would go to the sheriff’s office, including patrol, courthouse security and dispatch. “The sheriff is getting half of those employees total,” Robert said. The county also offered sheriff’s office choices this year between adding deputies or dispatchers; the sheriff reportedly preferred adding six dispatchers and six deputies rather than 12 deputies, a balance he said would best address workload.

Commissioners pressed how added deputies would translate to patrol coverage. In response to a question about average deputies on patrol per shift, the court heard that there are about six deputies on patrol per shift — roughly two per the county’s three patrol districts. “So there's your answer,” one official said after the exchange, noting that adding a fourth patrol district at current staffing levels would require roughly 12 more deputies to maintain the same per‑district coverage.

County leaders and staff discussed costs. One county official estimated the fully loaded cost to add a deputy — outfitting a vehicle, salary, benefits and equipment — at roughly $150,000–$200,000. At that rate, adding six deputies would approximate “half of another district,” a commissioner said.

Officials discussed targeted approaches to expanding patrols as the county grows, particularly in southern areas south of FM 529 and in new subdivisions. The court noted negotiations with developers or homeowners associations to have subdivisions contribute to vehicle and patrol costs as one way to partially offset county expense. County staff also mentioned exploring satellite substations and contract patrol arrangements to improve local coverage.

Several commissioners expressed concern about turnover: higher pay increases in neighboring jurisdictions, including Houston and Harris County, are drawing experienced deputies. “We're already seeing some of our people being applicants down there,” an official said, noting a pay gap on the order of $20,000–$25,000 for starting pay and much higher differentials for tenured deputies.

Ending: Commissioners said they want more data on population, call volumes and precinct growth before making structural changes to patrol districts; the court will continue discussion as the budget process proceeds.","Commissioners and the sheriff discussed how proposed new hires and budget increases will affect patrol coverage, with staff estimating six deputies per shift (two per district) and a fully loaded deputy costing $150,000–$200,000 annually.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6456093,"Waller County budget workshop trims 75 position requests, recommends 3% cost-of-living increase",1505,40000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46&start=40&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706728-8efe49ea337f37eb4cc849605b72dd46/thumbnail_40000.jpg","/articles/6456093/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-budget-workshop-trims-75-position-requests-recommends-3-cost-of-living-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456093-1643fd424978074a7ade84894eefa6f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930026&Signature=TG-hNzStqMneKFi~uqhIoTE~yDh3PIxeHseN8czHM91Yg-hHUfJXPIZka~cuacvn1WlZX9VoJv25Hk-OyXGcOC6pQtPhnsuVKwbKAPB7NF3hEFVvmHSs6YcGqNxkSZEDaOL4GRs9VCQmgcP1VJafxUaWh0c7FwYHEZncdWv2ilmfQzvjhiJmfXAcNl4gDdgb0qfwxbTiyudcehdkcGy74y9C~DoK5d4Cx3CCe5BuVLuNvHRWtIJy6-tAycn2CQAYY5BltLJ1jZyiWAXhBinkge7Aho5SLKUOqGwrpHJ91sjd-D1PhENSaNZ1cPcwHVi3Q5~DOKq82FJF7qKchOrItw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a budget workshop, the Waller County Commissioners Court reviewed a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that cut an initial request for 75 new positions down to 40 full‑time and eight part‑time slots and recommended a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees.

County Judge Willie opened the workshop by describing the review process and the scale of requests. “We had requests for 75 new positions. 75 — let that sink in for 75 new positions,” Judge Willie said, noting the county currently employs about 420 people. Robert, a county budget staff member at the podium, told the court the committee had pared that number to 40 full‑time and eight part‑time positions after deliberations.

The committee summarized major budget changes and priorities. About half of the approved new positions are allocated to the sheriff’s office — 20 positions in total — with three for courthouse security, 11 in administration and patrol, and six in dispatch. Robert said the sheriff’s administrative budget increase is roughly $2,100,000. Road and Bridge is slated to receive five new employees and an increase of about $1,550,000, with road materials and bridge funding also increased.

Other line‑item changes include procurement being broken out as its own budget line and an additional staff position for the procurement office. Each constable’s office will receive $6,000 in certification pay and an increase in part‑time pay that will bring some constable offices’ part‑time salary lines to about $50,000. The committee is also recommending a 3% cola across the board, with some targeted pay adjustments in specific areas.

Budget requests submitted by departments totaled roughly $12 million, the court was told. Judge Willie and budget staff discussed the county’s revenue constraints: the county can raise its maintenance‑and‑operations tax levy up to 3.5% without voter approval, a statutory cap the court said limits flexibility. Robert later stated the county’s expected new revenue from new value would be about $5.8 million; earlier in the workshop budget staff cited a tax base (new value) figure of roughly $1.2 billion as the underlying new taxable value.

The court also discussed grants and one‑time funding. Budget staff said most previously grant‑funded salary lines had not rolled onto the general budget this year, though about 22 positions — roughly $500,000 — were identified as coming off grant funding in prior years and require ongoing funding decisions. The committee said it attempted to stair‑step ARPA and other one‑time funds over three to four years to avoid sudden shortfalls.

The court did not adopt a final budget at the workshop. Judge Willie said the court would set the proposed budget and tax rate at its regular meeting and post notices ahead of a formal vote scheduled for Sept. 17.

Ending: County officials said they aim to balance department needs against limited revenue and legal caps on tax increases. The court will reconvene to set the proposed budget and tax rate and to post required notices before the September vote.","At a budget workshop the Waller County Commissioners Court reviewed a draft fiscal year 2026 budget that reduced 75 requested new positions to 40 full-time and eight part-time, recommends a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and allocates major increases to the sheriff and road and bridge departments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Clerks’ pay and constable compensation draw scrutiny during Waller County budget workshop

Court weighs hiring assistant construction manager vs. third‑party consultants for county projects

Sheriff staffing, patrol coverage dominate budget questions as county grows

Waller County budget workshop trims 75 position requests, recommends 3% cost-of-living increase