Maverick County approves OLS-funded pay increases but orders auditor review of comparability

Maverick County Commissioners on April 9 approved a series of pay increases and a title change for employees paid through Operation Lone Star (OLS) grant funds, while directing the county auditor's office to review the changes for internal comparability.

The court approved changing Carlos Martinez's title from OLS Investigator 2 to lead investigator and raising his pay to $30 per hour; it approved a $30-per-hour rate for Julio Carrasco, OLS deputy technician; and approved pay adjustments for additional OLS-funded positions, including a $19.50 hourly rate for Ortensia Hernandez, OLS bond records clerk. The court also approved a separate salary increase for Amanda Capetillo, a district court employee, to take effect April 10, 2025.

County staff and auditors raised questions on how the grant requires salaries to be "comparable." Patty Cortez, speaking during the discussion, asked whether comparability meant within the department, region, or among other grant-funded positions. County Attorney Adeccheff told the court, "I can more than assure this court that that is not something that's gonna be unreasonable in given the nature of the type of work that's happening in OLS." He added that the court had authority to approve raises and that staff review was appropriate.

Commissioners pressed for a procedural record. The court asked the auditing office to produce comparables and share them with the judge and county attorney before similar items are placed on future agendas. On the Carrasco amendment, the record shows an abstention by Commissioner Reese on the amendment vote; subsequent action to approve the adjusted items passed with court approval.

Court motions to amend and approve the items were made and seconded by members of the court and the items were approved in public vote. The record shows the changes are funded by OLS grant allocations and, for some positions, by governor's office-approved line items; commissioners repeatedly noted that the grant structure, not the county general fund, covers the salary adjustments for OLS-funded roles.

By asking the auditor's office to compile comparability data and share it with the court, commissioners created a record that future grant-funded salary actions should include supporting comparison data. The court did not rescind any approved raises during the meeting; instead, commissioners said the auditor could return to the court if comparability problems are found.