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Commissioners approve temporary cadet pay increase as short‑term step while county finalizes budget
Summary
Facing recruitment and retention losses at the jail, the court approved a temporary 10% base‑pay increase for corrections cadets through the end of the fiscal year and authorized funding from ARPA to cover the cost.
Nueces County Commissioners Court approved a temporary, near‑term adjustment to corrections cadet pay July 29 to slow staff losses while the court prepares the next budget.
Court staff and the county auditor described a shortfall in corrections staffing and an ongoing loss of deputies and cadets to neighboring counties offering higher hourly wages. To reduce immediate turnover while budget decisions are finalized, the court approved raising the cadet base pay by roughly 10% for the remainder of the current fiscal year; the raise, combined with the county’s existing 20% retention premium, brings cadet compensation closer to neighboring county offers, staff said.
Finance staff provided an interim cost estimate for the action: approximately $97,100 to be charged to the general fund and an additional $1,900 charged to premium‑pay funds for the remainder of the fiscal year (total roughly $99,000). The court voted to fund the temporary increase from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; commissioners discussed transitioning any permanent pay changes into the FY23 budget process.
Commissioners framed the action as a stopgap to prevent further staffing losses while allowing time to consider pay changes permanently in the upcoming budget. Several commissioners asked that sheriff’s office leadership or the Sheriff’s Officers Association participate in future discussions; the court requested a short, written cost memo confirming ARPA as the funding source and the duration of the temporary increase.
Ending: The temporary pay increase is in effect through the end of the fiscal year; staff were directed to confirm the funding allocation from ARPA, return a final cost memo to the court, and include any proposed permanent pay changes in the FY23 budget discussions.
