Harris County commissioners retain leadership, fill boards and approve 8.8% sheriff pay increase effective Jan. 1

The Harris County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved organizational appointments and administrative schedules and approved an 8.8% pay increase for sheriff’s department positions, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

The board voted to keep existing leadership for 2025: Commissioner Grant as chairman and Commissioner Susan Andrews as vice chairman. Commissioners also confirmed or reappointed several members to county boards: Nicholas Henson was appointed to the Planning Commission District 5 seat; Lori Taft and Chris Boutsen were reappointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustments; and Chief Appraiser Shali Mallory was appointed to the Board of Tax Assessors. Commissioners approved the county’s 2025 regular meeting schedule and the 2025 rezoning and special-use permit schedule.

During new-business discussion, commissioners also discussed expanding the Board of Tax Assessors from three to five members. The board agreed to request county-attorney review of state statutes and local ordinances before pursuing the expansion; commissioners appointed a replacement for the expired seat (Lisa Scully) and deferred the expansion decision for a future meeting.

On compensation, Commissioner Susan Andrews said she was clarifying a prior motion and moved to increase sheriff’s department salary grades and jail rates by 8.8 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2025; the board seconded the clarified motion and approved it. The motion referenced a Carl Vinson Institute study indicating the sheriff’s department was behind market rate by 8.8 percent. The board announced the increase after the executive session and the motion carried with no recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (Dec. 17, 2024): Approved (minor correction noted). - Leadership: Motion to retain Commissioner Grant as chairman and Commissioner Susan Andrews as vice chairman: Approved. - Planning Commission, District 5: Nicholas Henson appointed: Approved. - Planning Commission at-large: Reappointment of Jared Lloyd (at-large) was left for follow-up; no appointment made. - Board of Zoning Adjustments: Lori Taft (District 5) and Chris Boutsen (District 4) reappointed: Approved. - Board of Tax Assessors: Seat vacated by Lisa Scully filled by Chief Appraiser Shali Mallory: Approved. Proposal to expand board from 3 to 5 referred to county attorney for legal review. - 2025 County Commission meeting schedule: Approved. - 2025 Rezoning and special-use permit schedule: Approved. - Sheriff’s department pay increase: Motion to raise salary grades and jail rates 8.8% effective Jan. 1, 2025: Approved.

Why this matters: The leadership and board appointments maintain administrative continuity for county permitting and land-use decisions; the sheriff’s pay adjustment responds to a market-rate study and will affect county payroll costs and retention for public safety staff.