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Cameron County approves salary adjustments for four district attorney positions amid staffing shortfall
Summary
After hearing from the district attorney's office about recruitment and retention challenges, the court approved salary adjustments to four position control numbers (PCNs) to help retain senior prosecutors; one commissioner recorded an abstention.
Cameron County Commissioners Court on Monday approved salary adjustments for four district attorney office positions after a presentation from the district attorney about recruitment, retention and workload.
District Attorney Luis Saenz and office staff told the court the office faces persistent turnover and has difficulty recruiting new attorneys. Saenz said the average assistant district attorney tenure is three to four years and that the office struggles to match pay being offered by neighboring jurisdictions and local private employers. He also discussed the loss of prospective hires who received offers with substantially higher pay: the court heard a specific example of a candidate who declined the county’s offer after being offered $22,000 more by a neighboring county.
Saenz and staff emphasized the workload and institutional knowledge held by senior prosecutors: most of the office’s senior attorneys have more than a decade of experience, and several long‑service attorneys are difficult to replace. "They have a folded letter in their hands that’s your letter of resignation," Saenz said, describing how staff often approach him after receiving outside offers.
Following executive‑session discussion, county staff recommended pay adjustments to four PCNs (475‑479‑001; 475‑481‑007; 475‑483‑001; 475‑483‑006). The court moved and seconded the recommendation and voted to approve the salary adjustments; Commissioner Benavides recorded an abstention on the item.
Why it matters: The district attorney’s office handles criminal prosecution, victim services and multiple interagency investigations across a jurisdiction with numerous local and federal law‑enforcement partners. County leaders said retaining experienced prosecutors supports public safety and the county’s capacity to prosecute federal declines and complex cases that otherwise might go unprosecuted locally.
What the DA said: Saenz and his staff described systemic recruiting challenges: fewer law school graduates, shifting candidate expectations about remote work, and higher pay in other Texas counties and in private practice. The court heard examples of market offers advertised by other offices — one child‑welfare prosecutor position in neighboring Hidalgo County was described in the meeting as being advertised at between $113,000 and $130,000.
Next steps: The court’s vote authorized staff to implement the recommended adjustments and return budget details to the court under subsequent agenda items. County commissioners said they plan to review compensation across classifications as part of budget planning to preserve experienced staff in the DA’s office.
