Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections And Voting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve retroactive pay for election judges and clerks to Jan. 1, 2025
Summary
San Patricio County approved hourly rates for election judges ($14) and election clerks ($12) as included in the 2025 budget and made the pay effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 after staff identified the rates were in the approved budget but omitted from personnel listings.
San Patricio County Commissioners Court approved pay rates for election judges and clerks and made the wages retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 after staff said the amounts were included in the 2025 budget but had not been entered into payroll personnel listings.
Election Administrator Pam Hill told the court the rates were in the budget and that the payroll and personnel offices lacked the updated hourly entries; she asked the court to ensure the treasurer and personnel office had the correct rates. Hill said, "It needs to be retro because it was approved."
County staff raised a legal question about retroactivity. A staff member identified as Norma advised there is generally a legal restriction on retroactive pay, with limited exceptions. Norma said there is "one exception . . . for administrative error," and after reviewing the matter staff concluded the omission was administrative and the court could authorize retroactive pay. The court amended the motion to make the effective date Jan. 1, 2025 and the motion carried.
The vote authorized paying election judges $14 per hour and election clerks $12 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Pam Hill reminded the court that when the county contracts with entities (for example, cities or school districts) the county charges those entities the full cost it pays election workers when the city or school requests a different rate.
