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San Patricio commissioners decline salary increases for elected officials amid budget uncertainty
Summary
Facing early budget figures and health‑insurance pressures, San Patricio County commissioners voted to withhold annual increases for county elected officials this year, while acknowledging state‑mandated pay changes remain exceptions.
The San Patricio County Commissioners Court voted to decline an across‑the‑board salary increase for county elected officials for the coming fiscal year. Commissioners discussed preliminary budget uncertainties, rising county health‑insurance costs and the timing of salary actions relative to the overall budget process.
Several commissioners expressed concern about approving raises before the broader budget is finalized. "Without having a budget yet, how do we know where we sit if we approve a 3% increase?" one commissioner asked during debate. Some commissioners said they personally declined their own increases. A motion to withhold elected‑official pay increases passed; the court noted state‑mandated exceptions would still apply.
Commissioners also discussed constable pay and said they planned to evaluate pay discrepancies through the county’s salary‑review processes and any forthcoming grievance hearings. Letters to elected officials about the proposed compensation change will be sent following the vote, and recipients will have a statutory window to file grievances, the court said.
