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Constable Precinct 5 asks McLennan County for full‑time courtroom deputy and new vehicle amid staffing squeeze
Summary
Constable Precinct 5 requested a full‑time courtroom deputy to replace rotating part‑time staff, pay alignment for the elected constable, and a $50,854 Chevy Traverse for limited transport duties. Commissioners pressed for details on usage, radio needs and possible trade‑offs with other budget items.
Constable Precinct 5 asked the McLennan County Commissioners Court to add a full‑time courtroom deputy position, align the elected official’s pay with comparable offices and buy a new patrol‑style Chevrolet Traverse priced at $50,854 including upfitting.
The courtroom deputy request is intended to reduce turnover caused by hiring part‑time employees who then take full‑time jobs elsewhere, the chief deputy said. “We get them trained. They get experience. And then they get offered positions in other places,” he said, noting part‑time hires moved to Falls County and a truancy program in recent years. He said a full‑time hire would retain training investment and allow the office to be selective on candidates.
On the vehicle, staff gave cost comparisons for a Tahoe ($56,600 plus $11,516 upfit) and a Ford police interceptor ($54k plus upfit) and said a Traverse with lights and a cage would be the least expensive of the three once install and shipping were included. “To be operable, that $50,000 would be what we would need to hit the street running,” the chief deputy said. They described the vehicle as one used for civil process and transports, not for patrol pursuits, and said outfitting costs could be reduced because the vehicle would not be used for high‑speed patrol.
Commissioners questioned whether hand‑held 800MHz radios could replace vehicle radios and whether the county could better use existing fleet vehicles. One commissioner asked whether a vehicle could be rotated into regular daily use so it would not just sit idle; staff said vehicle mileage historically has been low for that function but argued a dedicated vehicle avoids tying up other agencies and delays in serving process. The constable’s office also asked that the elected official’s salary be matched to offices with comparable responsibilities.
Why it matters: The court’s larger budget trade‑offs hinge on personnel and capital choices. The courtroom deputy request is framed as a retention and continuity measure for civil process and court work; vehicle purchases are being scrutinized because multiple departments requested new vehicles in this cycle.
What’s next: The county budget staff captured the requests for FY‑26 consideration. Commissioners and staff discussed possible trade‑offs and contingency funds; the constable later withdrew part of a capital request related to an additional vehicle and indicated willingness to delay purchase if necessary.
