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Smith County constables press court for pay increases, chief‑deputy stipends
Summary
Constables representing all precincts presented a joint request to raise pay and add a $5,000 stipend for chief deputies. Precinct 1 Constable Ralph Carraway Jr. compared local pay with neighboring counties and described statutory duties, training and reporting obligations that he said justify higher compensation.
Ralph Carraway Jr., Constable of Precinct 1, and four fellow constables asked commissioners to consider a pay adjustment and stipends to recognize supervisory responsibility and training obligations during the FY2026 budget workshop.
"We are peace officers as well as constables," Carraway told the court, and he stressed that the role includes criminal and civil responsibilities. He presented comparative salary data and said Smith County constables are paid less than counterparts in several nearby counties; Carraway urged the court to consider a target of about $95,000 for constable pay and recommended a $5,000 annual stipend for chief deputies to recognize their out‑of‑office supervisory duties.
Carraway listed a broad set of responsibilities his office must perform, including TCOLE‑mandated training, racial‑profiling reporting, asset‑forfeiture reporting, NCIC/TCIC certification, courtroom and security incident reporting, patrol investigations and internal affairs supervision. He said the office’s second‑in‑command must be ready to take over when the constable is out of the office and that compensation for the second in command should reflect that responsibility.
Other precincts’ constables described similar workloads dominated by civil process (paper service), evictions and bailiff court duties, often requiring multiple service attempts per case. Presenters said precinct offices typically also assist with traffic enforcement, school zone and community‑policing duties and sometimes initial criminal investigations before turning complex follow‑ups to the sheriff’s office.
Carraway told the court their offices seek to align constable pay and stipends with other law‑enforcement administrators and argued the change would improve retention and recruitment. He said the group’s ask was not just about salary but recognition of constables’ law‑enforcement role and 24/7 responsibilities.
Commissioners thanked the constables for the presentation and asked follow‑up questions about coverage and personnel; no formal action or vote was taken at the workshop. Staff were asked to consider the pay request alongside county budget priorities and to return with more detailed cost estimates if the court wishes to pursue increases.
