Hood County raises recruit pay to $65,000 and adopts revised salary matrix

The Hood County Commissioners Court approved changes to the county salary matrix and incentive pay, including a specific increase in recruit pay from $51,700 to $65,000. The motion to approve the matrix with that exception passed unanimously, 5–0.

Commissioners described the matrix changes as a re-banding in which steps were multiplied and reallocated: earlier step increases were effectively rolled into a 10% raise applied across classifications and the matrix was adjusted so top‑out pay moved higher while creating a new starting step for recruits and other positions. Commissioners said the recruit slot at $65,000 is intended to keep entry‑level compensation viable while recruits attend the academy and to allow lateral moves from the jail without penalizing pay.

Law-enforcement speakers noted recruiting challenges when academy recruits earn comp time while in training and asked how comp time and base salary changes would interact; staff explained comp time earned during training would be paid out when a position changes that is not a lateral move. Commissioners directed human-resources staff to implement personnel action forms consistent with the approved matrix and to process incentive‑pay lines accordingly.

The specific motion recorded in the transcript read: "Approve the Hood County matrix and incentive pay for eligible employees with the exception of increasing the recruit pay from $51,700 to $65,000," moved by Commissioner Andrews and seconded by Commissioner Wilson; the court voted 5–0 in favor.

The vote finalizes the matrix for payroll implementation and the court approved matching personnel action forms during the meeting so salary and incentive adjustments can be reflected in the next payroll cycle.