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Nueces County veterans office wins grant renewal, seeks title change and small salary bump
Summary
The Veterans Service Office told Commissioners Court its renewed grant will let it hire two part‑time staff July 1 to manage buses, food and hygiene distribution; the office also asked to reclassify an administrative secretary to 'veterans resource specialist' with a $5,000 raise to reflect added duties.
Martin, director of the county Veterans Service Office, told the commission that a renewed veterans grant will allow the office to add two part‑time employees starting July 1 to help oversee the program’s bus‑pass distribution, hygiene and food pantry purchases. “This will be the 5th time that Nueces County Veterans Services in conjunction with social services has received this grant,” Martin said, adding that the new hires are grant‑funded and would end when the grant expires.
Martin also asked the court to approve a reclassification and salary increase for an administrative secretary, saying the employee now performs outreach, public‑relations and community presentations in addition to clerical work. He said he is requesting a raise from about $32,000 to $37,000 and a title change to veterans resource specialist to reflect the expanded duties. “She’s been with the county 9 years … she’s taken on additional duties besides what she does on her regular administrative duties,” Martin said.
Commissioners encouraged Martin to gather comparable pay data from similar counties to inform the proposed reclassification and pay change. Joe Benavides, a local resident and veteran, urged the court to expand partnerships with existing VA clinics and nonprofit counselors rather than rush to create new county positions.
Martin outlined service gains from moving to the RTA site — wider doors, a waiting area and RTA access that help veterans with walkers and wheelchairs — and presented county veteran population figures showing a modest decline since 2015 that he attributed in part to Hurricane Harvey and normal demographic change. He said much of the office’s programming, including veterans resource fairs and stand‑down events, operates at no cost to county taxpayers through nonprofit partnerships.
The court asked the county attorney to review any formal agreements needed to partner with outside counseling providers and universities; Martin said existing collaborations are informal and that the office will coordinate interlocal agreements when necessary. The commission did not take a formal vote during the presentation; follow‑up information requested included the compensation comparatives Martin promised to deliver.
