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McCulloch County commissioners deadlock over proposed raises and vehicle stipends
Summary
After prolonged debate and multiple failed amendments, McCulloch County Commissioners did not adopt changes to elected-official pay or vehicle stipends for FY 2025-2026; several residents spoke against stipends and commissioners disagreed on size and eligibility of increases.
McCulloch County's Commissioner's Court debated proposed salary increases, supplements, vehicle stipends and longevity pay for elected officials on Aug. 4, 2025, but the court did not adopt the proposed changes after a series of failed motions and amendments.
The discussion followed public comment in which residents criticized stipends and raises. "The stipends seem self-serving and not for the good of the county," said Gary Maricle during the public-comment period. Dixie Pitcox also spoke against raises for county officials.
Commissioner Randy Deans moved to accept the original proposed increases; Commissioner Don Bratton seconded, but the motion failed on a 2-3 vote. Commissioners who opposed the motion voiced differing alternatives: Commissioner Bratton proposed reverting stipends to $2,000 while keeping the proposed elected-official raises (motion failed 2-3); Commissioner Anderson proposed eliminating stipends and denying raises for commissioners (failed); Commissioner Young said he would not accept the larger increase and proposed a 3% raise with a $1,500 stipend in a separate amendment (also failed).
The transcript records several successive motions and amendments but does not show a final adopted change to commissioners' compensation. The record includes an internal inconsistency in the minutes-approval notation (see "Minutes" item): the minutes were recorded as "All in favor. Motion carries. 5-0," but the transcript also notes an abstention by Commissioner Bratton; that discrepancy remains in the meeting record.
The court's votes were recorded in the meeting minutes as the series of failed and withdrawn motions described above. No further action to adopt a compensation change was recorded at the meeting; the item was handled for publication per Local Government Code 152.013.
What happens next: The court recorded the debate and the failed motions for the minutes and publication; any future change would require a subsequent motion and a recorded vote.
