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Sheriff presents improved response times as court debates replacing COLA with step‑and‑grade raises
Summary
Sheriff told commissioners priority‑1 response times fell about 19–20% in the first eight months of the year; commissioners debated replacing a 4% COLA with an 8% step-and-grade pay plan for deputies and discussed cost, sequencing and funding sources.
The county sheriff told commissioners the department had reduced priority‑1 response times by roughly 19–20% for the first eight months of the year and urged action to hold onto officers. The sheriff contrasted Parker County’s compressed pay scale with neighboring Weatherford PD and said retention and competitiveness were central to maintaining those response-time gains.
Commissioner Connolly moved to replace a previously approved 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) with an 8% step‑and‑grade pay increase for commissioned sheriff’s staff; the motion was seconded and commissioners debated fiscal impact and sequencing relative to setting the tax rate. Cost estimates discussed ranged from about $650,000 (salary‑only for an 8% increase) to all‑in estimates approaching $1.1M–$1.4M when benefits, vehicles and outfitting were included. The sheriff cautioned the court that both adding new patrol positions and improving pay matter for service and retention; he said the county needs both. Commissioners did not finalize a multi‑year funding framework at the workshop and asked staff to return with reconciled totals and options.
