Coryell County leaders recommend $5,000 boost for executive assistants as budget review continues

Chair opened the resumed budget session by reiterating earlier salary discussions and recommending a $5,000 raise for executive assistant positions to bring their pay “somewhere commensurate with other raises given.” Chair said, “I would recommend, to the court, that that be set at 5,000.”

The court examined exempt versus nonexempt classifications and identified two positions—indigent health and indigent defense pretrial services—that may need exempt-pay adjustments. Chair said those changes would bring the executive assistant base to roughly $43,000 plus longevity increments. Commissioners and staff discussed the interplay between one-time legislative allocations and recurring revenue projections; staff noted recent receipts from the legislature and transfers of ARPA funds affected year-to-year comparisons.

Commissioners pressed staff on revenue trends and reimbursements, including a shortfall in projected disabled-veteran tax exemption reimbursements that reduced expected revenues. Chair said staff would refine the numbers and circulate updated budget documents; the court scheduled a follow-up meeting next week to review final adjustments and reach a proposed budget to file.

The next procedural step is for staff to publish revised spreadsheets and for the court to reconvene to finalize the proposed budget.