Harrison County committee recommends $50,000 salaries for three constables after public hearing

A Harrison County salary grievance committee voted 9-0 on the grievance filings to set the salaries for the filing constables at $50,000 and forward that recommendation to the commissioners' court. County Judge Chad Sims opened the public hearing and explained that a unanimous recommendation must be included in the commissioners' budget.

The unanimous vote followed testimony from three filing constables who described heavy civil caseloads, mandatory training and public-safety risks. Jim Weatherall (Constable, Precinct 3) asked the committee "to set a salary that you feel is appropriate for constable precinct 3," and other speakers urged parity with other elected officials. The committee discussed alternatives — including a clerk proposal of $51,084 and percentage-increase options — before taking the roll and recording nine votes in favor.

The committee's recommendation now goes to the commissioners' court for final budget action; Judge Sims explained that, under the local procedure he cited at the hearing, a unanimous recommendation is included in the budget as presented. The transcript does not identify which committee member formally moved the motion; the vote tally recorded in the hearing was 9 in favor, 0 opposed.