Tarrant County commissioners reject 3% pay raise, citing coronavirus recession
Tarrant County commissioners rejected a 3% raise for themselves, other elected officials and their staffs Tuesday morning amid a 7.5% unemployment rate in the Metroplex and a recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to forgo the raise passed unanimously and follows Dallas County commissioners’ decision to reject a 2% raise for themselves and other officials on Sept. 1. Commissioner Devan Allen was not present because she is recovering from a recent surgery.
Commissioners also approved a $701.4 million budget which keeps the tax rate at 23.4 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The budget represents a $21 million increase from the 2020 and includes funding for 25 new positions and 3% merit increases for non-law enforcement positions.
The owner of a $220,000 home will pay $521 in county taxes.
Commissioners receive a yearly salary of just under $183,000, and County Judge Glen Whitley and Sheriff Bill Waybourn are paid just under $193,000. The raise would’ve increased their pay by about $5,500.
Commissioner Roy Brooks said during the meeting that the coronavirus pandemic has created financial difficulties for the county and it was time for the commissioners to share the pain of its residents.
Whitley said in a press conference after the meeting there was no push back from officials or staff members on denying a pay increase.
During public comment, many residents commended the commissioners for not taking a raise, but also wanted them to reject raises for all non-elected employees. The budget includes $8.6 million for merit and step pay raises.
Department managers, working from a 3% increase in payroll, can give individual non-law enforcement employees raises up to 6% and others less. But Whitley advised that departments don’t go over 3% raises.
Law enforcement employees will get a 2% raise on Oct. 1 and a 3% salary increase dependent on an evaluation.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 3:50 PM.
