Tarrant County employees, elected officials will receive minimum 3% raise
With the newly passed Tarrant County budget, all county employees will see at least a 3% pay increase within the next year.
Special emphasis was placed on law enforcement officers. Raises between 3% and 10% will be given depending on the role.
“After serving as a police officer for more than 15 years, I know firsthand how critical it is to public safety that we fully support the men and women who wear the badge,” Commissioner Manny Ramirez, a Fort Worth Republican, said in a statement. “These wage increases show how deeply we value their service and sacrifice. Higher wages boost morale, strengthen accountability, and improve performance across the board.”
Sheriff’s deputies will be getting the largest pay increase, bringing the starting salary up to $79,800, the highest for that position across the state. This is the third annual raise of 10% for deputies in the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
A 4% structure increase will be given to detention officers, with the aim of attracting applicants for the 195 vacant roles in the Tarrant County Jail, according to county budget director Helen Giese. Peace officers will see a 7% structure increase, and all law enforcement employees will get a 3% step increase.
All eligible non-law enforcement employees in the county will be receiving a 3% merit increase on Oct. 1 or Jan. 1.
County Judge Tim O’Hare, a Southlake Republican, spent $3.5 million of his discretionary funds to reduce outstanding county debt, which made space in the budget for the merit raises and a 1% cost of living adjustment for retirees.
Elected county officials are also seeing a 3% increase across the board. The range of salaries will be $143,400 for constables and $295,564 for District Attorney Phil Sorrells, a North Richland Hills Republican.
County commissioners will be paid $220,616. O’Hare and Sheriff Bill Waybourn, a Dalworthington Gardens Republican, will be paid $230,616.