Tarrant elected leaders make six figures but are in line for a raise. Are you kidding?
Did anyone tell our local elected officials we’re in a recession?
First, Fort Worth and Arlington school districts called elections for huge property tax increases. The city of Arlington decided to go ahead with a vote for a quarter-cent sales tax increase for economic development.
And now, Tarrant County commissioners will consider a 3% pay increase for county employees — including highly compensated elected officeholders such as themselves.
We can’t believe we even have to say this: When Texans are struggling to keep their jobs, taking pay cuts and pondering the grim unknowns of where the pandemic might take the family finances, their representatives at all levels of government should at least look like they’re trying to help.
Commissioners (who already make about $183,000 a year; the county judge gets $10,000 more) should remove themselves and other county elected officials from the increase when they meet Tuesday. And if they don’t, every constable ($119,000 a year), justice of the peace (more than $133,500) and commissioner should turn down the additional pay.
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It’s not that we’re talking about an extraordinary amount of money —about $113,000 total in yearly additional pay for the 26 elected officials affected. And for now, the county’s budget is in good shape. Its largest source of revenue is property taxes, and so far, the recession hasn’t hurt property values.
But if you’re a homeowner who’s been laid off or had work hours or pay reduced, paying a higher tax bill because your appraisal went up feels extra cruel. Even if the county and others keep their tax rates in place. It’s a tax increase, whether it was intended to be or not.
And besides, now is a time for budget writers at all levels to be cautious. County administrator G.K. Maenius said he’s concerned Tarrant County will feel the pinch of the pandemic next year, particularly in the commercial real estate sector.
“Even if we get back to normal, whatever normal is, the issue is with office space, commercial space, how people have been able to adjust with COVID,” he said.
Maenius also noted that the county could see a decline in one of its other chief revenue sources, court fees and fines. If courts have to be closed or handle fewer cases because of the coronavirus, that could be a problem.
And then, there’s the possibility of cuts or changes from the Legislature next year that could cause even more pain.
Maenius said he’s adding more revenue to county reserves. He noted that Tarrant has the lowest property tax rate of Texas’ largest counties, thanks to what he called conservative budgeting by the Commissioners Court in recent years.
“We funded what we needed to fund, and at a level to get needed services for our community,” he said.
That includes 3% in additional pay for county employees, which would be doled out based on merit. Law enforcement officials — sheriff’s deputies, investigators, fire marshals and the like — could get a bit more, as base pay levels are increased.
It’s debatable whether this is the best use of the $11 million it will cost. But there’s no reasonable explanation for boosting pay for elected positions that already draw impressive six-figure salaries.
Our top county officials are generously paid, and it’s unseemly to increase the pinch on taxpayers to make their compensation even better during a deep recession.