Hays County Commissioners Court discusses employee budget

HAYS COUNTY — The Hays County Commissioners Court discussed possible changes to the updated employment budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at its Aug. 22 meeting.

The budget workshop consisted of a presentation, with no action taken, by the Compensation Committee, consisting of County Judge Ruben Becerra, Hays County Human Resources Director Shari Miller, Hays County Budget Officer Vickie Dorsett, Hays County Clerk Elaine Cardenas, District Attorney Kelly Higgins, Tax Assessor Jennifer O’Kane and Transportation Director Jerry Borcherding. Previously, the committee has met approximately three or four times to discuss possible recommendations for the upcoming year.

The first recommendation comes after this year’s salary study that occurred in April. The Management Advisory Group suggested a 30-step plan regarding raises, but the committee, thinking that those were a lot of steps with little difference in percentage, chose to recommend a 15-step plan over the course of 29 years. This means that there would be a 3% raise between each step beginning in year two, with years two, three and four increasing by a step and a hold occurring between years four through six. After that, there would be steps spaced out throughout the entire 29-year plan.

This would apply immediately to new hires, but to even out current hires, the county could implement one of two scenarios: choosing to adhere to the total years that they have been with the county — which would cost approximately $3.1 million — or how long they have been in their current position — which would cost approximately $1.5 million in funding.

If the county considers adopting the total years that the employees have been with the county, the committee is also recommending the consideration of eliminating the annual “Christmas bonus,” or longevity plan.

The annual “Christmas bonus” that employees receive each year in November recognizes the amount of time they have spent in the county.It is planned to be funded with a little over half a million in the budget. Currently, starting in their fifth year, employees receive a bonus of $5 for every month that they have worked, making their first bonus approximately $300. The idea of eliminating the longevity plan is that the money would be reimbursed through the raises.

Becerra said he is concerned that they would be eliminating a constant that employees know will be there, though commissioner Walt Smith believes that employees would be happier knowing that they will overall be receiving more money.

“I would much rather take care of the employees over time than have a check at the end of the year and say, ‘This is what the court did’ or, ‘We’re so glad that you are here.’ It’s more of a show that the county did something for these employees than actually delivering what we need for the employee,” said Smith.

The last item discussed concerned a tiered pay scale for elected officials. The tiers would elevate if the official entered numerous terms and would have to be posted publicly.

Both commissioners Lon Shell and Smith were in support, but Smith suggested capping the terms at three. He also stated that he was in support due to the number of officials asking for raises after they were hired.

“This may sound bad, but I’ve had this conversation with our constables every year. I have supported every single thing they ask for, except for the individual pay increases because especially coming out of an election year, and this is my personal view, you knew what the job paid when you ran for it. You got the job and six months later, you're asking for a pay increase. I have a personal issue with that,” said Smith. “If they’re placed in that step plan and it’s known that this is what it’s going to be, and if you run again, then this is what is going to be, I like that a lot. Because it clearly delineates and it may put an end to those annualized elected officials coming in and asking for a pay raise.”

Commissioners also took the time to honor county employees for milestones:

• Michael Davenport; 30 years

• Amelia Flores; 15 years

• Juan Zesati; 10 years

• Mindi Duckworth; 10 years

• Christina Marshall; 10 years

• Jordan Powell; 10 years

• Emily Lange; 5 years

• Christopher McCutcheon; 5 years

• Olivia Reyes; 5 years

• Simon Ramirez; 5 years

• James Dalton; 5 years

• Herlinda McHugh; 1 year

• Kirven Baker; 1 year

• Beth Ball; 1 year

• Valerie Rosales; 1 year

• Taylor Hart; 1 year

• Gisela Bonola; 1 year

• William Baumann; 1 year

• Mariah Pacheco 1 year

• Michelle Tarango; 1 year

• Randy Lootens; 1 year

• Gibson Stanley; 1 year

• Miguel Rodriguez; 1 year

• Raul Torres; 1 year

• Pamela Anderson; 1 year

• Amanda Torres; 1 year

• Barbara Thompson; 25 years, retiree

The commissioners court will hold a public hearing on the tax rate at 11 a.m. on Sept. 5.