By Anita Miller
With the exception of the county judge and commissioners, Hays County’s elected officials will be getting a pay raise of five percent according to the FY 2020 budget approved Tuesday by the commissioners court.
The budget also brings the salaries of constables in precincts 2 and 5 into line with those of other precincts. Additionally, the county’s five justices of the peace get an adjustment of $9,800 in addition to the five percent due to their magistration allowance being included in the base salary.
The budget passed by a vote of 5 to 0 following a public hearing Tuesday. Two people expressed their concerns ahead of the vote.
County Judge Ruben Becerra, who also receives $25,200 annually for magistration duties funded by the state of Texas, will receive a salary of $88,505 and a travel allowance of $15,000 for compensation totaling $103,505 from Hays County, plus the state’s $25,202.
Commissioners receive a base salary of $82,151 and travel allowance of $15,000 each. Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe also gets a longevity adjustment of $1,595. Commissioner Pct. 2 Mark Jones and Pct. 3 Lon Shell get longevity adjustments of $480. With travel allowance and longevity adjustments figured in, Gonzales Ingalsbe will take home $98,746; Jones and Shell will get $97,631 and Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith will receive $97,151.
Sheriff Gary Cutler, who is the county’s highest-paid official, earns a base salary of $110,664, a longevity adjustment of $490 and a phone allowance of $420 for a total package of $111,574.
Tax Assessor-Collector Jenifer O’Kane’s base salary is $95,610. She also gets a longevity adjustment of $500, a travel allowance of $3,306 and a phone allowance of $420 for total compensation equalling $99,836.
Others are as follows:
• County Treasurer Britney Bolton Richey: Base salary $83,484; longevity allowance $1,735; travel allowance $3,064; total package $88,283.
• District Clerk Beverly Crumley: Base salary $87,488; longevity allowance $1,590; travel allowance $3,064; total package $92,142.
• County Clerk Elaine Cardenas: Base salary $87,488; travel allowance $3,064; total package $90,552.
• Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 1 Jo Anne Prado: Base salary $80,310; longevity adjustment $2,.040; travel allowance $4,574; total package $86,924.
• Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 2 Maggie Moreno and Pct. 4 John Burns: Base salary $80,310; travel allowance 4,564; total package $84,874.
• Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Beth Smith and Pct. 3 Andrew Cable: Base salary $80,310; longevity allowance $1,200; travel allowance $4,564; total package $86,074. (Smith also receives a FY 2020 adjustment of $6,238.)
• Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Scott Cary: Base salary $80,310; longevity adjustment $595; travel allowance $4,564; total package $85,469.
• Constable Pct. 1 David Peterson: Base salary 77,700; longevity adjustment $1,800; uniform allowance $720; total package $80,220.
• Constable Pct. 2 Michael Torres: Base salary $77,700; uniform allowance $720; total package $78,420.
• Constable Pct. 3 Ray Helm: Base salary $77,700; longevity adjustment $870; uniform allowance $720; phone allowance $420; total package $79,710.
• Constable Pct. 4 Ron Hood: Base salary $77,700; longevity adjustment $690; uniform allowance $720; total package $79,020.
• Constable Pct. 5 John Ellen: Base salary $77,000; FY 2020 adjustment $6,238; longevity adjustment $330; uniform allowance $720; total package $78,750.
FY 2020 starts on Oct. 1.
