(Seguin) — Guadalupe County has officially authorized the publication of proposed salaries, expenses and allowances for elected and precinct officers. The action moves the county closer to adopting this year’s proposed $200 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher says the move is part of the county’s normal budget process, which requires the court to set compensation levels before final adoption.
Kutscher says the salary proposals are based on years of study and a system intended to keep the county competitive in attracting and retaining qualified leaders and employees.
“We always try to look at our elected and appointed positions which are our department heads just like our employees and what that looks like, the last few years, we did a salary study as well as implemented a grade/ step pay system trying to get positions competitive across the board to be able to attract and retain employees – trying to advance the position of the county and have good folks that would be interested in serving in county government,” said Kutscher.
Kutscher says the county’s compensation review includes “comparing Guadalupe County to others across Texas.”
“For elected officials, always look at the state ranking of the county where all the other counties are. So, the breakdown shows 193-194 counties that reported their state salary survey. Guadalupe County ranked as the 28th largest county in the state and then we ranked those positions of elected officials based on their compensation in comparison to all those other counties. It’s not an exact determining factor, but it is a good gauge to say are we close or are we not? On some of those positions, we were very far off but at the same time, when we look at some of those judge positions and those things, we also get state changes and mandates on district judges, county court at law judges even county judges supplement based on judicial requirements to fund those supplements based at whatever the state sets them. That’s something that we don’t get to decide and those are noted at the bottom of that salary page that shows those adjustments and or state requirements,” Kutscher explained.
The proposed budget also includes a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for county employees, along with adjustments based on longevity and the county’s adopted step and grade pay scales. Kutscher says this approach ensures long-term employees are placed correctly in the pay system and that separate scales are maintained for law enforcement and fire personnel.
Meanwhile not all members of the court supported the pay proposals for elected officials.
Commissioner Pct. 4 Stephen Germann cast the lone “no” vote on the authorization, citing fairness to county employees and taxpayers.
In a statement to the Seguin Daily News, Germann shared, “I cannot and will not support an increase in elected officials’ salaries in the county. County employees will all get a cost-of-living adjustment of 3 percent. I cannot look our devoted employees in the eye and take a pay raise of around 9.5 percent when they get 3 percent. There are those that say we have to pay more to attract good people. My answer is the county is not a business, and I serve my people. That is why I am here. Yes, I have to live on something, but I am equal to the rest of our good employees. The cost to the taxpayers of all the elected officials increases would be $75,000 to $85,000. It’s hard to be exact but this is a rough estimate. It’s taxpayers’ dollars!”
The discussion comes as the commissioners’ court is also weighing a proposed tax rate of $0.3304 per $100 valuation — up from the current $0.3167 rate, which amounts to about a 4 percent increase. That proposal passed 3-2, with Commissioners Germann and Commissioner Pct. 1 Jacqueline Ott voting against it.
Kutscher says public safety continues to make up the largest portion of county spending, with nearly $2.9 million proposed for positions, equipment, and capital projects for law enforcement, fire, and EMS.
The commissioners’ court is expected to adopt the final budget, salaries, and tax rate on Sept. 2. A copy of the elected official’s salary schedule plus proposed budget can be found on the county’s website at guadalupetx.gov.
