The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted to give law enforcement officers a pay increase of 5% on Tuesday, June 28, according to a report from Austin ABC affiliate KVUE.
The station reported that the increase will occur during the county’s 2022-2023 fiscal year and will benefit officers who work with the sheriff’s office, constables’ office, district attorney’s office, county correction and county attorney’s office.
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said the measure is a part of his and the commissioners’ “strong commitment to support law enforcement,” according to the report.
“We have provided the proper tools and resources, and now, the best compensation in the region when you include benefits and retirement,” Gravell, a Republican, said, KVUE reported.
According to the station, tenured staff will receive an additional raise of up to 5% in their paychecks.
Three cost-of-living adjustments during the last four years has caused law enforcement pay to go up a total of 11%, KVUE reported.
Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported that the increase will go into effect in October.
“There’s probably not a more challenging time to be in law enforcement, and I thank all the men and women who do serve in that role for what they do,” Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said, per KXAN.
KXAN reported that Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason requested county leaders to include pay increases in last year’s budget on grounds average pay for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was behind those of neighboring jurisdiction’s agencies.
According to county officials, the station reported, the county altered its “tenure step structure” to forge “a higher paying career path with increases at a faster rate.”
