* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:18] HI, EVERYONE, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? >> YES, JUDGE, WE HEAR YOU. >> OH, MY GOSH, I AM SO SORRY, WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THIS THING AND I HATE YOU WERE JUST SITTING THERE. I AM REALLY SORRY. SO, GOOD MORNING. I AM HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO AND THE CHAIR OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. IT IS 10:50 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2025. IT IS THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING I AM CALLING TO ORDER. IT IS A FUNCTION OF HEARING GRIEVANCES FILED BY ELECTED COUNTY OR OFFICERS WITH RESPECT TO THE SETTING OF THEIR SALARIES OR PERSONAL EXPENSES IN THE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THIS POSITION AND SERVE THE PUBLIC. TODAY I AM DESIGNATING IN TERM ADMINISTRATOR DICKERSON. A APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR THE TROUBLESHOOTING, I APPRECIATE YOU AND RESPECT YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. I AM GOING TO HOP OFF. THINK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING [1. Opening remarks and adoption of procedural rules for the Committee.] SO GRACIOUS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, MUCH APPRECIATED. >> OKAY. GOOD MORNING, I AM THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HERE. I WILL SERVE AS THE NONVOTING FACILITATOR FOR TODAY'S GRIEVANCE, SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. THANK YOU SPECIAL THIS MIKE ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR SERVING WITH US THIS MORNING. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, THEIR RESTROOMS LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR. IF YOU NEED THE RESTROOM, PLEASE FEEL FREE. WE KNEW DUSTIN DO NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE QUORUM. THIS HEARING IS HELD , WE ARE IN PUBLIC UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AS A RESULT MEANS WE CAN ONLY TAKE UP ITEMS IN THE POSTED AGENDA. EVERYBODY HAS A FOLDER RIGHT HERE. THIS WAS ATTACHED. THIS WAS THE POSTED AGENDA. YOU CAN SEE IT IS NUMBER ONE THROUGH THREE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMMENT ON COMMITTEE BUSINESS BUT THE COMMITTEE MAY ADAPT FEASIBLE RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE COMMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND BROADCAST VIRTUALLY. AT TODAY'S MEETING WE ARE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY WILL HELP US NEGOTIATE THIS MEETING AND FOR THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, THEY WILL TAKE MINUTES, ALSO PRESENT IS DISTRICT CLERK MARILYN BURGESS, WHO IS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO TIMELY SUBMITTED A GRIEVANCE TO BE HEARD TODAY AND DANIEL RAMOS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND HE WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TODAY. AS A COMMITTEE, OUR ROLE IS LIMITED TO CONSIDERING INCREASES IN SALARY REQUESTED BY COUNTY OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, WE MAY NOT SET POLICY FOR THE COUNTY OR ADD ANY NEW ITEMS IN THE PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING, WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ON THE GRIEVANCE ITSELF. AND SO, IF THERE ARE FIVE VOTERS OF THESE NINE OR FEWER IN FAVOR WHO ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE ELECTED OFFICIALS' REQUEST, NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE MEETING. IF SIX TO EIGHT OF THIS COMMITTEE VOTES TO APPROVE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARY REQUEST, IT WOULD BE 42 COMMISSIONERS COURT AS A RECOMMENDATION. IF ALL NINE VOTE TOGETHER UNANIMOUSLY THEN THAT INCREASE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE APPROVED IN THE BUDGET. SO ALL OF THIS IS PART OF STATE LAW. WE ARE FOLLOWING STATE STATUTE VERY CAREFULLY HERE. THESE ARE NOT RULES WE ARE CREATING FOR THIS MEETING. TODAY, ONLY ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS TIMELY SUBMITTED A GRIEVANCE. SHE WILL BE REFERRED TO IN THAT PROCESS AS THE GRIEVANT. WE WILL HEAR FROM HER SHORTLY. BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN THE AGENDA. SO THE FIRST THING WE ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND FOLKS DO IS THAT WE ADOPT THE RULES THAT WILL GOVERN THE WAY WE HEAR THE GRIEVANCE REQUEST TODAY. IT IS PART OF THE PACKET. IN A SECOND, WE WILL TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES FOR FOLKS TO READ THE RULES AND THEY WE WILL VOTE TO ADOPT THEM. THEN WE WILL MOVE TO THE GRIEVANCE HEARING REQUEST. WE WILL TALK ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS, DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THE GRIEVANCE REQUEST. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ANY OF THAT TO START? OKAY. OKAY. SO, WE WILL MOVE TO ADOPT THE RULES. PLEASE REVIEW. WE'VE GOT THIS PACKAGE HERE. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. I AM GETTING GIVE [00:05:04] EVERYBODY A COUPLE OF MINUTES. IT WILL BROADLY OUTLINE THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE AND ORDER OF OPERATIONS FOR THE MEETING. IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I WILL BE HAPPY TO CALL ON YOU. NOW I WILL GIVE EVERYBODY A FEW MINUTES TO REVIEW THIS. >> >> S, SHERIFF GONZALEZ? >> MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED RULES AS PRESENTED IN WRITTEN FORM. >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE SHERIFF MADE A MOTION. WILL THERE BE SOMEONE ON THE COMMITTEE TO SECOND THAT MOTION AND WE WILL PROCEED TO A ROLL CALL VOTE , I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION, SECOND OR VOTE. >> I WILL SECOND BECAUSE WHEN I THINK YOU. I WILL START ON THIS END. >> PASSED AND ARE ADOPTED. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE GRIEVANCE. UNDER THE RULES WE JUST ADAPTED, HERE IS HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING TO WORK. I WILL ANNOUNCE THE GRIEVANT'S NAME AND TITLE, ALONG WITH THE CURRENT SALARY AND INCREASE REQUESTED. THE GRIEVANT WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO PRESENT HER ARGUMENTS IN THE COUNTY WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO RESPOND, PRESENTED BY MR. RAMOS. AFTER BOTH OF THOSE , THE GRIEVANT AND THE RESPONSE, THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS IF THEY SO CHOOSE BEFORE SPEAKING, RAISE YOUR HAND. I WILL CALL YOU IN AND YOU WILL USE THIS BUTTON. IT WILL SHOW GREEN AND YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTION. AFTER FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS, WE WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS. THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR TIME. THEY WILL EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. IF THEY HAVE A TRANSLATOR, THEY WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AMONG COMMITTEE MEMBERS. BEFORE SPEAKING, RAISE YOUR HAND. WE HAVE 20 MINUTES TO DELIBERATE. AFTER THE 20 MINUTES, WE CAN SEEK TO EXTEND FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. IT HAS TO BE SECONDED TO THE COMMITTEE. THE TOTAL DISCUSSION CAN GO NO LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES. AT THE END OF DISCUSSION, WE WILL VOTE ON THE GRIEVANCE REQUEST. I WILL, AGAIN, ANNOUNCE THE NAME OF THE AGREEMENT, THE AMOUNT OF THE INCREASE REQUESTED. IF A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, THE MEMBER WILL RAISE THEIR HAND, SAY AYE AND RECOMMEND THE GRIEVANT RECEIVED THE INCREASE TO THEIR SALARY AND THE SALARY NUMBER. AT THAT TIME, WE WILL ASK IF THERE IS A SECOND. IF THERE IS A SECOND, WE WILL MOVE ON TO A ROLL CALL VOTE. PEOPLE WILL EITHER SAY AYE OR NO. THE CLERK WILL CIRCULATE A FORM. YOU WILL SIGN IF YOU HAVE VOTED IN FAVOR YOU WILL SIGN THE FORM AND THEN YOU WILL ADJOURN. CLEAR AS MUD, CLEAR? OKAY, GREAT. SO I THINK WE ARE READY, EVERYBODY READY? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO THE GRIEVANCE HEARING. NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE GRIEVANCE. THE GRIEVANCE WAS SUBMITTED BY DISTRICT CLERK MARILYN BURGESS, CURRENT SALARY 179,420 $.80 AND SHE REQUESTED AN INCREASE TO [2. Hearings on grievances submitted pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 152.016(a).] 295,000. WE INCLUDED A COPY OF THE GRIEVANCE IN YOUR BACK IN FOR REFERENCE. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL QUESTIONS THE GRIEVANT HAS PRESENTED AND THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED A RESPONSE. MR. CLERK, YOU ARE FREE TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND PRESENT YOUR GRIEVANCE. CLERK, YOU HAVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES. [00:10:20] >> GOOD MORNING. I AM HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT MARILYN BURGESS. I WENT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR AGREEING TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND BEING HERE TODAY. I UNDERSTAND IT IS PRETTY WEIRD I AM ON THE COMMITTEE NIM THE GRIEVANT, AS WELL. MY ROLE AS A CLERK IS OUTLINED IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AS RECORDER AND CUSTODIAN OF ALL THE COURT RECORDS FOR ALL THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS AND THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF 83 STATUTORY CORDS IN ADDITION TO OVER 30 SPECIALTY COURTS BRINGING THE TOTAL OF SUPPORT FOR MY OFFICE OVER 100. TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THE SECOND LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS, DALLAS COUNTY, THERE DISTRICT COURT IS 39 COURSE. MY ROLE ALSO INCLUDES COLLECTING ALL COURT FEES AS SET BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR AND ALL FINES AS ASSESSED BY COURTS. I MAINTAIN A COURT REGISTRY WITH OVER 12,000 ACCOUNTS VALUED AT OVER $130 MILLION. MY OFFICE ACCEPTS ONLY CASE FILINGS AND SUBSEQUENT FILINGS INTO THOSE CASES. FOR CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COMBINED, WE PROCESSED 5.8 MILLION DOCUMENTS IN 2024. WE HAVE TWO SECTIONS, CRIMINAL INTAKE AND PROBABLE CAUSE COURT, THAT WERE 24/7, 365 DAYS TO SUPPORT THE CRIMINAL COURT. NO MATTER IF IT IS HARVEY, FIRE OR FREEZE, THEY ARE AS LONG AS IT TAKES THE END. WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JURY SUMMONS AND PROCESS IN HARRIS COUNTY. THAT IS WHY I WAS THE ONE TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO ASK YOU TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. I'VE 600 EMPLOYEES AND MANAGE A BUDGET OF 66 MILLION. MY JOB IS VERY INTENSE AND DEMANDING AND A CRITICAL ROLE TO THE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE GROUP REGARDING MY SALARY AS PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN HANDED A COPY OF THAT GRIEVANCE, AS WELL AS A LIST OF APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS' CURRENT SALARIES. I AM NOT SO MUCH UNHAPPY ABOUT MY SALARY AMOUNT AS I AM UNHAPPY ABOUT THE PAY DISPARITY BETWEEN COUNTYWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE WAY THAT SOME ARE CHOSEN FOR BIG RAISES WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THEM GO UNNOTICED. COMMISSIONERS COURT SETS THE SALARY FOR BOTH APPOINTED AND COURT-APPOINTED ELECTED UP DEPARTMENT HEADS. IT INCLUDES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SHERIFF, COUNTY ATTORNEY, DISTRICT CLERK, COUNTY CLERK, TAX ASSESSOR, VOTER REGISTRAR AND TREASURER. IN RECENT YEARS, THE PAY FOR THESE POSITIONS HAVE STAGNATED WHILE SALARIES FOR APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE SKYROCKETED. SINCE 2016, ALL COUNTYWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE RECEIVED A TOTAL PAY INCREASE OF 9.2% OVER EIGHT YEARS. IN COMPARISON, POINTED HEAD HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS PAY RATE INCREASES BY POSITION RANGING FROM 35% TO 133%. WHEN I SENT YOU THE INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMITTEE, THERE HAD BEEN 25 GRIEVANCES FILED YOU WOULD HERE TODAY. I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD BE HERE MOST OF THE DAY. THOSE 25 OR EIGHT CONSTABLES, 16 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN MY CELL. SINCE THAT WHEN OUT, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED INCREASING CONSTABLES TO 260,000. THE 80 ELECTED CONSTABLES HAVE SEEN THEIR SALARIES GO FROM $144,000 TO 260,000 FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 80.3% IN TWO YEARS. THE COURT ALSO APPROVED A 30% INCREASE FOR THE 16 JPS. AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIONS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, AFTER GRIEVANCES WERE FILED, THE CONSTABLES AND JPS WITHDREW THEIR GRIEVANCES. THE COURT DID NOTHING TO SALARIES FOR ALL THE COUNTYWIDE ELECTED, INCLUDING MYSELF. NOW NO ONE SHOULD ENTER GOVERNMENT SERVICE TO GET RICH. WE ALL UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT SALARIES ARE TRADITIONALLY LESS THAN WHAT IS PAID IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE FOR NUMEROUS DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKING MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO MAKES 400,000. THEIR SALARIES RANGE FROM 251,009 92 TO 531,001 41. MY PROPOSED SALARY IS 179,000. I BASE MY REQUEST TODAY ON THE CONSTABLES AND WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR AND STILL WELL BELOW WHAT THEY ARE PAY. YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE MY REQUEST OR ALTER THE AMOUNT TO WHAT YOU CONSIDER APPROPRIATE. BUT ONLY IF YOU REACH A UNANIMOUS DECISION. OTHERWISE, IT GOES BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THEIR DECISION OR DIES. I AM FOR YOU TO RAISE PARITY BETWEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES AND APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARIES. IF YOU BRING MY SALARY MORE COMPARABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD BE ON ARE BOUND TO DO SOMETHING FOR ALL THOSE . THANK YOU FOR MY REQUEST AND FOR ELECTING TO SERVE IN THIS VERY [00:15:02] VITAL CAPACITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. RAMOS? >> THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR, THANK YOU, COMMITTEE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS DANIEL RAMOS, IN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE. MY TESTIMONY TODAY IS NOT AN INDICTMENT ON THE CLERK OR HER SERVICE TO THE COUNTY BUT THE GRIEVANCE RECOMMENDATION. AT 295, SHE WOULD BE DOUBLING HER SALARY OF 179 AND IT WOULD BE DOUBLE THE SALARY OF THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR, WHO HAVE SIMILAR PREVIEWS AND CHOSE NOT TO GRIEVE TODAY. IT WOULD MAKE HER THE SECOND HIGHEST PAID ELECTED OFFICIALS IN HARRIS COUNTY, BESIDES THOSE SHERIFF, WHOSE BUDGET AND STAFF ARE NEARLY 5 TIMES THAT OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE. CLERK BUGESS, AT 295, HER SALARY WOULD BE NEARLY TWICE THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. THE CURRENT CLERK'S SALARY IS ALREADY ABOVE COMPARABLE PARITIES IN DALLAS, COLLIN, MONTGOMERY, TRAVIS AND GALVESTON COUNTIES. I-295, THERE ARE 20 A% THE NEXT CLOSEST CLERK IN THE STATE. THIS WOULD ALSO BE ONE THIRD HIGHER THAN HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHO DECIDES THE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET AND ALSO DIRECTLY SUPERVISE NEARLY 400 PARK AND RECREATION STAFF. ON THE ISSUE OF APPOINTED VERSUS ELECTED, AS A STANDARD PRACTICE, WE LOOK ACROSS JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, APPOINTED OFFICIALS, THEY TYPICALLY MAKE MORE HERE LOCALLY , OUR COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ALL HAVE APPOINTED STAFF THAT ARE PAID HIGHER THAN THEIR SALARIES. MORE GLOBALLY, THIS IS THE HARDEST BUDGET PROCESS FOR HARRIS COUNTY SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION. WE JUST HAD TO WORK THROUGH A $200 MILLION DEFICIT. RISING JUSTICE COSTS AND INFLATION MAKE IT SO THAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO FACE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO SEND US SALARY SO HIGH THAT WILL CERTAINLY LEAD TO GRIEVANCES NEXT YEAR. IN SUMMARY, I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND PARTNERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT CLERK BUT ASK YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED SALARY OF 295,000. >> THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS. NOW WE ARE AT THE Q&A PORTION. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR CLERK BURGESS, MR. RAMOS, THIS IS THE TIME FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. >> MR. RAMOS, YOU STATE THAT HER SALARY WOULD BE DOUBLED . IT WOULD NOT. THE MATH DOES NOT SHOW THAT. HOWEVER, YOU ALSO COMPARE HER SALARY TO THOSE OF DALLAS AND OTHER PLACES WHILE DALLAS' COURT PROCESSES 44 LAST THAN HERS . IT IS IN THE NUMBERS PRESENTED. HOW IS THE $200 MILLION DEFICIT CARRIED BY HER SALARY AND NOT BY THAT OF THE CONSTABLES AND THE OTHER COURT OFFICIALS WHO THIS SESSION HAS AGREED TO INCREASE 83% ? SHE IS ASKING FOR LESS THAN 10 . THAT IS NOT A FAIR AND COMPARABLE WAVE WAGE FOR THE JOB SHE PERFORMS DAILY . IF ANYTHING, IT SHOULD BE WEIGHTED MORE BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE DOES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR MATH OR YOUR COMPARISONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PEOPLE SHE SUPPORTS AND JUST IN THE NUMBERS. SHE IS CARRYING 614 EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS AT LEAST 100 MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS LIST OUTSIDE OF THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY. WHY ARE WE KEEPING HER SALARY SOLO AT THE BEHEST OF 83% INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD? >> SO, TO SPEAK TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES GIVEN DURING THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS. I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS MADE A REAL COMMITMENT TOWARDS SALARIES, PRACTICALLY FOR FRONTLINE STAFF. SO WE SPENT $150 MILLION THIS YEAR IMPLEMENTING PAY PARITY WITH EACH PD, AS WELL AS RESERVING $50 MILLION TO DO PAY PARITY FOR CIVILIANS FOCUSING ON CIVILIANS MAKING UNDER 75,000. WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTABLE AND THE SHERIFF, THOUGH SALARIES WERE ALIGNED WITH WHAT, IN THE CONTEXT PROVIDING PAY PARITY [00:20:03] WITH EACH PD SO THAT THE SHERIFF'S SALARY WAS SET AT THE POLICE CHIEF, AT HPD AND THE CONSTABLES WERE SET AT SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THEIR SUPERVISORS WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE UNDER THE CURRENT PAY SCALE. AGAIN, I AM NOT CERTAINLY MAKING A JUDGMENT CALL ON WHETHER SHE DESERVES AN INCREASE, WHAT I AM SAYING IS, 295 WOULD PUT HER , NOT ONLY INTERNALLY AMONGST FOLKS DOING SIMILAR JOBS WITH SIMILAR PREVIEWS, BUT EVEN AMONGST , YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE URBAN LOCALITIES, WHILE STILL SMALLER, I GUESS, DISPROPORTIONATE TO WHAT WE ALREADY ARE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> WHO IS HER PAY PARITY ? WHO IS HER PAY PARITY? >> FOR HERE LOCALLY, IT WOULD BE THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR, WHO, AGAIN, CHOSE NOT TO GRIEVE BUT HAVE SIMILAR SIZED STAFF AND PARTIES. WE LOOKED AT , ACROSS THE STATE THERE IS ONLY ONE COUNTY WE FOUND HAD A HIGHER SALARY THAN WHAT THE CURRENT DISTRICT CLERK SALARY IS. >> WHICH CARL -- COUNTY IS THAT? >> TARRANT COUNTY. >> THEY ARE SMALLER BUT THEY HAVE A HIGHER SALARY. WHAT IS THAT SALARY? >> 214. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. >> YOU MANAGE THE BUDGET FOR ALL OF THESE ON THIS LIST? >> SO, WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE TOLL ROAD , GRANT FUNDS, CAPITAL FUNDS, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND $9 BILLION BUDGET. >> YOUR DEPARTMENT MANAGES >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I WOULDN'T CALL THAT PARITY. >> I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE PAY RAISE OF THE 614 EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. WHAT IS THE STORY . WHAT IS THE RANGE AND TOP RANGE OF THE DEPARTMENT? >> WITHIN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? >> THE MINIMUM SALARY COUNTYWIDE IS $20.63. I BELIEVE THE NEXT HIGHEST PAID PERSON IS 148. >> THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE IS TRADITIONALLY PAID LESS THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT STARTED AND WHY IT STAYED THAT WAY BUT IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, 70 YEARS. IN THE SEVEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS NOT GIVEN ME ONE DIME IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET TO MERIT ANNUAL RAISES TO MY STAFF. THEY ARE MORE HIGHLY PAID AND HIGHLY TRAINED, THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED, THEY GET RECRUITED AWAY FROM THE D.A., THE PDO, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALL THE TIME OFFERING THEM MORE MONEY THAN WHAT I HAVE IN MY BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEM. SO I HAVE ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF MY STAFF FOR SEVEN YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MY SALARY. >> HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT? SEVEN YEARS OF THE PEOPLE , THIS IS PEOPLE AT $20 AN HOUR, WE ARE GIVING OUT 83% RAISES BECAUSE THESE FOLKS ARE DEEMED FRONTLINE? THEY CAN'T GET TO FRONTLINE IF HER OFFICE DOESN'T SEND THE REPORT. IF THEY DON'T DO THE WORK. SO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON THE FRONT LINE AND THEY DON'T GET CAMERA TIME, VIDEO TIME, ARE WE SAYING THEIR POSITION IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE TO FIGHT TODAY THAT IS ON THEM? THAT'S NOT A GOOD ATTITUDE OR PRECEDENT TO SET. SEVEN YEARS OF NO INCREASE. >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHICH HE SAID WAS 7% , SORRY, SEVEN YEARS OF MERIT INCREASES. THE COUNTY HAS GIVEN COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING ABOUT 9% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO WHAT SHE IS REALLY SAYING IS, THERE'S BEEN NO MONEY ALLOCATED TO GIVE SPECIFIC PEOPLE RAISES, WHERE THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN THE APPROACH WITH COLA, WE HAVE A COUNTYWIDE SALARY STUDY WHICH INCLUDED GOING FROM $15-$20, WHICH OUR ESTIMATES HAVE A GOING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $100 MILLION WHEN IT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED. WE ALSO HAVE THE COUNTYWIDE SALARY STUDY GOING, [00:25:05] WHICH IS $50 MILLION, CENTERED AROUND FOLKS AROUND 75,000. SO THE COURT HAS PULLED, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT TOWARDS FRONTLINE STAFF, WE ALSO HAVE DONE THE $20 MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH PUTS US IN LEAGUE WITH THE STATE. I THINK ONLY TRAVIS COUNTY HAS A COMPARABLE POLICY. WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND WE PAID FOR THAT STUDY WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER. >> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? >> THE $20 INCREASE WAS GREAT. WE LOVE THAT IN MY OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE AFFECTED BY THAT THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. CURRENTLY I HAVE 24% OF MY STAFF AT 20 PRESENT AS A RESULT OF THAT. IT ALSO CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR ME. NOW I HAVE SOMEONE WHO JUST WALKED IN TODAY MAKING $20 TO START AS THE SAME AS SOMEBODY THERE FIVE YEARS DOING MORE ADVANCED WORK IS GETTING PAID. IF HE IS CORRECT, WE DID GET A 9.2% COLA BUT NOTHING FOR MERIT. WHEN THAT COLA COMES THROUGH, MAY GO TO SOMEONE NOT PERFORMING WELL AND SOMEONE WHO IS A HIGH PERFORMER IS NOT GETTING MORE THAN THE OTHER PERSON. THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. I WENT TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK AND WORKING HARD AND CONTRIBUTING ABOVE AND BEYOND AS OPPOSED TO EVERYBODY GETTING THE SAME THING. >> THAT IS A POLICY CHOICE. OUR GOVERNING BODY MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE TO THIS POINT. WHICH IS TO PROVIDE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT SO WE CAN KEEP UP WITH INFLATION. FOR CONTEXT, THE DISTRICT CLERK AND THE GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES RECEIVED 1.3 MILLION FOR ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES UNDER 75,000, THEY RECEIVE $2500 INCREASES, AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE LIVING WAGE, THERE WAS ANOTHER $250,000 GIVEN THIS YEAR TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO $20 AN HOUR. AGAIN, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTYWIDE SALARY STUDY, WHICH WILL DEAL WITH THE COMPRESSION CAUSED BY THE WAGE INCREASE. >> WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT PAY STUDY THREE YEARS. HAS BEEN ON THREE DIFFERENT "STAR TREK" EVERY TIME THEY BRING IT UP, MY OFFICE IS THE FIRST ONE VOLUNTEERING TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE UNDERPAID BUT NO RESPONSES COME OUT IN THREE YEARS. I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT AND THIS TIME IT WILL ACTUALLY RESULT IN SOMETHING. >> TO CONFIRM, THE SPIRIT IS FOR Q&A FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO THE DISTRICT CLERK AND THE BUDGET OFFICE. IF YOU COULD LIMIT THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> WE WILL HAVE A TIME FOR DELIBERATION. >> YES, SHERIFF GONZALEZ. >> THANK YOU. THIS PROCESS IS NEW FOR US ELECTED SO IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE PARTICIPATED. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT. LAW, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I APPRECIATE CLERK BURGESS AND HER INTERACTION WITH THE PARTNERS. I AM NOT A SALARY EXPERT . SO IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE NUANCES WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIGHT NUMBER. I DO BELIEVE SHE IS DESERVING OF A RAISE. WHAT THE NUMBER IS I SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW SO I AM RELYING ON EXPERTS IN THE AREA. I THINK THE REQUEST IS 295. THINK THE HIGHEST SO FAR IN THE STATE IS TO 14 IN TARRANT COUNTY. THERE IS A WIDE DELTA THERE. SO I AM TRYING TO JUST, AGAIN, LISTEN SO I CAN MAKE SENSE OF IT I WANT TO ADD SOME CONTEXT BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAME UP ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE CONSTABLE PAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT CAME WITH A LOT OF DELIBERATIONS WITH COUNTY LEADERS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE MEMBERS MADE A MOTION SPECIFIC TO PAY PARITY WHEN IT CAME TO LAW ENFORCEMENT DELIBERATION. THEN THERE WAS SEVERAL MONTHS COMMITTEE, SEVERAL DIVERSE MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER THAT PAY SCALE RECOMMENDATION AND THE COUNTY HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL STEPS TO LAND THAT. I WANT TO POINT OUT WHY THAT GOT SINGLED OUT AND WHY THAT WAS A SPECIFIC PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW, TO THE RESPONDENT OR TO THE CLERK, IF YOU DON'T GET HELP, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE, BUT AS FAR AS HOW DO WE RECONCILE THE BIG DELTA THERE IS BETWEEN, LET'S SAY THE HIGHEST RIGHT NOW AT 214 AND THAT WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED RIGHT NOW [00:30:11] BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO HAVE A RAISE BUT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT THIS AS A TAXPAYER OR, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THIS OCCASION, NOT JUST MAKING OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS KNOWN. IF EITHER ONE OF YOU, I CAN GIVE YOU MORE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN HOW WE SHOULD LAND ORDER NUMBER. >> HOW I EXPLAINED THE DELTA IS WHAT I SAID IN THE BEGINNING IN MY OPENING REMARKS. I SUPPORT 100 QUARTS IN THE COUNTY, THE SECOND-LARGEST IS 39. WHAT WE DO HERE IS ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE GREATER THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE. COMPARE WITH THE CONSTABLE IN TARRANT COUNTY MAKE SOMEWHAT OF THE CONSTABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY MAKES AND THE DELTA WILL BE JUST AS BIG. >> I THINK WHEN YOU COMPARE INTERNALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK ABROAD, I THINK THE NUMBER IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DALLAS COUNTY AND THE 295. THE 295 NUMBER WAS OUT THERE AS A RESULT OF AN ATTEMPT OR DELIBERATIONS BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS COURT ON WHERE TO LAND CONSTABLE SALARIES. ULTIMATELY, THEY ADOPTED A $260,000 FINAL SALARY . SO I BELIEVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS IF THE COURT WERE TO LAND, IF THE COMMITTEE WERE TO LAND ON A NUMBER, IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THERE. >> JUST ONE MORE THING. YOU SAID COMPARING A CONSTABLE , THE DELTA WOULD BE THE SAME. AGAIN, THAT TYPICALLY HAS BEEN UNDER THE PURVIEW OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE THAT DECISION ON HOW THEY FEEL, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE A HIGHER NUMBER, I MEAN, WE ARE AT THIS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT. IF DALLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANTED TO MAKE THE DALLAS COUNTY CONSTABLES JUST AS HIGH, THEY CAN DO THAT, AS WELL. BUT, I MEAN, IT'S, WE ARE TRYING TO DECIDE HERE ON THE DIAS WHAT THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE. >> THE COMMISSIONERS COURT PLACES MORE IMPORTANCE ON DEPARTMENT HEADS. THEY HAVE 11 EMPLOYEES IN A 3.5 MILLION BUDGET. IT IS PAID 259,000 I AM PAID 178. MANY OTHERS, NOT JUST THAT ONE. THE SHERIFF, D.A., COURTS, ELECTIONS, TAX ASSESSOR, THERE ARE THE JOBS CRITICAL TO RUNNING HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THEIR INTEGRAL TO THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THESE OTHERS ARE NICE TO HAVE AN BENEFICIAL, I AM NOT TRYING TO DISPARAGE THEM AT ALL, BUT THEY ARE NOT AN INTEGRAL FUNCTION OF HARRIS COUNTY . >> OKAY. I THINK WE WILL HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DELIBERATION AMONG THE COMMITTEE, IF THAT IS OKAY. ANYTHING NEW? YES, MA'AM. >> SO, WE ARE DECIDING THIS BASED ON THE PARITY BETWEEN THE TOP LEVEL OF EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS. SO I AM TRYING TO SEE WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS DOWN THE LADDER, AS WELL . IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND . THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY SEEMS TO HAVE 700 EMPLOYEES AND 485,000. IS THERE ANY SENSE OF RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOWER PAID MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AT THE TOP OR DO WE NOT HAVE ANY? >> I THINK IN TERMS OF OUR AGENDA, LET'S GET THROUGH THIS Q&A SECTION AND THEN WE CAN HAVE DELIBERATION AROUND THE QUESTION FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR ON THAT PARTICULAR SCORE, MA'AM. >> REALLY QUICKLY, THERE IS THE MARKET DIFFERENCE IN NOT JUST HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF APPOINTED VERSUS ELECTED SALARIES. THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE MARKET. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY, WHILE IT MIGHT BE 600 EMPLOYEES, THAT IS A $1 BILLION ENTITY. THAT SERVICE IS NOT ONLY HARRIS COUNTY, BUT TOLL ROADS ALL OVER THE STATE. WHEN YOU COMPARE THEIR SALARIES TO OTHERS, TO OTHER COMPARABLE TOLL ROADS, LIKE THE NORTH TEXAS TOLL ROAD, THE BAY AREA TOLL ROAD, THE SALARIES ARE ACTUALLY BELOW THE MIDPOINT, GENERALLY. IN SOME COMPARISONS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THIS IS NOT , THIS IS A STANDARD PRACTICE IN GOVERNMENT WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS TYPICALLY MAKE LESS EVEN AMONGST HERE , OUR COMMISSIONERS MAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THEIR CHIEFS OF STAFF. >> THAT IS THE BASIS UNDER WHICH THE CONSTABLES WERE GIVEN THEIR BIG RACE, IS TO PAY THEM MORE THAN THEIR CHIEF DEPUTIES. >> SO, AGAIN, I THINK IF WE'VE GOT PARTICULAR QUESTIONS FOR THE GRIEVANT, YES, MA'AM. >> JUST ONE QUESTION. WE HAVE SETTLED THAT, IT HAS BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE HIS OFFICE RECEIVED [00:35:07] ANY TYPE OF MERIT INCREASES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? >> THEY ARE BUDGETED ALLOCATED BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MERIT INCREASES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD AND THERE WERE RAISES GIVEN DEPARTMENTWIDE. >> THOSE RAISES CONSIST OF COST OF LIVING AND WILL NOW IT BE MERIT-BASED ? COLA IS NOT MARY. I LIVE HERE SO THIS IS WHAT I AM PAID. >> SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE BUDGET ALLOCATED TO THAT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS THE METHOD PRIOR TO, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE LAST TWO COMMISSIONERS COURT. WHAT WE FIND IS WHEN WE DON'T DO COLA, IT CREATES PAY DISPARITIES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS OR EVEN INTERNAL TO THE DEPARTMENT WHERE SOME GET RAISES AND SOME AREN'T, WHICH IS WHAT PART OF THE COUNTYWIDE SALARY STUDY IS DESIGNED TO FIX. >> SO, IN YOUR TENURE AS MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OFFICIAL, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN BEING THE REASON THIS DEPARTMENT IS SO UNDER SALARIED IN PARITY? >> I CAN EXPLAIN WHY HISTORICALLY THAT HAS BEEN. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE TREATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CIVILIANS SEPARATELY. IN TERMS OF AMONG CIVILIANS, EVEN PRIOR TO THIS PAST YEAR, THEY WERE ALL TREATED IN THE SAME BUCKET. WHEN WE GAVE COLA, EVERY COLA LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS GOTTEN PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, WE HAVE RECIPROCALLY GIVEN IT TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. >> I AM SORRY, MAYBE I AM NOT CLEAR. COLA IS THE COST-OF-LIVING ANALYSIS ALLOW US. THAT IS A GIFT. I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT, I AM NOT DISCUSSING OR CHALLENGING THE PAYMENT OF A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT. WHAT I AM ASKING IS, WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN ABLE TO BUDGET MERIT INCREASES IN SEVEN YEARS FOR WHAT YOU ARE CLEARY SINGING IS AN UNDERSTAFFED DEPARTMENT UNDER YOUR OPERATIONS, UNDER YOU ? LOOKING AT THE SALARIED INCREASES HERE, SHE IS REQUESTING LESS THEN 40% . 40% IS ACTUALLY WHAT TAKES IT TO THE 295. WHEREAS, THE PEOPLE UNDER 40% THAT IS HER OFFICE. EVERYBODY ELSE IS 60%, 62%, 84%. WHY ARE WE UNABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR HER STAFF AND HER? THAT IS WHAT I AM GETTING AT. COLA IS A NICE SALARY INCENTIVE. NOT A SALARY INCENTIVE. MERIT IS. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IT IS 83 STATUTORY COURTS AND SPECIALTY COURTS, WHY IS THERE AN ISSUE, WHY DOES THIS EVEN HAVE TO GET TO THIS POINT FOR THEM TO RECEIVE NOT A LIVING WAGE BUT RECOGNITION OF WHAT THEY DO? >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING THE SALARIES OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THIS DEPARTMENT. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS PROCESS IS. THIS PROCESS IS SOLELY ABOUT THE DISTRICT CLERKS, HER OWN SALARY, SO THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO HOW THE COUNTY AND HOW OTHER GOVERNMENT BUDGET SALARY , SALARY INCREASES, WHETHER IT IS COLA, MERIT INCREASES, DEPARTMENT HEADS GIVE MERIT INCREASES OVER THE YEARS, NOT SOLELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BUDGET DIRECTOR HOW SALARIES ARE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN DEPARTMENTS. I THINK I WOULD ASK THE COMMITTEE TO ASK , I WOULD ASK YOU TO STICK TO THE QUESTION AROUND THE DISTRICT CLERK, HER OWN SALARY. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT DURING DELIBERATION, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. I KNOW THE TAX ASSESSOR HAS A FEW QUESTIONS AND THAT WILL LEAD TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING PAY PARITY AMONGST ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO WERE THE HIGHEST PAID ELECTED OFFICIALS OR WHAT IS THE SALARY OF THE HIGHEST-PAID ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY? >> PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, WOULD BE THE SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> WE WILL TAKE THE SHERIFF OUT OF IT. WE KNOW WHAT THAT SALARY IS BETWEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY [00:40:01] AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY? >> 220. 217. >> SO, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE, SORT OF LIKE THE CIVIL ATTORNEY FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHICH IS THE CRIMINAL, BOTH MAKE 217. CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. I THINK WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS. TIFFANY, PLEASE CALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. >> YES. JACOB HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HAPPY TO BE HERE TO RESPOND DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. HERE GOES. THIS IS THE BEST WAY >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> MONEY. >> CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I EXPECT TO SEE JP IN HERE BUT AS USUAL, THEY DON'T SHOW UP TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT WENT JUST NOW WITH THE CLERK BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE DAY, I AM HERE, JP PUTS EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE CLERKS, THE TREASURER AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION , ODYSSEY WAS A FAILURE, E-FILE, WE ARE REQUESTING DATA, A LOT OF THINGS. THESE ARE SYSTEMS BEING OPPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE. A NOBODY BUILT ON. I KNOW WE BUILT THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I APPROVE THE AUTHORITY IN JP. AT THIS POINT, IT IS LIMITED TO DISPARITY. HISTORICALLY INEQUITIES AND INEQUALITIES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT AND WHAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. I CONGRATULATE YOU ALL TO HAVE A NEW POSITION, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING? I HOPE WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER. BUT I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME, I GOT NO BREACH -- >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAY I SPEAK, PLEASE? >> ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM WITH BRIDGES TO EMPOWERMENT. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT A HEARING SUCH AS THIS. SO HERE'S THE FIRST ISSUE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES. THE CONSTABLES ARE UPSET THE TOP-LEVEL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE GETTING PAID MORE THAN THEM. SO WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IS THE TABLE OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES. ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES SHOULD BE VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE. LET'S BE CLEAR, I SUPPORT PAPER RARITY FOR HOURLY WORKERS AND BELOW SALARY WORKERS. IT HAS TAKEN $25 MILLION FROM THIS BUDGET BECAUSE THREE COMMISSIONERS IS REFUSING TO PUT PEOPLE FIRST. THAT $25 MILLION OR SOME OF THAT $25 MILLION COULD GO TO THE COUNTY , COULD GO TO THE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT RAISES THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED HIM A THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN SEVEN YEARS. SEVEN YEARS. PRIORITIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CONSTABLES IS WRONG. IT IS WRONG. I WILL TAKE EVERYTHING I AM LEARNING NOW >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [3. Votes and recommendations on grievances.] >> THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE MOVING ON TO ITEM 3, DELIBERATION AND ACTION. WE WILL START WITH A TIME LIMIT OF 20 MINUTES TO DISCUSS THE GRIEVANCE IN ANY MEMBER CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A GRIEVANCE AT ANY TIME. WITH ANYONE ON THE COMMITTEE [00:45:05] LIKE TO START? ANY COMMENTS, AND HE DELIBERATION FROM THE COMMITTEE? FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD? >> MEETING FACILITATOR, JESSE, ALSO, WHEN THE COMMITTEE MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SALARY INCREASE, IF YOU COULD STATE THE AMOUNT YOU WOULD LIKE THE SALARY TO BE AT, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO APPROVE THE FULL GRIEVANCE. I CAN SET A NEW AMOUNT. >> A MEMBER CAN MAKE A MOTION AT ANY TIME BUT WE CAN HAVE DELIBERATION, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE. YES. NO? YES, CLERK BURGESS, GO-AHEAD. >> I MOVE TO SET THE SALARY FOR DISTRICT CLERK AT 260,000. >> SECOND. >> WHO MADE THE SECOND? >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO I AM GOING TO GO, I WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING AT THE END. METEOROLOGIST CALLED ] >> WHO MADE THE SECOND? >> STATE YOUR NAME. JOHN MURPHY MADE THE SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE DISCUSSION? YES, OKAY, SHERIFF GONZALES? >> SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTION. I WAS JUST WONDERING, FOR OUR INFORMATION, IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH ME HOW YOU LANDED ON THAT AMOUNT? >> BASICALLY, I DECIDED TO THE HEARING THAT THE DISTRICT CLERK'S SALARY SHOULD BE INCREASED . AND SINCE SHE PROPOSED THAT NUMBER, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS ORIGINALLY DONE, I CHOSE TO TAKE HER NUMBER AND NOT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> ANY OTHER? YES, SIR. >> I WOULD JUST SAY YOU'VE GOT EIGHT CONSTABLES AT 260, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRETRIAL SERVICES, COUNTY LIBRARY, DOMESTIC RELATIONS, I WOULD THINK HER POSITION DESERVES PARITY WITH THOSE. >> I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION, AS WELL, FOR PARITY AT THE 260 ANNUAL SALARY , MAKING HER PARITY THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICES. >> I DO WANT TO MAKE, AS PART OF THE DELIBERATION, MAKE THE POINT, INSTEAD, ELECTED OFFICIALS TRADITIONALLY, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY CHOOSE, THEY CHOOSE TO RUN FOR OFFICE KNOWING WHAT THE SALARIES ARE. THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE GENERALLY PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS, RIGHT? >> NO. YES, ABSOLUTELY. BUT CHOOSING TO RUN FOR OFFICE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, COMPENSATION IS COMPLICATED. IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE HERE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SOLVE IT ALL TODAY. SOME OF THEM ARE ELECTED. >> THIS LIST THAT THE CLERK PROVIDED IS GENERALLY APPOINTED OFFICIALS, NOT ELECTED . PRETRIAL SERVICES IS ELECTED . >> IT IS ELECTED? THE COUNTY LIBRARY? >> NOT ELECTED. APPOINTED. >> YES, WE ARE IN DISCUSSION. >> SO, JUST A COMMENT. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND I WERE SALARIES ARE LAST AND WE RUN KNOWING THEY ARE LAST, HOWEVER, WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, I DO FEEL THAT WHAT WE SEE IN OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF WE GIVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE INCREASE, WE ARE PERPETUATING THE ISSUE. AND SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO RAISE THE DISTRICT CLERK'S SALARY TO WHAT IS IN PAY PARITY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SO THAT THERE IS A RAISE BUT IT IS NOT CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE THE ISSUE WE ALREADY HAVE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, SIR? [00:50:01] >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE RESPONDENT, THE BUDGET OFFICE A QUESTION. >> THIS IS DISCUSSION. >> I GUESS SINCE WE JUST HEARD FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR, PERHAPS IT COULD BE A GOOD LANDING POINT. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THERE SHOULD BE A RAISE. WE ARE THERE, I THINK . WHAT WE STRUGGLE IS JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT. I THINK ONE HAS BEEN PROPOSED. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SALARIES STUDY BEING CONDUCTED, TO THE DISTRICT CLERK'S POINT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT. >> WE CAN'T CONFIRM THE RESULTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. JUST TO NOT KEEP PERPETUATING THE SAME ISSUE, I THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO GIVE A RAISE. ULTIMATELY, AS FAR AS HEIL HOW HE THAT GOES, I REALLY FEEL IT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW. IT SHOULD BE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DELIBERATING WHAT THAT PAY PARITY REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS COUNTY, NOT US. >> I THINK THE SALARY STUDY IS DUE BACK IN OCTOBER. THAT IS FOCUSED ON MOSTLY THE FRONTLINE AND EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY WORKERS. THE DEPARTMENT HEAD INCREASES THAT MOST OF THESE ARE APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS AGREE WITH THE SHERIFF, IT IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE. I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT OVER THE LAST YEAR. I THINK TO THE TAX ASSESSOR'S POINT, AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT , IF IT IS GOING TO STYLE, SOMEONE HAS TO SLOW IT DOWN. I THINK, TO THAT POINT, THAT IS WHERE TAX ASSESSOR RAMIREZ AND SHERIFF GONZALES MADE THOSE POINTS. YES, MA'AM? >> SORRY. WHY DOES IT FALL ON THE COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK 'S BUDGET TO FIGHT THE DISPARITY OF IT ALL ? I NOTICED IN THIS COMMITTEE THERE IS A LOT OF TALK FROM WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. WHEN IS THE ACTION PART OF THIS GOING TO TAKE PLACE? BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT, THEY ARE NOT GETTING A RAISE FOR SEVEN YEARS OR THIS IS 83% , WHEN I AM LOOKING AT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY, 83% OVER TWO YEARS, THAT IS STILL 41.5% A YEAR. HER ASKING FOR A 45% INCREASE OVER A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS IS NOT EVEN 5% A YEAR. IS NOT EVEN 10% A YEAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW YAWLS MATH WORKS IN THIS. I DON'T DO THE GOVERNMENT BUDGETING BUT IT WOULD SEEM FAIR TO AT LEAST GIVE HER THE VERY BASE OF SETTING A PRECEDENT IN THIS OFFICE FOR AT LEAST A 2% OR 4%, BUT 9% ? IN COMPARISON OVER SEVEN YEARS, IS RIDICULOUS. THAT IS LESS THAN 1% A YEAR. >> TAX ASSESSOR RAMIREZ AND THEN CLERK BURGESS. >> JUST TO EXPLAIN IT, IT IS NOT JUST THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, IT'S ALSO THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, IT IS ALSO OTHER OFFICES. OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR COLA EVERY YEAR, IT IS THE ELECTED THAT DID NOT RECEIVE AN INCREASE EVERY YEAR. THAT WAS DECIDED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE ELECTED RECEIVED A 9% INCREASE LAST YEAR TO MAKE UP FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS IN WHICH THEY DID NOT RECEIVE AN INCREASE. >> SO YOU ARE ASKING IF I AM OKAY? >> WRITE. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE DECISION WITH THIS COURT OVERALL AT 9% BEING OKAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE, AS WELL? THIS IS NOT JUST, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARITY, YOU FALL UNDER THIS, AS WELL. >> I CHOSE NOT TO FILE A GRIEVANCE. >> OKAY. >> I RAN FOR OFFICE JUST LAST YEAR KNOWING WHAT THE SALARY WAS. KNOWING THAT IN THE COUNTY, CHIEFS OF STAFF AND APPOINTED DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE MORE THAN ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT WAS A PERSONAL DECISION I MADE. >> REC. A PERSONAL DECISION, WHEN YOU TAKE A PUBLICLY FUNDED OFFICE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN YOUR POSITION LESS THAN TWO YEARS. SHE HAS BEEN IN HER POSITION SEVEN. SO YOU COMING IN AS A NEWBIE, IT IS GREAT, YOU ARE JUST LIKE OTHER EMPLOYEES, IT IS [00:55:02] GREAT TO COME IN AND WE VOTED TO PROVIDE $20 AN HOUR. I HAVE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS, THAT MEANS NOTHING TO ME. WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE FOR THE UN-SALARIED PERSON TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR YOU? TO CLARIFY, I CAME IN WITH 22 YEARS EXPERIENCE. I STILL WAS OKAY WITH THE SALARY I KNEW I WOULD RECEIVE WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE. >> FIRST OF ALL, THE POINT SHERIFF MADE IT SHOULD GO TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, I DISAGREE WITH THAT. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE EMPOWERS THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO MAKE THE DECISION WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF PARITY. AND I WANT TO ITERATE I AM ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF ALL HARRIS COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE ALL DESERVE IT. I BELIEVE IF YOU DO THIS TODAY, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL BE ON ARE BOUND TO PASS IT ON TO THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE 9% WE GOT WAS COLA. WE'VE GOT NO MERIT IN SEVEN YEARS, EVEN EIGHT YEARS , TIME BEFORE THAT. THE 260, WHEN I MADE THE GRIEVANCE, I MENTIONED WHAT THE CONSTABLES WERE ASKING FOR AND THEY GOT IT LOWERED TO 260. THEY ALSO GAVE THE JPS A RAISE BUT DID NOTHING FOR HARRIS COUNTY WHY DIALECT IS. THE JUDGES ALSO GOT RAISES. EVERYBODY IS GETTING THE BUT HARRIS COUNTY WIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT IS WHY I LOWERED IT FROM 295 TO 260. >> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. BUT, LIKE MOST OF US, YOU COME INTO A JOB KNOWING THE SALARY , YOU NEGOTIATE THE SALARY UPFRONT. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIX THE ISSUES OF PARITY WITH PEOPLE BELOW. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH DISPARITY. BUT I APPRECIATE THE FACT YOU BOTH RAN FOR OFFICE KNOWING THE COST AND WHAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE IN SALARY. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NECESSARILY THE PLACE TO ADJUST THAT AND NEGOTIATE IT AT THIS POINT. OTHERWISE, I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO ATTACH THE DISPARITY UP AND DOWN THE SCALE. THANK YOU. >> SHERIFF GONZALES? I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BASED ON SOMETHING THE DISTRICT CLERK SAID. I NEVER SAID THE PAY RAISE WAS NOT NECESSARY, IT IS. WHAT MY POINT IS SIMPLY, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NUMBER, THAT IS WHY I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN THAT MADE THE MOTION, HOW DO WE LAND ON THAT PARTICULAR CAMERA COULD'VE BEEN HIGHER, HE COULD HAVE BEEN LOWER. THERE IS NO EXACT SCIENCE TO THIS TRYING TO DELIBERATE IT HERE ON THE TABLE. THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES. I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY , A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO, I MEAN, OFFICE, TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AT 217. TO ME, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NUMBER WE FEEL IS HIGHER AND THEN I THINK, ULTIMATELY, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL WORK TO HOPEFULLY LOOK AT THE DISPARITIES AMONG OTHER DEPARTMENTS. I DO THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE ELECTED AND APPOINTED. WE HAVE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT. I WANT TO CLARIFY AND SAY WE SHOULD NOT OR COULD NOT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THE POINT IS, IT'S A ROUNDABOUT WAY TO PERHAPS FORCE THE HAND OF COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE TO FORCE PAY PARITY ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL ELECTEDS. I DON'T KNOW THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND WHAT THEY DO, ALL VERY IMPORTANT WORK, FOR SURE, THEY SHOULD ALL MAKE MORE. I SUPPORT A PAY RAISE, I JUST DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT. >> MS. RAMIREZ? >> JUST TO CLARIFY, ALSO, THE CONSTABLE INCREASES WERE COVERED BY THEIR CURRENT BUDGET. THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING GIVEN. >> CORRECT BECAUSE >> IS THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE SAME POSITION? I KNOW OUR OFFICE ISN'T, SO THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING. >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AGAIN, WITH THE INITIAL , UM, WITH THE INITIAL INQUIRY, I GUESS, THE 295,000, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME AGAIN WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO THE BUDGET? OVERALL, AT-LARGE, VERSUS WHAT AN INCREASE TO 260 WOULD DO TO THE BUDGET AT LARGE? >> WE CAN'T ASK THE DIRECTOR MORE QUESTIONS. I WILL SAY THIS, AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, I THINK BUDGET WISE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PLACE TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS TODAY. >> THE IDEA IS, IT WOULD LEAD TO OTHER INCREASES. >> THE BUDGET IS UP FOR ADOPTION NEXT WEEK. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHAT I WILL SAY THE END. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? >> BASED ON, MS. BURGESS' SALARY WITH THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR, STARTING IN OCTOBER? THIS PRESENTS AN [01:00:02] OPPORTUNITY BASED ON HER RACE TO NOW SUGGEST RAISES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THAT OFFICE? >> NO. OF THIS COMMITTEE CAN DO IS RULE ON THIS PARTICULAR GRIEVANCE. IT DOES NOT CREATE OTHER INCENTIVES OR POSITIONS FOR THE COURT . IT DOESN'T REOPEN ANY OTHER BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. >> SO IT WON'T LEAD TO A PRECEDENT SET THAT COULD IMPACT FUTURE BUILDINGS WHEN WE SET THE NEW BUDGET TO AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDE THAT RAISE? >> NO. NOTHING WE SET HERE WILL AUTOMATICALLY IMPACT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET. >> QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM. >> THIS COMMITTEE CAN ONLY DO NINE. IT IS DONE HERE, COMMISSIONERS COURT COULD DO SOMETHING FOR THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. I THINK THEY WOULD BE ON ARE BOUND TO DO SO. >> TO CLARIFY, FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT OPPOSES ANY INCREASES IN SALARIES, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER 10 DAYS BEFORE THEY VOTE ON ANY INCREASES. THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS, THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS OCTOBER 1, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME FRAME. THEY WOULD NEED TO POSE THE NEW SALARIES I COMMISSIONERS COURT, PUBLISH AND MEET TO ENACT THEM ALL BEFORE OCTOBER 1. >> FOR FOLKS, THE PROCESS OF SETTING ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES IS COMPLICATED. IT IS SET BY STATE LAW. THAT IS WHY, IF YOU ARE ON THIS COMMITTEE, THAT IS WHY THEY'RE ALL KINDS OF DEADLINES AND TIMELINES AND POSTINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED. THERE ARE A LOT OF STEPS INVOLVED FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR SALARIES, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH APPOINTED SALARIES, BUT ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES ARE SET BY STATE LAW. YES, SIR? >> DO WE GO TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BASED ON THAT? JUST FOR POSTING PURPOSES, IF THERE IS AN INCREASE, WILL THAT IMPACT, I KNOW THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE SUPPOSED TO POTENTIALLY ADOPT THE BUDGET ON THE 24TH, I BELIEVE. WILL THAT, WILL ANYTHING WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY CHANGE THE TIMELINE? >> NO. NOT WHAT THE COMMITTEE DOES TODAY. YEAH. THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL PROPOSE SALARY INCREASES FOR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WEREN'T ALREADY NOTICED. I THINK THEY NOTICED THE JPS, THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFFS. >> SO WHAT WE DECIDE TODAY, THIS IS WHEN THE 10 DAY NOTICE WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE COURT? WHAT IS TODAY 'S TIMELINE, WHAT DOES IT DO, NOTHING? >> IT NOTICES THE BUDGET IS SET TO BE ADOPTED ON THE 24 SO THE SALARY NEEDS TO BE NOTICED 10 DAYS BEFORE THEM. THEY WERE NOTICED ON THE NINTH, I BELIEVE. THIS COMMITTEE HAS TO BE HELD, THERE IS FIVE DAYS AFTER THEY ARE NOTICED OF SALARY, THEY HAVE FIVE DAYS TO GRIEVE. THIS IS ACTUALLY ON THE SIXTH DAY AFTER THAT. WE ARE IN VERY TIGHT TIMELINES TODAY. SO, YEAH, THE BUDGET ADOPTION IS THE 24TH. THE BUDGET ADOPTION HAD BEEN SET FOR THE 19TH. IT WAS MOVED TO ADHERE TO THIS PROCESS FOR THIS PARTICULAR GRIEVANCE. >> I AM CONFUSED. IF THE SALARY INCREASE DOES NOT AFFECT THE OVERALL BUDGET, WHY DO WE KEEP DISCUSSING THE BUDGET? >> THE BUDGET IS NOT REALLY AT , IT IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION HERE. THE GENERAL BUDGET IS $2.7 BILLION. I THINK THIS INCREASE, THE BUDGET DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO FIT IT IN WITH THE BUDGET. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN OFFSET SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET. SOMETHING ELSE WOULD HAVE TO GO DOWN FOR THIS TO GO UP, BASED ON WHERE WE ARE . THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. IT WOULD BE PART OF WHAT IS ADOPTED ON THE 24TH. SHERIFF GONZALEZ? >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A POINT OF ORDER, MAYBE TO THE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, I THINK THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND IN THE DISCUSSION. I THINK THERE WAS A POSSIBLE MOTION THAT WAS BEING INTRODUCED. I AM JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW SO WE COULD MAYBE CALL TO QUESTION. >> A MOTION FOR 260 WAS [01:05:05] SECONDED. I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MOTION AT THE MOMENT. >> WE HAVE 22 SECONDS LEFT ON THE FIRST TIME LIMIT FOR DISCUSSION. IF THERE IS A DESIRE TO INCREASE TIME, THERE IS A ONE-TIME EXTENSION THAT CAN BE DONE. >> HOW DO WE CONSIDER IF THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS? CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND OUR TIME, PLEASE? SOMEBODY HAS TO SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO EXTEND THE TIME. WE WILL GO DOWN THE LINE TO VOTE TO APPROVE. >> JUST A POINT OF ORDER. WE ARE VOTING TO EXTEND THE TIME? >> EXTEND THE TIME FOR 10 MINUTES. WE HAVE A ONE TIME OPTION TO EXTEND THE TIME. >> >> OKAY. 8-1. THAT PASSES. 10 ADDITIONAL MINUTES. JEFF GONZALES, TO YOUR QUESTION, IF THERE IS ANOTHER MOTION, WE WOULD VOTE ON THE FIRST MOTION FIRST. >> THE SECOND MOTION FIRST BECAUSE MEXICAN MOTION PROSPECTUS >> YOU GO IN REVERSE ORDER . IS THERE A DESIRE FOR SOMEBODY TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE OR RECOMMEND A SALARY CHANGE . >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER MOTIONS? OKAY. AS PER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS, WE WILL VOTE ON THE SECOND MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS THE MOTION TO SET THE SALARY AT 217. $217,000. WE WILL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING AT THE END. >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU SAY IT. >> OKAY. SO THAT WILL NOT BE MOVED ONTO COMMISSIONERS COURT, CORRECT? NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THE FIRST MOTION, WHICH WAS TO SET THE SALARY AT 260,000. OKAY. AGAIN, FOR THE CLERKS, FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR VOTE. >> CIRCULATE A FORM. THAT MOTION PASSES . WHAT THAT WILL DO, THAT WILL COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE 24TH. THEY WILL PASS THIS ON. PLEASE DON'T WALK OUT OF THE ROOM WITH THIS SHEET. WE NEED THERE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONCE THAT IS SIGNED, I AM GOING TO, WE HAVE NOW HEARD AND * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.