The three of Bexar County's four constables took their case for bigger raises to the county's salary grievance committee
Bexar County 's four constables balked at pay raises of 3%, arguing they were the county's lowest-paid elected officials and that they deserved more. They got it: the law enforcement officers will receive pay hikes of 6 percent in fiscal year 2025, which begins Oct.
1. They will make $122,660, up from $115,717. Last month, a citizens committee that makes pay recommendations for county elected officials proposed a bump of 5% as part of its two-year salary proposal. But the Bexar County Commissioners Court whittled the raise to 3% in part as a show of solidarity with county employees, who will receive 3% pay increases. No other officeholders objected to their raises, which will be included in the county's proposed $2.8 billion annual budget. County Judge Peter Sakai and the county's four commissioners are expected to adopt the 2025 spending plan on Tuesday. The three of the four constables took their case for bigger raises to the county's salary grievance committee, which is made up of 9 county residents, last week. Precinct 3 Constable Mark Vojvodich recently underwent surgery and was not present at the meeting. BACKGROUND: Bexar County commissioners cut proposed pay raise for all elected officials “It’s not any secret that we’re the lowest-paid elected officials pretty much on the pay scale of Bexar County,” Precinct 4 Constable Kathryn Brown, who will start her second 4-year term as constable next year, told the committee. Her precinct covers East Bexar County. Compared with Harris and Travis counties, Bexar County constables' compensation falls well below the average, said Precinct 1 Constable Ruben Tejeda. “With the amount of work that we do, the amount of service that we do, it’s just to pay us a little bit more,” said Tejeda, who is serving his eighth term as constable on the South Side. Harris County’s eight constables also recently petitioned their salary grievance committee for bigger raises. They secured a 17.5% pay hike, which will bring their salaries to $178,509. Travis County constables make $122,128, according to GovSalaries, a database that compiles public payroll records. After Travis County commissioners adopt the 2025 budget, which will include 5% raises for elected officials, constables' pay will be $128,234. ALSO READ: AI-powered cameras will be watching you on Commerce Street in 2025 The local constables' pay also lags pay for senior leaders of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Tejeda said a chief deputy gets $166,000 and a deputy chief makes $137,000, thousands of dollars more than the constables. Sheriff Javier Salazar makes $175,224. The sheriff’s office maintains the county jail and serves about 400,000 people living in the unincorporated areas, which make up over 60% of Bexar County's land mass. Though smaller in area, each constable precinct has about 500,000 residents, Tejeda said. The pay disparities pushed the grievance committee to award constables the 6% raise, said member Robert Castaneda. He said it would be difficult to entice experienced law officers to run for constable if it means taking a sizable pay cut. “We need to take someone who has got experience and get someone who is willing to leave pretty much a stable job for something that is an elected official,” Castaneda said. “If these folks are making more than a constable, why would they want to downgrade their pay?” Constables seek budget increases, too On top of patrolling school zones, writing traffic tickets and making arrests, constables also serve subpoenas and arrest warrants. Next year, the precincts will split $15.1 million, up from $13.8 million this year. The boost will allow each constable to add two deputy constable positions. But they're calling for even more funding. On Wednesday, the constables asked commissioners court for enough money to hire five additional officers per precinct instead of two. Precinct 2 Constable Leticia Vazquez, whose turf is West Bexar County, said she has made personal sacrifices, including relinquishing her county vehicle. She said she drives her personal truck so her deputies can use her work vehicle. “I’ve given up my bodycam. I’ve given up my vest. I’ve given up my car so that my officers can go out there and do their job,” Vazquez said. “I always get them what they need. If the budget doesn’t allow it, mama buys it.” Brown said she has voluntarily taken on several new responsibilities, including starting and maintaining a food pantry. “I don’t know how many people from the community have called me, and I’ve sat on the phone with business establishments that just got broken into,” Brown said. “We wear many hats nestled in the heart of the community.”
Bexar County Sheriff's Office Govsalaries Leticia Vazquez Kathryn Brown Ruben Tejeda Peter Sakai Javier Salazar Mark Vojvodich Robert Castaneda Harris Bexar County Travis County Harris County East Bexar County Travis South Side Commerce Street
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