Recent pay hikes as high as 25% for Rockwall County officials illustrate a disconnect with the people they’re supposed to be representing, county resident Erika Hatfield says.
“When you’re representing a group of people you need to listen to them,” Hatfield told the East DFW News. “I think government in general has transparency issues. They run on their points and then we elect them to office and there’s no accountability on their points.”
County officials cemented the hikes for themselves as part of the fiscal year 2019-20 budget approved by the commissioner’s court. Despite the opposition of a growing number of local residents, the sheriff, commissioner and county clerk all saw raises of at least 15%.
As public outcry has grown, the Herald Banner reports Rockwall County Commissioner Cliff Sevier and the County Judge David Sweet have returned an average of around $17,500 of the raises.
“I believe people should get raises, but I don’t think it should all be in one year,” Hatfield added. “I don’t know anybody in any company that received a 24% pay raise. What if their salary is raised 24% percent every year? What’s to stop them from doing this every year? Can we trust them to do the right thing if there is no cap?”
Hatfield said she salutes the two officials who decided to give back at least some of the money.
“They did show they tried to listen,” she said. “I think there needs to be a decision on what kind of cap needs to be put on these types of raises. We’re a small county and they just gave themselves raises that seem equal to large counties.”
In a survey conducted every two years, the Texas Association of Counties recently concluded that Rockwall County salaries already compare favorably to other counties of similar population. Researchers found out of 26 counties in the population range of 50,000 to 99,999, Rockwall ranked first in pay for county clerk, second for sheriff and county treasurer, third for county judge and county commissioner.
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