HOUSTON — Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said Monday she will not accept a newly approved $305,000 salary because the increase would have to come from her office’s existing budget.
Harris County Commissioners Court approved salary increases last week that would raise the pay of several countywide elected officials to $305,000 starting Oct. 1, the beginning of the county’s new fiscal year.
Hudspeth said the salary increase did not include additional funding for the County Clerk’s Office.
“The approved salary increase was not accompanied by additional funding and would have to be absorbed within the County Clerk’s existing budget,” Hudspeth said in a statement. “At this time, I have chosen not to accept the newly approved salary.”
Hudspeth’s current salary is about $179,000, meaning the approved increase would have added roughly $126,000 to her annual pay.
Instead, Hudspeth said she wants to keep the money available for staffing and other needs in her office.
“My immediate focus remains ensuring the resources available to the County Clerk’s Office are directed toward filling the positions requested during the budget process and maintaining the staffing needed to effectively serve Harris County residents and fulfill our statutory responsibilities,” she said.
Commissioners Court also approved raises for District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, County Attorney Abbie Kamin, District Attorney Sean Teare and the county’s eight constables.
Burgess’ salary was approved to increase from about $179,000 to $305,000. Kamin and Teare were approved for increases from about $217,000 to $305,000, while the constables were approved for increases from about $260,000 to $305,000.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the four county commissioners will not receive salary increases under the plan.
Hudspeth’s decision comes after Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt sought a salary increase that Commissioners Court ultimately rejected. Wyatt had requested a salary of $250,000 or more, up from about $140,000. A county salary grievance committee later recommended a $40,000 increase, but Commissioners Court declined to approve it.
Commissioners have also moved to abolish the elected county treasurer position.
