HOUSTON — Each of Harris County’s eight elected constables will earn $305,000 next year after county commissioners approved a pay increase Thursday, raising their salaries above that of the U.S. vice president amid a projected $130 million budget deficit.
County Judge Lina Hidalgo voted against the salary increases, which form part of the county’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget.
Hidalgo questioned the size of the raises before the vote, noting that the $305,000 salary exceeds the compensation of the vice president and other high-ranking public officials.
The approved increase represents a 17% raise from the constables’ salaries last year. Their pay has increased substantially since 2024, when they earned slightly more than $133,000.
Supporters have argued that higher salaries help the county recruit and retain qualified law enforcement officers.
The latest increase follows a 62% jump in constable salaries last year under a law enforcement pay parity initiative championed by several commissioners. The county allocated about $130 million last year to fund major law enforcement raises while cutting spending in other departments.
The proposed 2027 budget could exceed $3 billion for the first time as the county faces a projected $130 million deficit driven partly by rising inflation-related costs.
Law enforcement accounted for 46% of the county’s 2026 general fund spending, or about $1.2 billion, according to a recent study from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
The budget also includes raises for the district clerk, county attorney and district attorney.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis initially abstained from Thursday’s vote on the constable raises but later supported the measure. He cautioned commissioners about spending amid the county’s structural deficit.
“We ought to be cognizant of what we are spending before we spend it,” Ellis said.
Commissioners also unanimously approved Hidalgo’s motion directing the county’s human resources department to review salaries for appointed department heads.
The commissioners separately rejected Hidalgo’s proposal to raise the county tax rate to fund early childhood education programs, marking the second consecutive year they have rejected the measure.
The county’s upcoming tax rate could exceed 62 cents and reach as high as 68 cents if the Harris Health System accepts its voter-approved tax rate, according to Commissioner Steve Radack.
