By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said earlier this week he isn’t happy about criticism he’s heard that the county isn’t taking care of its employees.
On the contrary, the court over which he presides, as well as previous commissioners courts, have all have worked to raise county employee pay rates, Owens said during Tuesday’s meeting of Val Verde County Commissioners Court.
Owens made his comments following a discussion of the proposed 2021-2022 county budget.
Owens began his talk by dipping into the county’s recent history.
“From the 2018-2019 budget, from then until the budget that’s being proposed right now, the salary increase has been $1,618,657, so when I hear some comments that we are not taking care of our employees . . . and I’ll give you another one: in the 2010-2011 budget, our (total county) salaries were $7,808,750. In our budget, what we’re proposing today, they’re $12,777,633. That’s a lot of money, folks, and for some people to say – and I’m going to go ahead and say it – that we take care of ourselves and we don’t take care of our employees . . .” Owens shook his head and didn’t finish the thought.
He continued that he wanted to give some more concrete examples.
“The chief deputy, the base pay was $24,140 in one of the departments. That base pay is now $32,718. A Clerk II was $18,000 base pay in 2010-2011. What we’re proposing today would be $27,395,” Owens said.
“The first court that I was part of as a commissioner, Judge (Laura) Allen was the county judge, and I think that was one of her main things, along with the court, was to raise everybody’s base pay and to get pay raises, and when she came in, the base pay (for many county employees) was $16,500. This court, if they approve this (2021-2022) budget, that base pay will be $25,286, so when I hear comments that county employees are paid ‘a little better than nothing,’ it’s frustrating,” Owens added.
The county judge also pointed out the county pays for employees’ medical insurance, a cost that has risen steadily over the years.
“Our insurance, since I’ve been a commissioner, has gone up $113.90 per month per employee, so this year, it’s going to cost the county $133,716. That’s from the fiscal year we’re in now, to this next fiscal year, where we’re deciding what we’re going to spend, so it is an increase of $486 per employee,” the judge said.
“I had one comment last week, and it upsets me. As a court, we take care of 282 individuals (county employees). It isn’t a ‘yours and mine.’ We make our decisions based on what is best for all the employees, whether they are elected officials or not. We make decisions based on what we believe is best,” Owens said.
Owens said he respects the department heads that come in and ask for more money for their employees.
The judge said this year the county continues to face uncertainty about formerly tried-and-true sources of revenue.
“One of the sheets (I’ve handed out) shows we’re a million dollars off on revenue from this year to last year. Then the other sheet shows that we’re $200,000 some odd less in fund balance from last year to this year.
“You all have heard me say since 2011 that the fund balance is there, and we should spend a bunch of it, but you sort of grow as a commissioner and now as a judge. That won’t work.
“I can tell you right now that for GEO, we had over $900,000 budgeted (initially in revenue). When I submitted my budget to Matt (Weingardt, the county auditor), I estimated (county revenue from GEO) at $650,000, and after visiting with Matt, we went down to $300,000, so we have lost $600,000, is what it looks like we’re going to lose from GEO, and that number could be worse, we don’t know yet,” he said.
Weingardt told the court the monthly check the county received from GEO “used to be $70,000 to $90,000.” Last month, he said, the county received a check for $23,000.
“I really do respect all of the elected officials. It’s a difficult job. I get it, especially with everything we’ve all been through. I don’t mind getting rocks thrown at us, but not real big rocks, folks. I will tell you that we have the best interests of all of our citizens at hearts and for damn sure, our employees. The people who work for us are our backbone. They’re the ones who take care of us,” Owens said.
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