COMMISSONERS DENY SALARY INCREASE REQUESTS BY SHERIFF

  

Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak was denied on two separate salary increase requests before the County Commissioners Court this morning.  Hanak requested that the three administrative assistants in his office be paid the same amount as those is other county offices.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs said that she didn’t want to fight over the issue and that the entire salary system needed to be reviewed:

Commissioners denied the request saying that a total review of all the county administrative assistant positions would be more appropriate.

In a separate request, Hanak asked for an 11.5 percent increase in salary for Deputy Al Gomez when he is promoted to Transport Sergeant.  That would put him at the same salary level as the retiring Transport Sergeant.  Commissioners suggested that a 3 percent increase would be more appropriate because Gomez would be eligible for a 3 percent increase in January and another 3 percent after his 90 day review.

Hanak said that he couldn’t guarantee if Gomez would accept the promotion unless he made the same amount as the retiring Transport Sergeant.  Longtime Commissioners Court observer Bill Neinast stated that this request should never have made it to the court, that the whole idea of having to request a promotion pay increase was archaic.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath agreed.

Commissioners approved the promotion, but with only a 3 percent increase in the pay scale.