Dallas County commissioners approved a 6 percent pay increase for themselves and other elected officials on Tuesday.
Dallas County sheriff's deputies hope the move is foreshadowing of an equal or larger pay increase for all 5,840 county employees next month.
The amount of the pay increase comes on the heels of record property value increases in Dallas County. If property tax rates stay the same, the county will see just over 10-percent more in revenue next year, accounting for an extra $46 million coming in, according to the county budget office.
On Tuesday, deputies packed the Commissioners Court to implore for an 8-percent pay increase.
Sgt. Christopher Dyer, president of the Dallas County Sheriff's Association says morale surrounding pay is suffering in Dallas County.
"Most agencies out there, are going to be giving their police officers raises,” Dyer said. "A lot of these people that are on the fence about leaving the department would make the decision to go ahead and leave if they only receive a 3-percent increase,"
Starting salary for Dallas County sheriff's deputies average $48,818. That amount is less than neighboring counties of Collin ($53,024) and Rockwall ($50,274) according to the most recent law enforcement salary survey.
Homeowners also attended Tuesday and asked commissioners to lower the tax rate to offset the 10-percent increase in property values.
Lisa Marie Gala of Dallas told commissioners she purchased her home in the M Streets cash in 2000 and has paid over $100,000 in property taxes since. She says the rate is skyrocketing this year.
“I shouldn’t have to pay $850 per month in taxes. It’s crazy. I can’t do it, going to move,” Gala said.
But Dyer countered deputies have been paid more than 15 percent below market value in Dallas County for years and the windfall of extra tax revenues should make its way to county employees.
"You have the money now to fix this problem," Dyer told commissioners. "You’ll never have a better chance than right now to fix it."
Dyer told News 8 he took the decision by commissioners to give themselves a 6 percent increase as a good sign.
"I’m encouraged by what I saw today," Dyer said. "I think they will come back and give us an 8-percent increase.
Commissioners will vote on the tax rate and employees salaries on Sept. 20.
