Two county officials were hoping for a 3% increase in salary, following a five-year stint with no cost-of-living pay raise. However, their request was denied during a recent Commissioners Court meeting when a recommendation from the Salary Grievance Committee failed to be put to a vote.

Not many know are familiar with what the Salary Grievance Committee does, and what a valuable asset it can be for elected officials in any Texas County, including Freestone County.

The Salary Grievance Committee was created for elected county and precinct officials to challenge their salaries, expenses and allowances as set by a proposed budget.

An official must request the committees review in writing within five days of receiving their notice of salary or expenses.

The committee has the ability to make recommendations to the Commissioner’s Court by voting for an increase in salary or expenses.

If six to eight members vote for the raise the court is to consider the the recommendation at the next meeting.

When all nine members vote to recommend the increase, the Commissioner’s Court must include the increase in next year’s budget.

The Freestone County Salary Grievance Committee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 in the County Courtroom.

The Freestone County Salary Grievance Committee consists of nine people:
–Jeremy Shipley – Sheriff
–Lisa Foree – Tax Assessor-Collector
–Jeannie Keeney – Treasurer
–Linda Jarvis – County Clerk
–Teresa Black – District Clerk
–Brian Evans – District Attorney
–Dee Lynn Chap
–Karen Albright
–Karen Nowaski

Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Theresa Farris and Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Cinnamon Archibald filed a request, and a meeting was arranged for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Both Farris and Archibald made presentations requesting a pay raise of approximately 3% equaling approximately $1,400 a year as there had not had a pay raise in five years for that position.

The committee voted, seven for the pay raise and two against.

Information on who voted for and against requested, but not received through officials channels at press time. However, according to one attendee, the “no” votes were given by Foree and Evans.

This recommendation was included on the next Commissioner’s Court meeting agenda dated Wednesday, August, 5, 2020, Pct. 3 Commissioner Michael Daniels made a motion to approve the pay increase, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Meaning, no raise would be given for either Justice of the Peace.