Montgomery County commissioners on Friday approved a $508 million budget for 2026 that includes a $10,000 pay raise for law enforcement officers and a slight decrease in the property tax rate.
Montgomery County commissioners have approved a substantial $508 million budget, which includes a significant pay increase of approximately $10,000 for all law enforcement officers in the area.
The initial compensation for officers is set to increase to $70,928, a notable rise from the previous amount of $60,528. The increase in compensation affects deputies, constables, fire marshal investigators, and various other county officers. The salary increases are exclusive to law enforcement personnel and do not apply to other county workers.
The recently approved budget for 2026 marks a rise from the existing $466 million spending plan. In addition to the salary increase, commissioners have set a property tax rate of 37.70 cents per $100 of valuation, marking a slight reduction from the current rate of 37.90 cents. Homeowners can expect a reduction in their county taxes next year, with the owner of a $200,000 home now facing a payment of approximately $740, a decrease from the previous $758.
“I am confident that we have taken all necessary actions,” County Judge Mark Keough stated after the vote. “We have considered numerous ideas to support the community.”
Following extensive analysis, the recent decision is based on Houston officials' endorsement of a significant 36% salary increase for city police over five years. Concerns about retaining and recruiting officers prompted commissioners to form a committee in June to look into salary alignment with Houston.
In August, Chief Deputy Jonathan Zitzmann of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office shared the committee’s findings, proposing a four-year strategy to align compensation with that of Houston progressively. Nonetheless, due to the county's practice of adopting budgets on an annual basis, the commissioners have only sanctioned the raise for the year 2026.
“There is a consensus that law enforcement plays a crucial role in our growth and the progress we are making here in Montgomery County,” Keough stated in June. “You all have fostered, together with our judicial system and our outstanding district attorney, a climate of deterrence.”
The court is anticipated to reconsider the parity proposal as discussions commence for the 2027 budget.
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