With Budget Shortfalls and Service Cuts, a Pay Raise for Dallas County Commissioners Is a Terrible Idea

The Dallas County Commissioners voted this week to increase their pay to $158,820 as part of a 3 percent pay raise for all county workers. We find it difficult to see the wisdom behind this move.The commission is forcing $3.1 million in budget cuts to juvenile detention facilities, public safety spending is flat and the commission is still dealing with the ramifications of a miscalculation of property taxes leading to a $13 million budget shortfall.Why would the commissioners believe it was the right time to raise their own pay? Especially when you consider this comes just one year after the commission voted to increase their pay by 8 percent.  Continue reading...