Texas State Auditor's Office - Summary of Report 23-702

A Contracted Audit

A Report on the State's Law Enforcement Salary Schedule (Salary Schedule C) for the 2024-2025 Biennium

November 2022

Overview

The State Classification Team, located within the State Auditor’s Office, surveyed local law enforcement departments that employ more than 1,000 commissioned law enforcement officers and compared the State’s direct compensation for law enforcement positions paid in accordance with Salary Schedule C to the direct compensation paid by those local law enforcement departments.

To maintain market competitiveness, salary rates for Salary Schedule C would need to be adjusted, using the methodologies specified in Texas Government Code, Section 654.037(b).

ANALYSIS OF DIRECT COMPENSATION

The State of Texas ranks below the seven largest local law enforcement departments in the state in direct compensation for law enforcement positions.

Chapter 1-A

ANALYSIS OF MAXIMUM AND MID-RANGE PAY

Salary Schedule C has become more competitive with the seven largest local law enforcement departments in the state; however, some adjustments may still need to be made.

Chapter 1-B

SALARY SCHEDULE C OPTIONS

The estimated annual cost for six state law enforcement agencies to align salaries with the market averages would be $16.8 million (maximum base pay) or $15.7 million (mid-range base pay).

Chapter 1-C

SUPPLEMENTAL PAY COMPONENTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECT COMPENSATION

In most cases, the State’s education, certification, and bilingual skills pay is less than the corresponding pay provided by the seven largest local law enforcement departments in the state.

Chapter 1-D

RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY

Recommended changes for the 2024–2025 Position Classification Plan include reassigning the State Park Police Officer job classification series from Salary Schedule B to Salary Schedule C.

Chapter 2

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