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Special to El Rrun-Rrun
The Saturday Brownsville Herald is one of the least read issues across town.
But if the Cameron County elected officials thought their proposed increase in salary would do unnoticed, they have another thing coming.
When the county judge asks for a $48,657 increase in salary and his fellow county commissioners for another $32,684 each and the district clerk $24,000 and the county clerk another $22,380, you can bet every taxpayer's bottom dollar that people will notice.
The county commission will hold a public hearing on these proposed increases at 9 a.m. on August 20 in the commissioners courtroom on the second story of the Dancy Building between Monroe between 12th and 11th streets.
Taking into consideration that the latest household incomes for Cameron County was $36,975, down -2.33 percent from the previous year, asking for that $48,657 pay raise for Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino's proposed compensation will equal more than the average household of his constituents will earn for the year.
Justices of the Peace are in line for a $9,617 increase as well. County Treasurer David Betancourt's proposed raise will equal another $39,968 to raise his salary to $105,980, just a bit more than the $48,657 Trevino is asking.Tony Yzaguirre is asking for another $17,045 to raise his salary to $105,960.
Two constables, Abel Gomez and Eddie Solis are hoping for a $10,000 boost to their earnings while Jose Adrian Gonzalez is hopeful for a $4,800 raise.
Those not asking for a raise includes Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz, Sheriff Omar Lucio and constables Merced Burnias and Pete Delgadillo..
We smell trouble brewing here. If any of these elected officials, and there are several, are up for reelection in 2020, it might behoove them to distance themselves from these proposed increases to their salaries. After all, they knew what the job paid before they ran for office.
Now, who proposed these raises? We have word that new Pct. 2 commissioner Joey Lopez was the force behind the inclusion of the raises in this year's budget and that Trevino is just "going along for the ride."
But what a ride!
Was it the elected officials themselves, or was it budget wiz Asst. Administrator Xavier Villarreal under County Administrator Pete Sepulveda? And who directed them and told them the money was there, the county auditor, the administrator or the commissioners?
Taking into consideration that the latest household incomes for Cameron County was $36,975, down -2.33 percent from the previous year, asking for that $48,657 pay raise for Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino's proposed compensation will equal more than the average household of his constituents will earn for the year.
Justices of the Peace are in line for a $9,617 increase as well. County Treasurer David Betancourt's proposed raise will equal another $39,968 to raise his salary to $105,980, just a bit more than the $48,657 Trevino is asking.Tony Yzaguirre is asking for another $17,045 to raise his salary to $105,960.
Two constables, Abel Gomez and Eddie Solis are hoping for a $10,000 boost to their earnings while Jose Adrian Gonzalez is hopeful for a $4,800 raise.
Those not asking for a raise includes Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz, Sheriff Omar Lucio and constables Merced Burnias and Pete Delgadillo..
We smell trouble brewing here. If any of these elected officials, and there are several, are up for reelection in 2020, it might behoove them to distance themselves from these proposed increases to their salaries. After all, they knew what the job paid before they ran for office.
Now, who proposed these raises? We have word that new Pct. 2 commissioner Joey Lopez was the force behind the inclusion of the raises in this year's budget and that Trevino is just "going along for the ride."
But what a ride!
Was it the elected officials themselves, or was it budget wiz Asst. Administrator Xavier Villarreal under County Administrator Pete Sepulveda? And who directed them and told them the money was there, the county auditor, the administrator or the commissioners?