This marks the third consecutive year of county employee pay increases.
The details
The minimum wage for county employees will now start at $21.84 an hour, an annual salary of $45,427, which will be implemented in October with the start of fiscal year 2024-25.
“I want to be really clear for all folks and all our employees. We won't have this kind of money to give this kind of a pay raise on any predictable timetable in the future, and that is why I feel like it's important to do it while we can,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea said.
Pay increases are meant to keep pace with the cost of living and inflation in the Austin-area, furthering internal efforts to recruit and retain experienced staff, according to commissioners.
Looking back
The county saw a noteworthy increase in pay for county employees and officials back in 2022, with commissioners unanimously voting to raise the minimum wage for Travis County employees from $15 to $20 an hour and implementing a 5% salary increase across the board.
The FY 2022-23 compensation package included increases in shift differential pay—referring to extra pay given to employees who work outside normal business hours—overtime rates, and a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees.
For FY 2023-24, the county again increased employee compensation across the board by another 4%. With the recent approval for another increase this fiscal year, the county is expected to spend a little more than $30 million on employee pay.
