Zooming in
The nine-person committee will meet up to five times to discuss police department salaries, pay compared to competitors and anticipated staffing needs, as well as to evaluate the future budget impact to present a report to council in January, City Manager Zach Goodlander said.
The committee is charged with creating a five-year police pay plan similar to Houston and Harris County—which both approved raises earlier this year—so Fulshear can remain competitive, Goodlander said.
“We want to let the police department know we are being very proactive,” Mayor Don McCoy said.
Houston Police Department officer salaries will increase by 36.5% by 2030 after an $832 million police union contract was approved May 21, Community Impact reported. Meanwhile, Harris County increased constable salaries to $260,000 on Sept. 9 with an extra focus on law enforcement pay parity in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
The specifics
Along with Goodlander, the committee will be comprised of members including:
- Chief of Police Kenny Seymour
- Council member At-Large Jason Knape
- Council member At-Large Camron Miller
- District 5 council member Abhijeet Utturkar
- One member of the economic development corporation, EDC Type A member Kaye Kahlich was recommended
- One volunteer resident
- One member of each of the finance and HR departments
Once chosen, the committee will have an initial meeting in October to set its framework, Goodlander said.
Other key milestones include:
- Two meetings in November
- Up to two meetings in December
- Present a report to council in January
- Participate in a February or March budget kick-off workshop with council
