First steps were seen in Montgomery County, which introduced a four-year plan in its fiscal year 2025-26 budget to increase deputy starting pay to $70,928 next year, with a goal of reaching a six-figure starting salary by FY 2028-29.
What's happening?
Now, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office and local police departments have joined the trend, with both the county and city of Fulshear forming police salary committees, Community Impact reported.
In Fulshear, the police department adjusted salaries about five years ago, putting the city at the highest paid entry level in the county, Police Chief Kenny Seymour said in an email. The department created a performance-based step program to help employees advance through the pay structure.
“Residents should know FBCSO seeks to retain its workforce, particularly since many reside within Fort Bend County and call Fort Bend County home,” Fagan said.
However, city of Katy officials said they have not seen the same problems.
What else?
Beyond salaries, Fulshear’s police department offers officers every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday off, Seymour said.
As city employees, Fulshear officers also get other benefits including health insurance, paid time off, six weeks of paid leave upon the birth of a child and tuition assistance. Additionally, officers receive fitness days for exceeding the minimum state requirements.
Meanwhile, Katy’s police department is looking at 10 hour shifts to allow officers more time off, Chief of Police Bryon Woytek said in an email.
However, Fagan said Fort Bend County’s benefits are “significantly lacking,” citing only training, professional development and promotions as additional opportunities. He said department officials would like to see added benefits including tuition reimbursement, shift and weekend differential, language pay, training officer pay, uniform allowance and special assignment pay.
The sheriff’s office is also set to open its regional training complex in the spring, Fagan said. The complex aims to bring specialized training and professional development courses, which officials hope will attract more recruits.
Why it matters
For residents, public safety consistently ranks among their top priorities, along with mobility and other city services, especially for Fulshear, which is ranked one of the safest cities in the state, officials said.
“Representing the title of one of the ‘Safest Cities’ in Texas is not an easy task—this has become our culture and what has come to be expected,” Seymour said.
Both Katy and Fulshear officials said they have continued to add officers to keep up with population growth.
Fulshear and Fort Bend County officials said they hope the pay committees will help to recruit and retain qualified officers.
Looking ahead
Upon the Oct. 7 creation of Fulshear’s police review committee, City Manager Zach Goodlander set a goal to present a report to council in January, with a February or March budget kick-off workshop. The committee will be comprised of members including:
- City Manager Zach Goodlander
- 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
Meanwhile, Fort Bend County formed its Blue Ribbon Committee Oct. 9 following concerns from Fagan. The seven-person committee will consist of a representative from several departments, including:
- Human resources, chair
- Sheriff’s office
- Budget and finance
- Auditor’s office
- Risk management
- Commissioners Court
- Board of judges
“Agencies keep throwing money at salaries, and it will not fix the problem,” Woytek said in an email. “Even with higher pay, the vacancies will still exist until young people decide this is a professional career again.”
