Hutto residents got a chance to hear from both sides of the debate over police civil service status at an April 30 event hosted by the city.

About 100 Hutto residents along with several city leaders met at the Hutto Matters consortium held at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center on Innovation Boulevard.

A measure on the May 10 ballot aims to significantly change how Hutto police are hired, promoted and disciplined through the implementation of civil service rules. Citizens heard the pros and cons of civil service status from two experts—a municipal police association director and a labor and employment attorney.

Hutto Mayor Debbie Holland said the meeting was not meant to sway voters in a particular direction but to help citizens make an informed decision. Early voting is underway and will conclude on May 6 ahead of the May 10 election.

"It's a topic that can be polarizing and has the potential to divide our city," Holland said.

Civil service status would alter the standards of hiring, employment, promotion and discipline for police officers in Hutto. Among the many changes, civil service would create a more rigid pay scale for police based on rank as opposed to merit. Under civil service, the police department would also rely more heavily on test scores when hiring employees. Officers would also be allowed to formally appeal disciplinary actions.

The measure would require the hiring of a civil service director and the establishment of a civil service commission composed of three commissioners appointed by the city manager.

Kevin Lawrence, executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association which supports civil service, said passing the measure would make Hutto police officers more professional.

For example, Lawrence said police officers under civil service do not need to worry about their political affiliations or the political connections of someone they arrest affecting their employment.

"History shows you that the most professional, most well managed, most efficient law enforcement agencies in the state of Texas have civil service," Lawrence said.

Since 1947 more than 80 Texas cities have passed civil service measures for their police or fire departments, Lawrence said, and only one city has reversed the decision.

The Hutto Police Officer Association created the civil service measure by gathering and submitting to the city a petition with 100 voters' signatures.

Labor and employment attorney Bettye Lynn said among other things, the measure would eliminate merit-based pay raises for officers, limit the hiring age to 44 and allow for costly arbitration policies for police who have been disciplined.

Lynn and Lawrence disagreed on whether civil service would increase the total cost of law enforcement in Hutto.

Former Hutto Mayor Jeff Phillips called civil service "union-esque."

"Civil service ties the hands of city leaders moving forward," Phillips said. "It treats all officers the same. Whether they are top performers or marginal performers, they are treated the same."

Williamson County Attorney Dee Hobbs said he does not advocate for civil service in all cases, but the recent turnover of Hutto's city manager and police chief has led to a lack of stability in the police force. Civil service could remedy that situation, he said.

"I support [civil service] here. Drastic times call for drastic measures," Hobbs said. "We need to send a message of stability to our law enforcement."