The Courier of Montgomery County reports that all of Montgomery County’s law enforcement officers will receive an approximate $10,000 pay raise following commissioners approval of a $508 million 2026 budget Friday.
Law enforcement officers’ starting pay will bump from $60,528 to $70,928. The hike in pay will go to the law enforcement officers in the constable’s offices, the fire marshal’s office and any officers employed with other departments.
The new increased budget does not include raises for other employees of the county. The current budget is $466 million.
A tax rate of 37.70 cents per $100 property valuation was approved by commissioners. The new tax rate is a decrease from the 37.90 cents current rate, which officials raised for 2025 to add more law enforcement officers and give a cost-of-living raise for employees.
The lowering of the tax rate means that those who own a $200,000 home would pay $740 to Montgomery County. That’s down from $758 dollars for this year.
Commissioners in June put together a committee to study law enforcement pay after the city of Houston raised pay for police officers 36% over the next five years,
During the court’s August 12th budget meeting, Chief Deputy Jonathan Zitzman with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office presented the study.
To match that of the city of Houston, the four-year plan would raise law enforcement pay each year. Since the county adopts budgets annually, commissioners only approved the pay raise for 2026.
In 2027, the court will look at the pay parity plan again.
County Judge Mark Keough back in June said, “We all agree law enforcement is essential as one of the great reasons why we are growing and doing what we do here in Montgomery County.” He added, “Y’all have created, along with our judiciary system and our fabulous district attorney, an environment of deterrence.”
