Burnet County employees — except for elected officials — will be given a cost-of-living adjustment of either 7 percent or 5 percent starting May 1. Law enforcement will see their salaries increase by 7 percent and all other employees by 5 percent, the Burnet County Commissioners Court voted at its regular meeting Tuesday, April 12.

“These salary modifications are necessary to attract and retain quality professional personnel,” said County Judge James Oakley at the meeting. “Several posted positions are not producing applications, and we are losing valued employees to higher-paying jobs within and outside the government sector.”

Currently, 20 positions at the jail have been open for more than six months. Several sheriff’s deputy positions are also open.

“Staffs from all departments are facing the combined effects of strong competition in the labor market, elevated housing costs, and increased retail prices across the commodity spectrum,” Oakley read from a written statement at the meeting.

Attrition funds, or money budgeted for positions not yet filled, will help fund the salary increases. The rest will come from line-item transfers from categories with extra money that has not been spent.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

‘UNAUTHORIZED SUBDIVISION’

Also at the meeting, Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo was instructed to pursue criminal Class B felony charges against a Realtor selling lots in a “potential unauthorized subdivision” in Florence in both Lampasas and Burnet counties. The...

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