HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrowth Factor Calls for New County Court at Law 11.4.1974 c.....
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Growth Factor CaIIs For
New Count y Court At Law
Like any other business, govern- A salary increase has been
ment needs proper manpower to requested for the County Judge
operate at maximum efficiency. office in an effort to bring it to a full
This is one method of becoming time capacity, according to W.R.
more efficient. Why not now rather (Bill) Vance.
than when the workload has
overloaded the officials so much that
it will be difficult to dig out from THE SALARY INCREASE
under? requested was for County Judge to
Brazos County has grown more be upped from $13,500 to $18,000
annually. Because of the salary, it
than 30 per cent in population in the always has been acceptable for the
past decade and an additional 30 per County Judge to engage in private
cent is conservatively projected for practice of law simultaneously. This
the next decade. This continuing could be alleviated some with salary
growth is making Brazos County increases.
government big business.
However, unlike the flexibility of "I don't think it's practical any
private business, to update a county longer (engage in private law
government's ability to meet practice) to do that either from the
change, in most cases, requires an standpoint of the office holder or the
act of the State Legislature. county," Vance says. The duties of
IN BRAZOS COUNTY, as in all the office are full time and the
Texas counties, the state con- salary should be commensurate
stitution provides for the office of with that. I have agreed with the
County Judge who has jurisdiction commissioners that if they will
over County Court and serves as increase me to $18,000 in 1975 I will
presiding officer of commissioner's gradually phase out my private
court. We believe this to be too much practice so that by the end of 1975 it
responsibility for one office con- will be wound down. At that time I
sidering the growth and size of would expect them to increase my
Brazos County. salary further. I'm in the process of
Some counties, such as Victoria, cleaning it up right now because I
which is about the size of Brazos am overloaded with work," he said.
County, have overcome the situation The work load is such now that the
by providing for a separate county division should be made and make
court at law through an act of the our government stronger with a new
state legislature. County Court at Law.