MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) – Police spent the final moments of daylight Thursday inside chiropractor David Russell’s McKinney clinic, gathering potential evidence against the doctor who was twice arrested for sexual assault of a child within one week.

Police will not say what they were searching for, but they appeared to be executing a search warrant in conjunction with a criminal affidavit filed earlier this week.

That filing alleged a potential four victims, two more than first reported. Russell, 42, was initially arrested after two victims – now believed to be 13 and 18 years old – filed separate complaints alleging the chiropractor sexually abused them during treatments for groin injuries.

The two took dance classes at the Taylor Dance Studio located off North Central Expressway. Police reported that Russell taught stretching and conditioning classes there. It’s alleged, though, that the incidents took place at his personal chiropractic office.

He was arrested on Oct. 28 and again on Nov. 4 on counts of sexual assault of a child, a first degree felony. He has since bonded out.

Police are continuing their investigation with the assistance of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County.

Russell declined to comment Thursday night, passing CBS 11 on to his lawyer. The chiropractor’s attorney has not returned requests for comment.

Civil Service Passes 296-35

On 09-20-2011, Collin County Sheriff’s Office employees were given the opportunity to vote on a measure for the creation of a Sheriff’s Office civil service system. The results were 296-‘For’, and 35-‘Against’. The results were taken from only those who voted, not of the total of employees employed by the Sheriff’s Office.

Section 158.032 of the Texas Local Government Code states that a sheriff’s department in a county with a population of more than 500,000 may create a civil service system.

The population numbers are derived from the 2010 census report, which put the population of Collin County at 782341. The number could not be used by Collin County for the civil service vote until September 1 of this year. This vote was open only to employees of the Sheriff’s Office; the general public was not involved.

Today’s vote was held at the Sheriff’s department under the supervision of the Collin County Election’s Office. After totaling the votes, Elections Director Sharon Rowe contacted Judge Keith Self and Sheriff Terry Box with the final results. The results were then posted on the door of the room where voting took place.

There has been no word as to when the civil service system will be implemented. Normally, as with other newly created systems, it goes in to effect at the beginning of the fiscal year. In the case of Collin County, the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2011.

What does civil service mean to employees? The actual rules adopted by the Collin County civil service commission have not yet been published. However, under state law, the commission shall adopt, publish, and enforce rules regarding:

(1)  the definition of a county employee;

(2)  selection and classification of county employees;

(3)  competitive examinations;

(4)  promotions, seniority, and tenure;

(5)  layoffs and dismissals;

(6)  disciplinary actions;

(7)  grievance procedures;  and

(8)  other matters relating to the selection of county

employees and the procedural and substantive rights, advancement,

benefits, and working conditions of county employees.

The commission will be comprised of three individuals who are appointed by the Sheriff, County Judge and the District Attorney. As soon as we hear, we will inform our members when civil service is scheduled to be implemented and what rules the Collin County Civil Service Commission adopts.

The CCDA would like to thank Dick Brock, Jaclyn Kerbow, David Russell, TMPA, and all of our members who assisted in getting this opportunity to vote in front of Sheriff’s Office employees.

One of the five fundamental factors in Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’, is that a leader must have the will of the people behind him or he will fail. It states that all warfare is deception and to use timing and momentum. The deception is laid out before you; this issue of salary increases was already voted on and passed, so the timing is suspect. The momentum is the exploitation of the publics’ resistance to big government policies of the Democrat held White House. Collin County employees are not the enemy, and we are not at war.

I will vote against the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Collin County budget on Monday at the 1:30 PM Commissioners Court session. This is the final vote to approve the budget.

My NO vote will be based on the long-term impacts of the proposed two-tier salary structure and overall salary increases; 2 percent for some employees and 3 percent for others. Voting against a county budget is not a decision that I take lightly. Self also stated “ In the proposed budget that will receive a final vote on September 19, some salaries go up by 3 percent, others by only 2 percent for supposedly equal job responsibilities.” – Keith Self

This salary structure is not “two-tier” as Judge Self would have you believe. He fails to include the specifics of this proposal. It is actually a two-category salary structure; one is set up for law enforcement at 3% and the other for non-law enforcement employees at 2%.  This structure is no different than those of other counties and municipalities nation wide. Because there is no private sector comparison for law enforcement, the court, at the direction of Judge Self, directed Human Resources Director Cynthia Jacobson to make a comparison of law enforcement salaries of similar counties in the state.

The agencies used for this study were Ft.Bend, Montgomery, Williamson, Denton and Tarrant counties, as well as local municipal agencies Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco and Wylie. When the comparisons came in, it was determined that Collin County law enforcement was in the middle of the pay comparisons. It was also shown that the length of time for a deputy sheriff, for example, to reach top ‘step’ at the current rate, would be sixteen (16) years. Each year that passes, law enforcement personnel fall further behind their counterparts in other agencies.

The “equal job responsibilities” is addresses later on in this article.

During this year’s budget discussions, there were five different motions before the proposed raises passed by a 3-2 vote. I only voted FOR the first motion – a 1.5 percent pay-for-performance (PFP) increase across the board, matching CPI. I believe that in light of the county economic situation and the uncertainty of the national economic future, Collin County should not give a 2% and 3% pay raise this year, and I disagree with ANY two-tier salary structure.- Keith Self

To be clear, a PFP raise of 3, 2 or even 1.5% is not absolute. The correct way to put it is up to the listed percentage. Most employees will not see an increase in salary at any of the proposed percentages. Pay for Performance is just that, pay for performance. If an employee exceeds in all categories set forth by their department, they would receive the maximum amount. At 1.5%, most employees would rate as average and receive .75%. At 2%, an employee would receive 1% and at 3%, an employee would receive 1.5% at an average performance rate.

Again, this is NOT a “two-tiered salary structure” and it is not giving certain employees a higher percentage of pay over others who perform the same function. Judge Self has stated, repeatedly, that the pay and benefits of Collin County employees should reflect those in the private sector. Keep in mind that these employees cannot increase their earnings by producing more widgets or soliciting more customers. The salary and benefits of these employees are at the mercy of the Commissioner’s Court. There is no private sector comparison for Law Enforcement, so they must be compared to other like agencies.

Isn’t it the American way that the harder you work, the more you earn? Isn’t that the definition of Pay for Performance? Law enforcement quotas are illegal, so there is a reason that police are paid differently than non-law enforcement employees.

Judge Self said in a previous letter to his ‘friends’, “Tarrant, Dallas, and Denton counties had ZERO pay raises for the last TWO years.  Same with the cities of McKinney and Plano.” Once again, he fails to mention that these agencies are including salary increases for FY2012. 

He failed to mention these agencies that he directed HR to include in the salary survey. Tarrant County for instance, is giving their county employees a 3% raise saying it was in line with salary increases county wide. Plano increased overall police salaries by 1.5%. Williamson County is raising their non-law enforcement salaries 2.5% and Law Enforcement by 3%.   Denton County voted to increase employee and elected official salaries by 2%.  Frisco is raising merit based pay for non-law enforcement by 3% and Law Enforcement by 3%. McKinney is increasing police and fire employee salaries by 2%.  Wylie is increasing police and non-law enforcement salaries by 2%. Bexar County also voted in a 2% employee salary increase. Victoria County raised their employee salaries by 4%.
There are some great elements in this budget, namely the decision to pay down our unfunded liability in the retirement plan, which frees up several million dollars every year, and the tax break for new businesses that we are current designing with help from our cities. But we must consider what our citizens are experiencing. And my vote is NOT based on the performance of county employees. – Keith Self

Judge Self forgot to mention the half million dollar savings from the elimination of retired employee health care. Nevertheless-

Here is what Collin County residence are actually experiencing:

Frisco –  http://www.friscoedc.com/community-profile/business-climate

One of the fastest growing communities in Texas, Frisco’s population has grown 210 percent since 2000. Supported by strong infrastructure, exceptional leadership and quality commercial developments, Frisco has been recognized by Money Magazine as one of the top 100 places to live in the United States. This infrastructure supports an exceptional community and an extraordinary quality of life. Offering a strong economy through diversification, corporate vitality and quality of life, Frisco is proud to be known as a city with progress in motion.

Allen- http://www.allentx.com/request-a-customized-demographics-report/

Allen’s appealing demographics have spurred along record-breaking growth. The population of approximately 85,460 is expanding with an estimated 2.8% growth rate and is anticipated to reach 90,000 by the year 2011.

McKinnney-

http://www.mckinneyedc.com/doing_business_in_mckinney/demographics.htm

McKinney is the county seat of Collin County, one of the wealthiest counties in the USA. The current population for Collin County, per the 2010 Census, is 782,341, a 59% increase from 2000 (US Census, 2010). The numbers make Collin County:

• The third fastest growing county in Texas
• The 13th fastest growing county in the U.S.
• The 6th most populous county in Texas
• The wealthiest county in Texas

Plano- http://www.planotexas.org/The-Plano-Story.aspx

Plano, with a 2011 population of over 261,000, is a prosperous place.  In 2008, the City received national attention as being the nation’s Most Affluent City and Best City to Create Wealth.

Plano, unlike other affluent locations, is affordable. It has low taxes, housing prices and unemployment compared to most metros in the U.S. The Plano Independent School District is nationally regarded and provides an education comparable in quality to many top private schools.

Plano, unlike other affluent locations, is affordable. It has low taxes, housing prices and unemployment compared to most metros in the U.S. The Plano Independent School District is nationally regarded and provides an education comparable in quality to many top private schools.

As I wrote in earlier posts; 2010 Collin County private sector wages declined by 1.8 percent, our unemployment rate is now 7.7 percent (as of September 16), we have almost 33,000 citizens unemployed, the 2010 Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase was only 1.5 percent, our tax base increased by only 1.2 percent, and average home values are at the 2007 level. In January 2008, the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. It is now 7.7 percent. You may read the entire post at http://www.keithself.com/ on my September 11 entry.* – Keith Self

* There is something inherently wrong with a public official campaigning against law enforcement on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. This is a great example of the lack of respect Judge Keith Self  has for Collin County law enforcement.

Our Governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry boasts that 40% of all jobs created in the United States over the past two years were created in Texas.  The 2011 Culpepper Salary Increase Budget Update Survey reports an average pay increase of 2.9% for private sector employees and a 3.2% pay increase for private sector employees who work for companies with 100 or less employees.  Only 5% of companies participating in the survey report that they plan on freezing employee salaries.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Houston area private sector employees received on the average a 3.7% pay increase in 2011.

County pay increased 24.5 percent over the past six years with a pay raise every year; and some positions got higher percentages. Almost 25 percent over six years, including the disastrous years since 2008. This figure includes only PFP during transition from “step” increases. “Steps” were higher. The comprehensive compensation study done this year showed that the county pays well. – Keith Self

Judge Self may have inadvertently left out the percent increase for his own Human Resource Director who has seen a 35% pay increase since 2006 and a whopping 75% increase since 2001. In fact, according to texastribune.org, the Collin County HR Director is the fourth highest paid HR director statewide. That includes cities, counties and school districts. Her salary, which is set by Judge Self, is higher than the HR Director for the City of Houston who employees hundreds of employees versus the dozen or so that’s on staff here.

The time it takes for a deputy to get from the bottom of the pay range to the top of the pay range is twice as long as the majority of agencies across the state. At our average pay raise over the last five years, it will take a deputy 16 years to get to the top of his pay range. Most other departments guarantee reaching the top of the pay range in 7 years and only a few go as high as 10 years.  This means that our deputies start falling behind after only two years of service. The pay disparity among deputies, at the Collin County Sheriff’s office, increases rapidly each year.

Judge Self has stated that he disagrees that some employees are paid differently than others who do the same job? Deputies now, being only just few years apart in service, see a huge difference is the salary they earn. One deputy could be earning 65k, while another earns 51k. With PFP, you do the math, the gap will never close.


To be clear, I believe that the proposed pay raises indicate a government taking care of itself over its citizens. As I wrote before, government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people; not above the people.- Keith Self

That’s a very strong conclusion for someone who ‘earns’ $131,991 plus benefits each year. For a quick comparison of salaries for County Judges; the Tarrant County Judge earns $139,245, Bexar County Judge earns $121,318, Denton County Judge earns $103,485. It appears Judge Keith Self is well taken care of by the citizens of Collin County. And of the people? Check the tax rolls and you’ll find the majority of Collin County employees paying their fair share of property taxes. Of course, to Judge Self, employees aren’t the people.

I am writing only to let you know how I will vote; I have no illusions that the budget will change significantly. A majority of the court is committed to the two-tier salary structure and automatic pay raises. – Keith Self

The only “illusions” have been the ones that Judge Self has conjured up for the citizens of Collin County. Folks need to look further than what he says and look at the details. Collin County has a strong and growing economy and nobody needs, or wants, the leader of Collin County government making such disparaging remarks for personal gain.

The following links further disprove Self’s theory of economic gloom here in the fastest growing county in Texas, and one of the top growth counties in America.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Chance of Salary Bump Bigger Here – Houston Chronicle

Employers to Hike Pay – CNN Money

You May See a Slightly Bigger Paycheck in 2012 – LifeInc on Today

Moderate Pay Raises on Tap for U.S. Workers – Towers Watson

Survey Indicates Modest Improvement in Pay Increases for 2012 – HR.BLR.com

In conclusion, the Collin County Deputies Association resents Judge Keith Self’s constant assaults on all employees’ pay and benefits by his use of misinformation and by omitting important facts. Another principle of Sun Tzu states to move only when you see an advantage and there is something to gain. Only fight if a position is critical.  Keith Self is indeed taking advantage of county employees if for no other reason than to gain in political stature. Is this position critical? Only if you’re a county employee whose leader has turned the populous against them.

Our nation has suffered a tremendous economic blow since 2008.  Unemployment is high and business is suffering.  However, what is going on in Texas?

Since 2000, Texas has seen a population increase of over 20%.  Our Governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry boasts that 40% of all jobs created in the United States over the past two years were created in Texas.  The 2011 Culpepper Salary Increase Budget Update Survey reports an average pay increase of 2.9% for private sector employees and a 3.2% pay increase for private sector employees who work for companies with 100 or less employees.  Only 5% of companies participating in the survey report that they plan on freezing employee salaries.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Houston area private sector employees received on the average a 3.7% pay increase in 2011.

There are some municipalities and counties in the surrounding area that have not given employees a pay increase for the past 2 or 3 years.  Those cities and counties are the same ones where tax revenues are consistently less than operating costs it only makes sense to not give employees a raise.  What about cities and counties that are not having financial difficulties?

Tarrant County has been considering a 3% pay increase for their employees.  Victoria County has given their employees a 4% pay increase for the 2012FY.  Even Collin County’s head of human resources has shown municipalities in Collin County that have recently given their employees pay increase.

However, what about the controversy surrounding giving Collin County law enforcement employees up to a 3% pay increase and non-law enforcement employees up to a 2% increase in pay?  First, we say “up to” because Collin County uses a system called “Pay for Performance” in which employees receive up to a maximum percentage increase in pay based on a subjective system of evaluating an employee’s work performance.  So, no employee is guaranteed the maximum pay increase and you’ll be hard pressed to find any employee receiving the maximum due to how the system is designed.  Second, when we say “law enforcement employees” we refer to employees who have no private sector comparison.

The issue was raised that you will be hard pressed to find any law enforcement employees in Texas or in the United States that are on a “Pay for Performance” system and rightfully so.  How do you rate the performance of a police officer or a deputy sheriff?  Do we set illegal quotas for traffic citations?  Do we want every person arrested who is seen walking in the roadway where a sidewalk is provided or for parking on the wrong side of the road?

Most law enforcement employees have a set schedule of pay increases with a pre-determined percentage increase.  However, those increases are not necessarily automatic.  Many are considered “merit increases”.  Public sector employees are hired with the understanding that there is an entry level salary and a “top out” or maximum salary.  Pay step increases are a schedule that raises the employee’s salary from entry level to top out usually in about 5 to 8 years and only if they merit it.  Once an employee “tops out” they are no longer eligible for step raises.

How can the Collin County Commissioners fairly increase law enforcement employees’ salaries on the Pay for Performance system when their counterparts are reaching the top of their salary range in 5 – 8 years?  Three of our County Commissioners felt that the best way to do this was to increase the maximum Pay for Performance salary increase up to 3% instead of up to the 2% non-law enforcement employees.  The question remains: “Is that fair to non-law enforcement employees?”

This is not a question of equal pay for equal responsibilities.  There is no private sector comparison for law enforcement employees, only other than other law enforcement employees.  There is a significantly high risk of life and limb for law enforcement employees.  As a nation we all realized this on September 11^th, 2001 when 37 New York Port Authority Police Officers, 23 New York City Police Officers, and 341 New York City Firefighters gave their lives in the line of duty.

 On Sunday, September 11^th, 2011 we honored their memories and recognized our strength as a nation.  Buildings fell, but America did not.  It is morning, again, in America.  In the aftermath we have seen Texas’ population grow by some 20% and create 40% of all new jobs in America in the past two years.  It is morning, again, in Texas.

“We have so many people who can’t see a fat man standing beside a thin one without coming to the conclusion the fat man got that way by taking advantage of the thin one.” – Ronald Reagan, October 27^th, 1964

James Ray Artberry, left, 43, and Floyd Dean Hayden, 34, who allegedly held a family hostage while fleeing a bank robbery.

PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) – Police have identified two Tulsa men who allegedly held a Plano family hostage in their home on Aug. 5 while fleeing a bank robbery on foot because the getaway vehicle broke down in the parking lot, a spokesman said.

James Ray Artberry, 43, and Floyd Dean Hayden, 34, are each charged with four counts of aggravated kidnapping and jailed on $2 million bond, Plano Police Department spokesman David Tilley said.

Bank robbery charges are still pending, although Tilley said the department has evidence that links the men to it.

Tilley said Artberry and Hayden walked into a Regions Bank in the 4000 block of Preston Road, pulled pistols and ordered employees to lie down on the floor. The two suspects took an unknown amount of money and fled the building.

The men jumped in their vehicle, but it broke down before they could get out of the parking lot. Tilley said the two fled eastbound into a neighborhood. Police, K9 units and a helicopter chased the men through it.

The K9 tracked Artberry and Hayden to a home in the 4800 block of Holly Berry Drive, Tilley said.

The two suspects took two adults and their two grandchildren hostage, Tilley said. Police entered the home and arrested one of the suspects. The other fled on foot and was arrested soon after.

One of the residents was injured during the hostage situation, Tilley said, although their condition is not known and they were not identified Monday. No one else was injured during the robbery or escape, Tilley added.

Artberry and Hayden are being held in the Collin County Detention Center. Tilley provided no other information Monday, citing the ongoing investigation.

There is no clear cut reason for the idea other than the stated savings of over one million dollars. There have been no hard numbers presented on this plan and it is highly doubtful the savings would be significant. The county currently maintains a reserve fund in the neighborhood of 115 million dollars, so this would be but a drop in the bucket. What’s really motivating this proposed layoff of county employees is assumed,  but has yet to be determined.

This county if not hurting financially. Collin County is the fastest growing county in Texas and one of the fastest growing in the nation, according to Collin County’s own website, and is the wealthiest county in the state. The foreclosure rate has also taken a drastic drop. This growth is caused by families and businesses moving here from out of state, in fact, native born Texans are now the minority. This county is not hurting for funds

With all of these new residents moving here from all over the country and beyond, they may not know or understand the rich history behind the Texas Constables or of their powers and authority. Below is an attempt to explain who constables are in this state and may bring in to perspective the fact that not only is Commissioner Williams attempting to dismantle these law enforcement agencies, she’s attempting to abolish a Texas institution.

The Authority of Texas Constables

The Texas Constable is enshrined in the Texas Constitution of 1956 (Article 5, Section 18), which provides for the election of a constable in each precinct of a county, and counties may have between one and eight precincts each depending on their population. The term of office for Texas constables is four years. However, when vacancies arise, the commissioner’s court of the respective county has the authority to appoint a replacement to serve out the remaining term.

In Texas, constables and their deputies are fully empowered peace officers with county-wide jurisdiction and thus, may legally exercise their authority in any precinct within their county;[1][2] however, some constables’ offices limit themselves to providing law enforcement services only to their respective precinct, except in the case of serving civil and criminal process. Constables and their deputies may serve civil process in any precinct in their county and any contiguous county and can serve warrants anywhere in the state. Constables must have a peace officer license within 270 days of taking office, which is the same as every other police officer.

Constable Qualifications as changed by HB 1588 79th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature Local Government Code 86.0021 Qualifications; Removal

(a) A person is not eligible to serve as constable unless:

(1)the person is eligible to be licensed under Sections 1701.309 and 1701.312, Occupations Code, and:(A) has at least an Associate’s Degree conferred by an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;(B) is a special investigator under Article 2.122(a), Code of Criminal Procedure; or(C) is an honorably retired peace officer or honorably retired federal criminal investigator who holds a certificate of proficiency issued under Section 1701.357, Occupations Code; or(2) the person is an active or inactive licensed peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.(b) On or before the 270th day after the date a constable takes office, the constable shall provide, to the commissioners court of the county in which the constable serves, evidence that the constable has been issued a permanent peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code. A constable who fails to provide evidence of licensure under this subsection or who fails to maintain a permanent license while serving in office forfeits the office and is subject to removal in a quo warranto proceeding under Chapter 66, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.(c) The license requirement of Subsection (b) supersedes the license requirement of Section 1701.302, Occupations Code.

A common reading of these changes indicate that you must meet the specified qualifications to “serve” as Constable in an either/or circumstance. If you are not currently or have been a TCLEOSE certified peace officer, an honorably retired Texas peace officer or Federal criminal investigator, you must have at least an Associates Degree from a college accepted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Nothing here indicates any qualifications necessary to run for the office, only for having those qualifications necessary to take the oath and “serve” as constable. Any person failing to meet those qualifications is subject to removal and those eligible to take the oath must provide the evidence of licensure to his commissioner’s court. A person eligible to serve without the license upon taking the oath has 270 days to obtain it or maintain it falls under the forfeiture of office of section (b). We do not purport this to be a definitive legal opinion, but simply a generally held understanding of the legislative intent and language of the statute as altered.

The duties of a Texas constable generally include providing bailiffs for the justice of the peace court(s) within his precinct and serving process issued there and from any other court. Moreover, some constables’ offices limit themselves to only these activities but others provide patrol, investigative, and security services as well.

In 2000, there were 2,630 full-time deputies and 418 reserve deputies working for the 760 constables’ offices in Texas. Of this number, 35% were primarily assigned to patrol, 33% to serving process, 12% to court security, and 7% to criminal investigations. The Harris County Precinct 4 and 5 Constables’ Offices are the largest constables’ offices in Texas with over 300 deputies each.

History of the Texas Constable

On March 5, 1823, John Jackson Tumlinson Sr., the first newly elected alcalde of the Colorado District in Stephen F. Austin’s first colony in Texas, wrote to the Baron de Bastrop in San Antonio that he had “appointed but one officer who acts in the capacity of constable to summon witnesses and bring offenders to justice.” That appointee, Thomas V. Alley, thus became the first Anglo law enforcement officer in the future republic and state of Texas. Other prominent colonists who served as constable included John Austin and James Strange.

The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) provided for the election in each county of a sheriff and “a sufficient number of constables.” During the ten years of the republic’s existence, thirty-eight constables were elected in twelve counties, the first in Nacogdoches County and the largest number (thirteen) in Harrisburg (later Harris) County. Court records indicate that violent crime was rare in the republic, except when horse or cattle thieves entered Texas from Arkansas or Louisiana; most indictments were for nonlethal crimes such as illegal gambling or assaults resulting from fights or scuffles. Juan N. Seguín and Elliott M. Millican both served as constables during the republic.

Shortly after Texas became a state, an act passed by the legislature specified that the constable should be “the conservator of the peace throughout the county,” adding that “it shall be his duty to suppress all riots, routs, affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies, and he shall keep the peace, and shall cause all offenders to be arrested, and taken before some justice of the peace.” Constables were the most active law-enforcement officials in many counties during the early statehood of Texas.

After Texas seceded from the United States in 1861, many county offices, including that of constable, remained unfilled or were filled by men less competent than their predecessors. During the military occupation of Texas after the Civil War, the election of county officials all but ceased, as the Union military appointed more than 200 individuals to state and county offices. A number of these appointees refused to serve; from 1865 to 1869, over one-third of the county offices in Texas were vacant. Many counties had no appointed or elected constables during this period. Austin, DeWitt, Fayette, McLennan, and Navarro counties had but a single constable each, appointed by Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, head of the Fifth Military District, in 1868-69.

Under the Constitution of 1869, a Reconstruction document that centralized many governmental functions, no constables were elected in Texas from 1869 to 1872, though some were appointed by justices of the peace. Many of these appointees lacked experience in handling violent offenders and access to secure jail facilities, and had few deputies to call upon for assistance. They were no match for the poor, embittered, and heavily armed former soldiers from both sides who roamed the state, often turning to crime. As a result, the office of constable began to diminish in importance, and the better-equipped county sheriffs began to assume a leading role in law enforcement. Still, a number of prominent Texas peace officers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries began their careers as constables or deputy constables, including Thomas R. Hickman, George A. Scarborough, and Jess Sweeten. In 1896, while serving as a United States deputy marshal, Scarborough shot and killed the controversial El Paso constable John Selman, who had himself gunned down the notorious John Wesley Hardin in 1895.

The Constitution of 1876, designed to decentralize control of the state government, reduced the power of many state officials and mandated that constables would once again be elected at the precinct level. A 1954 constitutional amendment extended their term of office from two years to four. Today, constables numbering approximately 780 are elected from precincts in most Texas counties. Their law-enforcement roles vary widely, but in general their police powers are no different from those of other peace officers in the state. Complete records do not exist, but the most recent estimate is that at least ninety-three Texas constables have died in the line of duty, including sixty-seven in the twentieth century.

Duties and Jurisdiction

Constables may make arrests for felonies or breaches of the peace anywhere in Texas [1] However, they may enforce traffic laws only in their county.

• 1. Precinct boundaries are set by the County Commissioners Court. See Texas Local Government Code §81.021. There are two to eight precincts per Texas county.

• 2. Constables (and the Justice of the Peace, and County Commissioiners) are elected by these precincts and they must provide bailiffs for the Justice Court(s) in their precinct.

• 3. They can also serve civil process in any precinct in their county and any contiguous county to their home county. See Texas Local Government Code §86.021.

• 4. Moreover, they can serve warrants throughout the state. See Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.06.

• 5. Furthermore, their jurisdiction to arrest, without warrant, extends throughout the county, where they have full arrest powers. See Texas Local Government Code §86.021 and Texas Attorney General’s Opinion GA-0189.

• 6. They also have full arrest powers outside of their jurisdiction, while in the state, except that they can’t arrest for certain traffic violations. See Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 14.03(g).

Finally, constables and their deputies in Texas are full-fledged, “real” law enforcement officers. They must graduate from a state-certified law enforcement academy and in Texas, it does not matter what type of peace officer you are. All types of peace officers must be trained to the same state requirement. They also have the same powers of arrest and jurisdiction of sheriffs and their deputies.

In the Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, 2000, which was published by the US DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, it was noted that there were 2,630 full-time, sworn constables/deputy constables in Texas. Of this number, (35% of constables/deputy constables were primarily assigned to patrol duties. For example, in Harris County Precinct 4 and 5 (Greater Houston area), there are over 600 patrol deputies. Additionally, 7% handled criminal investigations, i.e. they are detectives and investigators.

Also, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) the regulatory agency for all peace officers in Texas (sheriffs, constables, security police, police officers and marshals) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department of Justice considers the Texas Constable to be a unique peace officer position.

Houses for sale in McKinney Texas, Collin County in the Allen and Frisco school district near Craig Ranch subdivision, two story houses and homes

Plano police said Edgar Alberto Romo was being held in the Collin County Detention Center Saturday on charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bail is $1 million.

Police spokesman Rick McDonald said Romo was taken into custody Saturday.

Police responding to a shooting in Plano Friday night found one man dead and a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. The woman, whose name was not released, was taken to an area hospital and remains in critical condition.

Police identified the deceased man as 50-year-old Ismaell Torres of Plano.

Authorities said the victims and Romo knew each other. The police investigation continues.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Collin County Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Jaynes said that his current term will be his last.

Jaynes announced that he will not seek a fifth term for his seat on the Collin County Commissioners Court. He said he has accepted a job with the McKinney law firm Gibbs Nolte Roison Rose PLLC, according to a released statement.

Jaynes served the last 16 years on the court and was elected to four terms. He also serves Collin County on the Regional Transportation Council and lists his work on the county’s tax rates, preservation of open space and increased funding for various volunteer fire departments as his proudest accomplishments.

For information, read Friday’s edition of the McKinney Courier-Gazette.

Rawlings ended with 41 percent of the vote while Kunkle landed with 32 percent. City Councilman Ron Natinsky ended with 25 percent of the vote. Edward Okpa secured just 2 percent of the votes.

In Fort Worth, former tax assessor Betsy Price earned 44 percent of the early voting totals. Former Councilman Jim Lane got 26 percent and former Councilwoman Cathy Hirt had 21 percent.

In Southlake, a proposition allowing liquor sales within city limits failed – 62 percent of voters were against the measure, with 38 percent voting for it.

In Mesquite, a proposition allowing beer and wine narrowly passed with 51 percent of the vote. Arlington also passed a law allowing mixed beverages in city limits with 77 percent of the vote.

Frisco incumbent mayor Maher Maso won reelection with 68 percent of the vote compared to challenger Tom Sith’s 32 percent of the vote.

Mayor Robert Cluck won reelection in Arlington with 67 percent of the vote over Carl Scrivner and incumbent Steve Terrell won reelection in Allen over challenger Blake Beidleman, who secured just 14 percent of the vote.

Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade says there are on no statewide issues on the ballot, but many cities, school districts and other local entities will hold elections.

Find full election results here.

Runoff races are expected after some of Saturday’s elections. That’s because the tight races in Dallas – which confirmed a runoff Saturady night – and Fort Worth mean it’s unlikely that a single candidate will garner more than 50 percent of the vote.

The non-partisan elections are among several being held across Texas for mayor, some city commission and school board seats.

She says Texas has more than 12.6 million registered voters.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Collin County maintains a minimum police vehicle fleet. Having to undergo setbacks that inevitably accompany a vehicle created on an all new platform is not something the Sheriff’s office can stand to endure. How many years did it take Ford to rectify the problem of the Crown Vic blowing up when it was rear ended, which resulted in numerous officer deaths and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? With Ford’s sporadic history on something as important as occupant safety, the Explorer, or anything mounted with the blue oval, should be passed over. The Tahoe should be the next vehicle sporting the stripes and logo of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

Here are some examples of the Tahoe using the same stripes from the posting of the Explorer. Once again, it is unknown if these or any other graphics are being considered when the current fleet is replaced.

(Click on an image for a larger view)

(Click on an image for a larger view)

Interactive map:2010 Census Data – 2010 Census.

Commissioners Jaynes and Webb, thank you for standing up for county employees. It’s a shame that we’re being used as political fodder for some on the court. Collin County employees haven’t asked for anything other than to keep what we already have. Nobody has asked for outrageous benefits or perks, just an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work and to be properly equipped and manned to get the job done.

I know people have said that if this or that gets taken away, then people will leave.

The truth is, most people have mortgages, kids in schools and have invested so much time in their friends, family and neighbors etc, that it’s nearly impossible to leave. The sad thing is, the quality of life will continue to decline to the point that these employees will become more of a liability than an asset to the county in one form or another.

But for the rest who have far less invested, including future potential employees, Collin County will be known for and will become the place where rejects go to get hired. It’s not that benefits have declined “due to the economy”, it’s that we’ll always be on the losing end of a three to two vote. There’s absolutely no confidence that these other so called county leaders will ever restore reasonable benefits or salaries, even when times get better. As long as they rule the roost, they will chop away in hopes they will be perceived as a friend of the taxpayer while dreaming of higher office.

County taxpayers elect these officials and place their trust in them that they will do what’s best for them and their families. Citizens have their own lives to lead and don’t want to hear or know the details, they just want the best county services for their tax dollar. What they are getting instead is a confidence scam, Super Bowl seats that aren’t even there, a pigeon drop, a bunch of one dollar bills and blank pieces of paper rolled up inside a hundred dollar bill.

One day these citizens will unroll it and see what they paid for. I’d be lying if I said I’d be there to say “I told you so”, so I’m saying it now, I told you so. Strike that, we told you so. Shaheen isn’t worried about being sued because the county always gets sued. Is that a warning, do you get it?

Large crowds attending Commissioners Court meetings are a thing of the past.

Those who care enough about their futures are already planning on leaving, others are waiting to be vested while still others, a very few others, will wait and hope for better stewards of his county to arrive. The vast majority of employees simply do not care anymore. Maybe, instead of a handful of people retiring now, those that can retire, will, and I hope they do. I hope, because of this court’s nefarious actions towards employees, a sudden mass draw on retirement will place a tremendous strain on county finances. A class action suit would be a nice touch as well.

The days of competitive salaries are over for this county, and the citizens are the ones who will feel the effect. The best thing that could happen is that cities like McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, and even Princeton and Farmersville, will start annexing large portions of unincorporated Collin County. Those cities at least have vision and have their citizens best interest at heart, instead of their own.

I’ve read and listened to hateful words from some in Collin County. When I say Collin County, I am referring to those few who reside in certain incorporated cities who are particularly presumptuous and vociferous in their unwarranted attacks on employees and frankly, I’m sick of them. Employees care nothing more than taking care of their own families while protecting theirs.

These boisterous citizens do not listen to reason, they do not listen to facts and they do not listen to the words coming out of their own mouths. I’m not really sure what the point is that they’re trying to make. Are they so bored and miserable in their retirement years that they need to make someone else’s life miserable to bide their time? Eventually, they will reap what they sow and the sad thing is, nobody will be around to buy their goods.

I’m done, I’m out of here. I have to clock out and go cash in some stock so I can pay for my new G6, I’m not talking about a Pontiac, and then head out on our vacation to the quaint Kinsterna Hotel & Spa in Greece. It’s really beautiful this time of year.

Dear Friends,

This week the Collin County Commissioners Court passed a solid budget.  However, my concern is that our approach to this budget was both politically divisive and short-sighted.

Overall, Collin County went into this budget process with a scenario that every city and county in the nation would have envied.  We had over $128 million in reserves and had employee input on how to trim approximately $8 million from the budget.

The budget came in at $271.9 million.  While $1.9 million over last year’s budget, we paid an additional $10 million to cover future retirement benefits and future medical benefits for retirees.

In other words, we cut the budget by approximately $8 million but added $10million from our reserves to significantly pay down future costs which have plagued places like California and Illinois.  This puts us light years ahead of other governmental entities in covering future liabilities.

Where does the short sightedness come in?  First, we lowered the tax rate one-quarter cent.  This saves every homeowner in Collin County around $5.50 a year in county property taxes.

On the other hand, had we applied this quarter-cent to our bonding capacity this would have provided about $25 million in road projects.

It is my belief that infrastructure brings about economic development which increases the commercial tax base, thus lowering the tax burden on families.  By passing a “feel good” tax cut we are short-changing our citizens in the long run.

Keep in mind, Collin County is still over 50 percent undeveloped with an estimated $12 billion in infrastructure needs.

We also lowered the tax rate after a downturn in property evaluations.  This means that if property evaluations are down again next year we will have a larger deficit in our budget.

This budget also greatly damaged the morale of our employees by using misinformation about their retirement as a tool for political grandstanding.  I do believe that our retirement needed to be looked at and changed but presenting the public with misleading numbers is not an honorable way to approach the issue.

My overall concern with Collin County government today is that we are not looking at the long term picture for the county.  We are chipping away at what is already one of the lowest county tax rates in the state which means that once the growth picks back up it will almost be impossible to have a bond election to address infrastructure needs without a tax rate increase.

We also have a pay structure that is in need of serious review.  For example, our salaries for law enforcement officers are steadily falling behind those of other police and sheriff departments in the region.

Overall, all of our salaries need to be compared with both the public and private sector.  It is imperative that we remain competitive.

While falling behind now will not have a major effect, once the economy improves we run the risk of becoming a training ground for nonexperienced employees who will move on the first chance they get.

I relish in being a conservative and having a conservative county government.  However, being a conservative means looking at the long term economic future for our county.  While playing politics with the budget may help in both elections and political ambitions, we run the risk of both higher taxes and stifling economic development in the future.

County budgets should be planned with a strategic vision in mind and not just for soundbites.

Best,

Joe

Editor’s note:

2011 Adopted Budget (large pdf file)

Take note of the calls for service of the Sheriff’s office on page 252. CFS in FY2010 were 27,847. The county has projected that CFS will drop to 23,000 in FY2011. Offense reports generated and response times will drop and the number of arrests will increase. On page 254, the county projects that the number of crime scenes drop as do the number of assigned narcotic cases.

These and other figures (goals), which are contrary to our crime trends, are expected to be accomplished with no increase in personnel and a reduction in the sheriff’s office budget. Remember, per the Collin County website, “Collin County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas and the nation!” As our population grows, our funding, manpower, equipment and benefits remain stagnant or are being systematically reduced or discontinued.

2011 Budget in Brief (smaller pdf file)

This is a more concise overview of the FY2011 budget.

“One hour and a half to wait in line,” said voter Sandy Chao. “So I’m going to another place.”

At three of the county’s 72 polling locations, poll workers reportedly set the voting card encoders as voting machines, prompting a rush-hour backup around lunchtime. Lines stretched outside Clark High School, Christ United Methodist Church in Plano and the Allen Fire Station.

“There were three election officials that mistakenly set those to work as a voting machine, which meant they couldn’t prepare the voters’ access cards,” said Sharon Rowe, Collin County election official.

The county sent 47 computer technicians to fix the problems as quick as they could to get voters out of the long lines that often snaked into rain-drenched parking lots.

“It’s my right, and many people can’t do that around the world,” said voter Mike Whittam.

Early voter turnout was high in Collin County, as more than 90,000 cast their ballots before Election Day. By 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, more than 14,000 had voted at Collin County polling sites despite delays.

The most publicized race on the ballot is for the governor’s office, between Republican incumbent Rick Perry, who is running for an unprecedented third term in office, and Democratic challenger Bill White, the former mayor of Houston.

Perry spent his last day campaigning in Dallas Monday. The governor spent Tuesday in Buda, a small town about 15 miles south of Austin. His campaign said they wanted something different than a “typical hotel ballroom” and booked the Exotic Game Ranch, where moose, deer, buffalo and longhorn wandered freely.

Perry will not make any public appearances Tuesday until the evening’s party.

White has spent the last few days crisscrossing the state, attempting to build momentum and narrow a gap that some polls classify as a double-digit lead in Perry’s favor.

On Tuesday morning, White made a quick stop at a Houston middle school before heading to San Antonio. After that trip, he spent the afternoon in Dallas with voters. White said his hectic Election Day travels has prompted a surge of support.

“We’ve seen a lot of support,” he said, “people who are ready for a new governor.”

White is now back in Houston. The avid cyclist is expected to go for a bike ride before spending the evening at a hotel watching election results with his family.

Previous Poll Results:
Question: Now that the vote is over, do you agree with the new TCDRS matching rate?

No, it should have remained at 2.5 to 1 92.11% (35 votes)
No, it should have been lowered to 1.5 to 1 0% (0 votes)
No, it should have been lowered to 1 to 1 0% (0 votes)
Yes, I think 2.0 to 1 is fair. The old rate was too high. 5.26% (2 votes)
Yes, I work in the private sector and I lost on my retirement, so should you. 2.63% (1 votes)
Total Votes: 38

- Commissioner Shaheen makes a motion to reduce county TCDRS contributions to 1.5%. He is comparing it to private pension plans. He said that no salary evaluations have been done this year

- Commissioner Ward said she’s sticking with 2:1. She said that no law enforcement salary comparison has been made to local cities and counties. She recommends creating a board to study salary and compensation as a whole. She admits that employees are not being paid what they are worth. As an example, she shows slides comparing DA attorney salaries to private sector salaries.

- Commissioner Hoagland said the county has not been paying employees fairly. He agrees with the idea of looking at a compensation package. He disagrees with dropping the TCDRS match from 2.50 to any number. He believes employees will bail if benefits are cut, maybe not now, but in a year or two when the economy picks up. He stated that the county has never paid competitive salaries to employees.

- Self seconds Shaheens motion to drop matching funds from 2:1 to 1.5:1. Motion fails 2 to 2. Hoagland sustains because he feels it should stay at 2.5:1

- TCDRS matching passes at 2:1.

- Commissioner Ward wants commissioners court to vote to lower their salaries. Hoagland says that the salaries should be dropped to 90k each. He said that commissioners and judge salaries are compared to all other counties, but others employee salaries aren’t.

- Commissioners court vote themselves a 3% pay cut. Hoagland sustains because he feels there should be a deeper cut.

- Hoagland says the tax cut is politically motivated, Self says it is not politically motivated. Tax cut of 1/4 of a cent passes 3-2.

Although there is no standard ratio for determining how many Police Officers per 1000 citizens in the community is appropriate, there are recommendations that maintain widespread acceptance.  The national standard is 1.5 officers per 1000 citizens.  Regionally that number is accepted as 1.3 to 1.6, as determined by North Central Texas Council of Governments.  The regional average is 1.6.  The ratio of Deputies for the Collin County Sheriff’s Office assigned to Patrol, compared to every 1000 citizens is .56.  In fact, that ratio is the lowest of all major law enforcement agencies in Collin County, and lower than that of neighboring Denton County.    See the below charts:

The Collin County Sheriff’s Office serves the 5^th largest population in Collin County.  Collin County’s population, by 2009 COG estimates, is 58,530.  That number is the 5^th largest in Collin County and is greater than Denton County’s 54,300.  Municipalities with lower population figures in Collin County have more patrol personnel assigned to them than the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.  Wylie, population 41,461, has 32 personnel assigned to patrol.  Collin County has 17,069 more people being served by law enforcement and has a miniscule 33 deputies assigned to Patrol.  Denton County, population 54,300 has 48 deputies assigned to patrol; despite having a serviceable population 2,650 people fewer than Collin County.

In spite of having one of the larger service populations, and call loads, in the area, Collin County lacks sufficient staffing to adequately service the population.  In fact, the call load on a CCSO deputy far exceeds that of surrounding agencies (See below chart):

These figures have a negative impact on the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the safety and security of the residents of Collin County.  Response time for calls for service by Collin County Sheriff’s Office is the highest among all agencies surveyed.  The average response time for the Sheriff’s Office is 20:20 minutes.  Twenty minutes is a long time to wait for help to arrive.  The addition of personnel in Patrol would help to lower those response times.

There are many factors that contribute to response time, and also justify the addition of personnel in patrol, such as an influx of new residents into the county, traffic congestion, etc.  These factors will continue to increase and the response time will continue to be poor.  The simple fact of a wide geographic area is a major factor in poor response time.  Collin County Sheriff’s Office serves the 5^th largest population in the county, but is the largest area, in terms of square miles.  Collin County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for covering over 551 square miles, compared to the next largest, Plano, at 72.23 square miles.  One deputy patrolling the unincorporated parts of the county patrols an area greater than many of its cities.  This hinders not only response time, but acts as a hinderance to the type of community policing strived for by the Sheriff’s Office and essentially completely prohibits proactive policing.

The few Deputies assigned to Patrol at the Sheriff’s Office must focus the majority of their time responding to calls for service and a minimal amount of time proactively pursuing criminals.  This is also a serious safety hazard for those Deputies patrolling the unincorporated areas, as back-up cannot respond in a timely manner.  In fact, the Sheriff’s Office has become heavily dependant upon smaller agencies to assist in taking calls for service for the County and acting as back-up units for the Sheriff’s Office.  Without these smaller agencies, the Sheriff’s Office would be hard-pressed to conduct simple daily operations with the amount of personnel that currently exists.

An aspect that is often overlooked is law enforcement presence throughout the entire county.  Every agency would tell you they would like to have more personnel.  The Sheriff’s Office has the unique capability of being able to serve the entire county.  In many areas, the Sheriff’s Office supplements city agencies by being able to provide additional law enforcement personnel.  The Collin County Sheriff’s Office, at current staffing levels, is unable to fully serve the unincorporated areas, and can provide no service to cities at all.  The cities do not arrest every DWI, stop every speeder, or solve every crime.  All of those offenders left un-apprehended continue to violate laws and place all the citizens of Collin County in jeopardy.

To improve in all of these areas, the number of personnel assigned to Patrol Operations within the Sheriff’s Office should be increased.  The ratio of Deputies per 1000 population should be raised to meet, at minimum, average comparison to that of other agencies.  To accomplish this, a specific number of new personnel should be granted.  The following details the ratios achievable by number of personnel added:

47 Deputies = .82 (addition of 14 new Deputy positions)

48 Deputies=.84 (addition of 15 new Deputy positions)

50 Deputies= .87 (addition of 17 new Deputy positions)

75 Deputies= 1.3 (addition of 42 new Deputy positions)

The number of Deputy positions needed, at this time, is 15 new positions.  This would bring the Sheriff’s Office to the current average, but below the recommended level suggested by COG.  The addition of new personnel would be at the rate of 3 new Deputy positions over the course of the following five years.   The effect of adding personnel is easily measurable and obtainable.  It will have a positive effect on response time, officer safety, community safety, number of arrests and proactive law enforcement categories, each of which are recorded by the Sheriff’s Office.  At the end of that time frame and addition of personnel, each of these categories should reflect improvement.

The below map shows the patrol area for the sheriff’s office, as indicated in red.

On August 18, Judge Keith Self stated on his Facebook page “Yesterday, with our county unemployment rate near 8%, making jobs the #1 issue for our citizens, a majority of the Commissioners Court stood with the taxpayer.” Judge Self felt that lowering matching county retirement contributions, increasing employee medical costs and lowering the tax rate would make Collin Count competitive for businesses looking to relocate.

The tax reduction agreement was August 17. On August 11, the Collin County Business Press published an article stating “The booming North Texas area was home to six of the top 25 cities posting population gains during the past year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released June 22.” This was published 6 days prior to the vote and was released by the U.S. Census Bureau on June 22, nearly two months earlier.

Where is the panic Judge Self speaks of?

Could it be that these people are moving to Collin County because of the beautiful mountains, white sandy beaches, lush rain forest or Plano’s popular River Walk? Or, could it possibly be that they are moving here because of the explosive job growth created by businesses relocating here, to Collin County, because of the already existing low cost of doing business?

Collin County’s own website states that “People are moving here. Businesses are moving here. And they’re all staying.”  What’s happening with the foreclosure rate in Collin County? According to recently published report, it’s down 1% compared to an increase of 3% in the rest of the FW area.

In November, County Judge Keith Self gave this 18-page presentation – Collin County: Still First in Growth — at the 2009 State of the Community. Key words, “First in Growth”. It was a very impressive presentation, honestly.

In response to the one quarter of a cent tax decrease, Keith Self told the Star Local “the decrease will make business look to the county.”

So Keith Self is now taking credit for businesses relocating to Collin County? Was Collin County not doing a pretty good job before he stepped in to save the day?

In an August 11, 2010 article by the Collin County Business Press entitled Pro-business attitude leads to growth, they state “Businesses are always looking to find the low-cost areas to do business, and Collin County always comes out on top.”

Apparently, businesses already thought Collin County was a pretty good place to relocate to before Self’s worthless tax cut, which by the way, will be felt more by losing $25 million in infrastructure dollars than the measly $5.50 savings passed on taxpayers.

I’m sorry, I just don’t, and cannot, buy in to Judge Self’s misguided assessment that this county is in dire circumstances. He has provide virtually no data to support his rhetoric and judging from his confusion of the TCDRS retirement data, I’m not wholly confident in his ability to interpret economic and growth indicators. Future blunders may end up costing this county dearly, just as the current one is bound to do.

It appears that Self is playing a shell game for political purposes. Cut government fat on one hand, and cut taxes with the other. It makes it appear that he saved the county money in both categories but it’s really a wash. The county may be saving by reducing matching retirement funds, but it also loses much needed funds by cutting the tax rate. You can’t spend what you don’t have. In reality, citizens lose because less roads can be built, and county employees lose because they lose a portion of their retirement. It will, however, look pretty spiffy in campaign pamphlets.

Judge Self needs to be held accountable for his decisions that affect not only county employees, but the county as a whole. He may have been a good soldier, but his ability to lead a county is suspect at best. Fortunately, we have three out of four commissioners who can think on their own and who have the best interest of this county, and it’s future, at heart.

Sources: Collin County Business Press , Keith Self Facebook , Plano Star Newspaper , Collin County Web , Joe Jaynes