Passes recent State Inspection
Stonewall County officials were informed on Monday of the state comptroller’s authorization of $250,000 in grant funds through SB 22, as well as being notified that the county jail had passed a recent inspection and was on track for reopening to full capacity in May.
Stonewall County Judge Ronnie Moorhead informed commissioners on Monday, that the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) recently inspected Stonewall County Sheriff’s Department, the first inspection the jail has undergone since being downgraded to a lock-up facility late last year.
The Stonewall Jail has been under extra scrutiny since the escape of an inmate on two consecutive occasions in 2022. The facility also failed consecutive follow-up inspections and multiple violations were reported during 2023.
In November, TCJS issued the order that restricted the facility from holding inmates for longer than 72 hours. The TCJS Board tabled further action regarding the Stonewall Jail earlier this month, as Sheriff Bill Mullen indicated the facility was ready to be re-inspected during that meeting. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards performed the re-inspected in mid-February. No violations were indicated.
“We passed with flying colors,” said Judge Moorhead, when speaking to commissioners on Monday, adding that he received a call from the inspector who said it was clear the jail administrator had done a lot of work, and everything was in good shape. Moorhead said that with the passed inspection, the jail will be issued a certificate just as soon as the state gets around to approving it.
TCJS Executive Director Brandon Wood confirmed on Tuesday that while the Stonewall County Jail will continue to be classified as a lock-up facility for the next few months, if it maintains state compliance, the remedial order to downgrade the jail could be lifted when the TCJS Board meets in May.
During Monday’s meeting with commissioners, Moorhead also updated the court on the county’s status regarding SB-22, which includes grant funding officials have been discussing during the past several months.
Championed by Senator Drew Springer, R-Muenster, SB-22 essentially increases the salaries for rural law enforcement personnel through the creation of a state grant funding program. Through the enactment of the bill, which Gov. Abbott signed into law in June, Texas established a grant funding program to provide financial assistance to ensure high-quality law enforcement personnel throughout the state.
Inadequate pay has been an especially challenging obstacle for rural departments, as larger counties and municipalities can offer considerably higher wages. State Legislators agreed as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he was shocked to learn how little pay some sheriffs were earning after his 2022 tour through rural Texas, saying, “There are elected sheriffs in Texas earning just over $30,000 per year, and their deputies earn less than that.”
SB-22 received overwhelming support in both chambers during the 88th Legislative Session, which became law in June. According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office. “The new law provides supplemental salaries for various positions in rural areas,” mandating counties increase sheriff’s salaries to $75,000 and deputies to a $45,000 minimum.
The law also provides counties with financial assistance to cover the expense of those increases, which ranges from $250,000 for counties with a population of less than 10,000 to upwards of $500,000 for counties with a population of more than 50,000 but less than 300,000 people.
While some counties have declined funding in the wake of the bill being signed into law, many county officials across the state have been submitting applications for access to the funds. Stonewall County Judge Ronnie Moorhead signed and submitted the contract for the Rural Law Enforcement Salary Assistance Program Award to the Texas Comptroller's Office on Friday.
Moorhead informed commissioners on Monday that shortly after submitting the signed contract, the comptroller’s office responded almost immediately to inform the county they were approved and should anticipate funding in the upcoming days.
“We have now been authorized for the $250,000 grant for the sheriff’s office, and we should be receiving those funds sometime in the very near future,” said Moorhead.
Once funded, officials plan to allocate funds for increasing the Sheriff’s salary to the mandated $75,000, while commissioners agreed to increase the chief deputy’s salary to $50,000 annually. The county is anticipating a second deputy joining the ranks in the upcoming weeks, whose salary is also expected to be set at the state’s mandatory amount according to grant parameters.
In 2021, the Aspermont City Council voted in favor of an interlocal agreement to cover a portion of a second Stonewall County Deputy’s salary. It is unknown if the council remains in favor of the agreement now that the county has been awarded state funding for salaries.
The priority for the state is that counties first allocate the $250,000 for the primary purpose of funding law enforcement salaries. Once funding minimums are reached, counties have some discretionary spending in areas such as equipment, vehicles, and training.
Moorhead said the state is estimating the program will continue for at least the next three legislative sessions (6 years). “However, after the next legislative session, as we all know, that could go away,” said Moorhead.
He also informed his fellow officials that funds are to be kept in an interest- bearing account and are subject to certain auditing requirements. Any interest earned can also be used for purposes that fit within the grant parameters.
County officials are still working with the State Comptroller to ensure funds are appropriately accounted for with the expected record-keeping policies and principles in place. The Rural Law Enforcement Salary Assistance Program is anticipated to continue through 2025.