Without allowing those residents an opportunity to vote, Lesley Briones, Adrian Garcia, and Tom Ramsey voted to increase taxes for some residents in Harris County. Their votes to increase the pay of constables will result in about a 25% increase in the amount those communities will have to pay for constable patrols.
Those same three MAGAs were adamant that County Judge Hidalgo could not ask the taxpayers if they were willing to vote for a minimal increase to help pay for early childhood education. Of course, those children are primarily black and brown children. The majority of the constables are of the lighter skin variety.
Neighborhoods and homeowners associations who pay for additional Harris County deputy constables to patrol their streets could see the cost of those contracts increase by around 24% to help foot the bill for county law enforcement pay raises, according to the county’s budget office.
After the recent “pay parity” measure that brought county law enforcement up to the salaries offered by the Houston Police Department, residents will be required to pay at least 70% of the new salaries plus expenses, Ramos said.
1. Contract patrol rates
- Harris County offers a Contract Patrol Program where communities or entities can contract for supplemental law enforcement coverage from either the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or one of the eight Constable Precincts.
- Contract patrol rates are based on the percentage of a deputy’s time committed to the contract (e.g., 70%, 80%, or 100%).
- As of October 1, 2022, the annual rates for a contract deputy were:
- 100% Coverage: $116,400
- 80% Coverage: $93,120
- 70% Coverage: $81,480
- According to the Harris County CIT website, in 2021, the cost of a contract deputy ranged between $75,000 and $106,000 depending on the percentage of their time contracted.
- The contract deputy program is often structured as a cost-sharing model, with Harris County covering a portion (e.g., 20% or 30%) and the contracting entity covering the rest.
- The Constable Precinct 4 website specifies that deputies dedicate the contracted percentage of their time (e.g., 70%) to the contract, with the remaining time allocated to other duties like reports and paperwork.
2. Neighborhood patrol programs
- Some communities offer Constable Patrol Programs as a subscription service, with costs shared among residents.
- For example, the Lazybrook Civic Club’s program, based on an 80/20 cost share with Harris County, has an annual cost of $90,000 for a single deputy.
- Individual subscriber costs vary, but can be around $310 per household per year (or a discounted rate for seniors).
3. Constable and deputy salaries
- Recently, salaries of elected constables in Harris County were approved to increase to $293,000 per year, according to ABC13 Houston. This is a significant increase from their previous salary of $178,000.
- According to ZipRecruiter, as of August 9, 2025, the average annual salary for a Constable in Houston is $59,350, or roughly $28.53 per hour. This figure likely reflects the salaries of deputies within the Constable’s office rather than the elected constables themselves.
- The average annual salary for a police officer in Harris County is $55,935, which is approximately $26.89 per hour.
- Deputy constable salaries vary based on service time. For instance:
- Deputy I (0-47 months): $59,238 annually
- Deputy II (48-83 months): $63,211 annually
- Deputy V (156+ months): $73,403 annually
Important considerations
The figures presented here may change depending on budget approvals and other factors.
Constable funding is complex and often debated in Harris County.
Critics argue that the contract deputy program creates a two-tiered system where wealthier neighborhoods receive preferential treatment.
The county’s general fund contributes significantly to constable and sheriff patrols in addition to the contract deputy program.