Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez announced this week that the Commissioners Court approved a budget that cuts spending while raising law enforcement pay.
The court voted 3-0 to adopt the FY26 budget. The plan reduces spending below the No-New-Revenue tax rate while providing a 10% wage increase for sworn deputies of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO).
This marks the third straight year of budget cuts paired with higher law enforcement pay. Since FY24, deputies have received a 30% pay increase. The starting salary for a new deputy will now rise to $79,800, the highest in Texas.
Ramirez, a former police officer, said the increases strengthen morale, accountability, and performance. “After serving as a police officer for more than 15 years, I know firsthand how critical it is to public safety that we fully support the men and women who wear the badge,” he said.
Ramirez also said deputies in Tarrant County now earn more than officers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin. He credited the raises to a broader plan he campaigned on to cut taxes and refocus county government.
“Today, I am proud to announce that we have not only kept that promise, but we have also surpassed the starting salaries of the state’s largest and most prestigious municipal police departments,” Ramirez said.
He added that investments have included training facilities and lifesaving equipment, along with pay increases. “In Tarrant County, we prioritize public safety, and we will always back the blue,” he said.