Court to increase Auditor salary

 By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

In a meeting dominated by bookkeeping issues, the Caldwell County Commissioners Court voted on Monday to alter the controversial salary of the Caldwell County Auditor.

The matter has been discussed by the Court several times, as when Auditor Debra French was hired, she was promised a salary of $7

0,000, which was later denied by the Commissioners as they passed the budget.

District Judge Todd Blomerth, one of the three District Judges responsible for French’s appointment, challenged the Commissioners to explain why French was being paid less, not only than the sum she had been promised, but substantially less than the past two county auditors.

“We’re always talking about being fair and trying to do things that are fair,” said Commissioner Alfredo Munoz as he moved to increase the salary from the current level to the $64,146 that the past auditor was paid. Commissioner Neto Madrigal seconded the motion, and only Commissioner Eddie Moses voted against the change.

County Judge Kenneth Schawe, who has come under fire during the conversation because of his prior associations with French, chose to abstain from the vote.

In other business, the Commissioners approved a number of budget amendments for training, travel and salary issues. The amendments, brought forth by French, are a matter of routine bookkeeping business, and are made often to ensure accurate tracking of how the county’s money is spent.

The Caldwell County Commissioners routinely meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the second floor courtroom of the Caldwell County Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public and available for viewing at www.co.caldwell.tx.us.