County received $525,000 to supplement law enforcement, prosecutor salaries

Gonzales County received $525,000 from the Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program in fiscal year 2024 — part of $225 million Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said his office delivered to rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices.

The Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program, administered by the Comptroller’s office, was enacted by Senate Bill 22 during the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, which appropriated $330 million for the 2024-25 biennium to fund the program.

During fiscal 2024, which ended on Aug. 31, Hegar’s office awarded $125.7 million to 502 grant recipients, comprising qualified counties and prosecutor offices. The Comptroller’s office awarded an additional $98.4 million to 396 grant recipients in fiscal 2025. Gonzales County also submitted grant requests for the 2025 fiscal year for the same $525,000.

“Many rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices have lacked the resources they need to attract and retain personnel or to buy much-needed safety equipment, and this program bridges that gap. I'm humbled that the Legislature placed this responsibility with my agency,” said Hegar. “These men and women form the backbone of rural communities across the great state of Texas, and it is critical that we ensure they have what they need to keep Texans safe and secure."

The grant program allows the Comptroller’s office to administer the following to counties with populations of 300,000 or less:

• The Rural Sheriff's Department Salary Assistance Grant awards grants between $250,000 and $500,000. The grant funding must be used to provide specified minimum salaries, give salary increases, hire additional deputies or staff for the department, or to purchase safety equipment, firearms and vehicles for the sheriff's department. Gonzales County was eligible to receive $350,000.

• The Rural Prosecutor's Office Salary Assistance Grant awards grants between $100,000 and $275,000. The grant funding must be used to increase the salary of assistant attorneys, investigators or victim assistance coordinators, or to hire additional staff. Gonzales County was eligible to receive $175,000.

• The Rural Constable's Office Salary Assistance Grant provides financial assistance to constable's offices. The grant funding must be used to provide a minimum salary of $45,000 to an elected constable who makes motor vehicle stops in the routine performance of the constable's duties. Gonzales County was not eligible for this funding as elected constables in the county already had a salary greater than $45,000 at $55,061 each.