JPs' Salary Car Allowance Cell Phone (All)
$47,172 $5,400 $960
WEDDINGS + SALARY, BENEFITS
JP 2-1 Linda Salazar 644 X $200 = $128,400 +$53,000 = $181,400
JP 5-1 Sally Gonzalez 228 X $200 = $45,600 +$53,000 = $98,600
JP 2-2 Jonathan Gracia 137 X $200 = $27,400 +$53,000 = $80.400
JP 4-1 Juan Mendoza Jr. 109 X $200 = $21,800 +$53,000 = $74,800
JP 5-2 Eloy Cano 82 X $200 = $16,400 +$53,000 = $69,400
JP 2-3 Mary Esther Sorola 75 X $200 = $15,000 +$53,000 = $68,000
JP 1-1 Benny Ochoa 63 X $200 = $12,600 +$53,000 = $65,600
JP 3-1 Guadalupe Ayala 62 X $200 = $12,400 +$53,000 = $65,400
JP 3-2 David Garza 58 X $200 = $11,500 +$53,000 = $64,000
JP 5-3 Mike Trejo 24 X $200 = $4,800 +$53,000 = $57,800
By Juan Montoya
During a public hearing held last week, Brownsville resident Robert Uresti opposed the granting of any salary increases for any public officials saying that they knew what the salary was when they ran for office.
He specifically objected to the JPs getting raises because they are allowed under Texas law to keep the fees when they perform a wedding ceremony.
He said that he had recently gotten married (for the third time) and that the fee schedule for a ceremony Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to p.m. at the courthouse was $200.
In fact, the performance of wedding ceremonies has been the object of contention among some of the JPs from outside (and inside) Brownsville who complain that many couples are steered to JP Linda Salazar after they get a marriage license at the county clerk's office. Some couples have reported that clerks often tell them to go see her to perform the ceremony.
At $200 per ceremony (it could be as much as $350 if it's on a weekend or somewhere else like at South Padre Island) the JPs get to keep the money and not the county coffers.
They are: Pct. 1-1 JP Benny Ochoa, Pct. 2-1 JP Linda Salazar, Pct. 2-2 JP Jonathan Gracia, Pct. 3-1 Guadalupe Ayala, Pct. 3-2 JP David Garza , Pct. 4-1 JP Juan Mendoza, Pct. 5-1 JP Sallie Gonzalez, Pct. 5-2 Eloy Cano, and Pct. 5-3 Mike Trejo.
Only Pct. 2-3 JP Mary Esther Sorola did not file a grievance with the committee to get a salary increase. Both Sorola and Gracia took office in January 2015.
All are currently earning a set salary of $47,172, a $5,400 auto stipend and a $960 phone allowance that bring them close to the $53,000 mark.
They will reportedly ask the nine-member committee to grant them a 29 percent salary hike that would bring them to $68,000.
But as Uresti pointed out, their salary does not include the fees they charge for performing the wedding ceremonies either in their courtrooms or in private homes or public events venues.
If we use an average of $200 per wedding (and strike the high of $350 and low of $150 or free as a courtesy to some political acquaintance), multiply it times the number of wedding since October 1, 2015, the beginning of the fiscal year, until August 29, 2016, we get a pretty good picture of this lucrative public position
Look at the graphic above and see why some JPs complain that there is a system in place that favors one over another.
The JPs who will be represented by Gracia before the salary grievance committee will say that the commissioners court stiffed them last time by withholding a 10 percent raise from them and then not giving their staff the 10 percent they were promised and giving them a 5 percent raise instead. Now, adding all that up and comparing their salary with neighboring counties, they figure that the 29 percent is actually a small amount indeed.
Opponents like Uresti say that the JPs use county facilities, county staff, and resources and then pocket the marriage money. In fact, if the total estimated take in wedding ceremonies by all of therm ($296,000) was put into a kitty and each of the JPs got the 29 percent raise to their salary and benefits ($530,000) they wanted, it would total $153,000 and have $143,000 left over (maybe for the help?).
Will the nine JPs be successful at convincing the nine-member grievance committee to fork over the 29 percent and leave their wedding gravy in place?
16 comments:
Sylvia la clerk gets a kick back from Salazar ... That is known throughout .. They have a system in place just ask .
It would be interesting to know if the justice of the peace file these extra earnings with the IRS.. The justice of the peace should have their office away from the county clerk office it does not seem fair that only the chosen ones get all that extra push !!!!!! Mf
La Sr. Perez nos dice que la gente se Mande con Salazar
That many weddings? For what period? A year? Who gets married anymore?!
U repeat yourself in some paragraphs, Juan. Que pasa, raza?
I agree with Robert Uresti.....these people have a salary and also have the ability to charge the public extra for their services. Linda Salazar is a leach....the JP's should not have a pay increase.
The "Nuevo Heraldo" will feature tomorrow an article regarding 1983 Mr. Amigo Juan Gabriel recently deceased.
We just hope that The Mr. Amigo-VicePresident Arturo Trevino and his sidekick board member-Graciela L.Salazar gave this time the accurate information to Zulema Baez... Not like when they misinformed her and the Brownsville citizens about Bianca Marroquin going to be the mr. Amigo. This created a big confusing and a big disappointment to the formal Mr. Amigo ITATÍ CANTORAL 2015.. The organization almost lost her! ARTURO TREVINO and Graciela Salazar are under the microscope of the Association as well as former president & Market director for the Gladys porter zoo Cynthia Garza Galvan and her husband Santana Galvan and her father Raul Garza scam the organization in various deals that add to thousands of dollars. But all thanks to the leadership of her aunt Rachel Torres & Bobby Torres Jr.both of them mr. amigo past presidents.
You know Juan no matter how many times you try and trash Linda she is not going to pay you to stop. Mary Ester Sorola's numbers are low for one simple reason, she is not in the main building. Very few people qualify to get married the same day as the license is issued. They go next door and find out Jonathan Gracia is not in so they cannot schedule a wedding based on his limited schedule. The only other JP there is Linda, which is why she gets so many weddings.
Once all three JP's are together side by side in the new building so long as Mary Sorola makes herself available for weddings, she will get just as many as Linda. As to the other JP's if you live in Brownsville why would you drive to outside of Brownsville to get married?
County Clerk Sylvia Garza Perez will soon, before her re-election day, will be able to view many of the videos that have been taken from her office referrals to Judge Linda Salazar. I wonder how the voters of Cameron County will feel once they realize the type of scheme she is involved in and is a part of a Conspiracy.
How corrupt is Sylvia ! check into her dinner dates with the company that provides service to her office ! Sylvia and her idiot chief go to pleasure dinners receiving gifts .... Tickets ect......... Just like Joe no vale madre
Lock her up !!!!!!!!!!!!!'
We will never vote for Salazar ever again. When it's re-election time " asi pappito " after she wins doesn't even recognize you , ta cabron. Uno por pendejo.
Until the county commissioners do something or the officials in Austin? This issue is mute! What we taxpayers should be demanding is for these JP's to "pony up" on the use of a county building when making this EXTRA cash! Linda has a court full of people wanting to get married on Thursday's or Friday's. Sally charges by the miles, depending on where the wedding is located? Deputy's make extra money BUT have to do it off county property? So, why not the JP's? I very serious doubt it that IRS even knows half of the money taken in BUT thanks Montalvo. They have something now!
As one has said do they report to the IRS? Go to the county clerk office, type in the name Mike Trejo (JP LaFeria)and look at the thousands of dollars of tax liens,judgements. No one cares they keep getting elected.
DOES THIS TYPE OF A CONTRACT WHERE SHE IS PERFORMING SERVICES FOR PAY FALL SOMEWHERE IN REPORTING MAYBE AN IRS FORM 1099?????? SOUND LIKE SELF EMPLOYMENT TO ME...SHE MAKING MONEY AND NOT PAYING TAXES FOR SERVICES RENDER!!!! IT MUST BE NICE TO MAKE MORE THAN WHAT THE COUNTY PAYS!!!! SHE PAYS TAXES ON HER COUNTY PAY CHECK....INTERESTING!!!! NOW SHE IS ASKING FOR MONEY...GREEDY, GREEDY, AND GREEDY!!!!
IRS SHOULD AT LEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER....YA RIGHT...THEY ONLY GO AFTER MIDDLE, LOWER CLASS AND PROVERTY PEOPLE!!!! IRS IS NOT INTERESTED ON UP TO RICKER CLASS PEOPLE....!!!!
Folks rule one collect in cash so there is no trial, how can the IRS enforce when there is no paper trail-ask jp linda Salazar on this one, two, its only taxpayers monies- does anyone really care about it? Politicians will do whatever they want, us come folks don't have a leg to stand on. cca
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