Smith County Commissioners ask for clarity in County Clerk salary
Posted/updated on: September 18, 2025 at 4:07 pm
TYLER – Smith County Commissioners considered deducting the time Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips spent in jail from her salary on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Phillips makes nearly $96,000 a year. Commissioners took no action on Tuesday, so Phillips pay will not be deducted. Instead they took a vote asking the Texas State Legislature for clarification.
In a public comment at the commissioner’s court on Tuesday, Phillips asked “why would you start a new precedent with my case?”
Phillips, was found guilty last year for interfering with public duties after a 2023 traffic stop involving her son.
“There’s competing legislation there,” Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. “Her offense did not come to a level of us removing her from office. So we are asking them clear it up for us. Make it make it to where we know there is a law.”
Judge Franklin said this issue will make its way to Austin as soon as possible. He hopes that legislation clarifying the issue is proposed in 2027.
Phillips was originally sentenced to one year probation and 48 hours of community service. She appealed the sentence and the judge instead ordered her to spend 30 days in jail.
Phillips was released after a total of eight days in Gregg County jail.
