Hays County commissioners Tuesday debated and passed a resolution to acknowledge recruitment problems at the Hays County Sheriff's Office, which says it doesn't have enough deputies to patrol the streets.

Sheriff's deputies, constables and their supporters packed the commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.

According to Sheriff Allen Bridges, he can't fill dozens of vacancies because the starting pay is too low -- about $37,000 a year.

He believes higher salaries will attract the right people, and he wants money put into the budget so deputies won't have to buy their own uniforms.

The resolution also pledges to raise the starting salary to just under $41,000 per year, pay for uniforms and continue discussions on the issue.