Top Texas General Land Office staffers routinely got cash bonuses worth thousands of dollars despite high salaries under former commissioner Jerry Patterson.
And many retained powerful posts under Patterson's successor, George P. Bush, until a recent round of jobs, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Such "one time merit increase" bonuses are common throughout Texas government. But at other agencies, they often go infrequently to low-paid staffers rather than top officials.
Beginning when Patterson became commissioner in January 2003 through fiscal year 2015, the land office paid more than $6.5 million in "one-time merit increase" bonuses.
That included about $1.2 million just in Patterson's final months.
Bush has paid around $200,000 in bonuses this fiscal year, but the agency says most were honoring agreements made under Patterson.
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