Spring - Klein Edition | November 2025

Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE

By a 3-2 vote, Harris County commissioners adopted the $2.76 billion scal year 2025-26 general fund budget Sept. 24, prioritizing pay parity and public safety initiatives. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo cast the dissenting votes. In the months leading up to budget adoption, county ocials weighed how to oset at least $102 million in savings. The county implemented a yearlong hiring freeze for various department leaders to identify service cuts. Harris County adopts budget

From the $2.76 billion general fund budget, $2.57 billion will be allocated to the 70 Harris County departments, aiming to:

Some context

Law enforcement pay parity has reached various points at Commissioners Court, starting with a motion commissioners approved May 22 that paved the way for increasing county law enforce- ment pay. By Sept. 9, commissioners approved a motion, with a 3-1 vote, to increase elected constables’ salaries to $260,000.

Support pay parity initiatives for law enforcement and county employees

Expand the District Attorney’s Oce

Grow the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance program

Commissioners unanimously approved the county’s property tax rate of $0.6241 per $100 of valuation on Nov. 4. Harris County: $0.3809 per $100 of valuation Harris County Port of Houston Authority:

“The time had come to show our sheri’s deputies and constable deputies that Harris County truly values the critical role they play in community safety.” ED GONZALEZ, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF

$0.0059 per $100 of valuation Harris County Hospital District: $0.1876 per $100 of valuation Harris County Flood Control District: $0.0496 per $100 of valuation

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Adopted $2.76B FY 202526 budget Factors impacting county department cuts in the budget process, according to the FY 2025-26 budget document, included jail and indigent defense costs, health care costs and law enforcement contracts.

More details

County administration, other county oces

$1.66B

Public safety & justice (district courts, district attorney's oce, constables, sheri) $410M Engineering Department (i.e. infrastructure, transportation projects) $194M Harris County Public Library, Economic Equity & Opportunity $193M Housing and Community Development, Veterans Services $107M Countywide nancial obligations (TIRZ payments, jail outsourcing) $99M Harris County Judge's Oce, Commissioners (Precincts 1-4) $48M Pollution Control Services Department $36M Public Health Services, Harris Center for Mental Health, Children's Assessment Center $23M

The county’s employee minimum wage policy, $20 per hour for employees and $21.64 for contractors, took eect with the budget adoption. Service cuts will not aect community- facing services, such as parks, road maintenance and community centers. “This budget reects hard choices and shared commitment,” interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman said.

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING KLEIN EDITION