Houston and Harris County's 911 system budget will decrease by $2.7 million in 2027.
The details
Houston City Council approved the budget for the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network, the office that manages Harris County’s 911 system. For fiscal year 2027, which runs January to December for the network, the annual budget will be $69.2 million.
The FY 2026 budget was higher due to additional funding awarded for two call center technology investments, according to council member Sallie Alcorn's office. For FY 2027, funding for the investments decreased because of the large improvements in 2026, reducing the budget by $2.7 million.
The remaining funding will support the 182 call takers for Houston. The whole network serves Harris County and parts of Fort Bend County. Harris County has 101 call takers and Fort Bend County has 15 through the network.
Council member Sallie Alcorn said that since January, the center has taken in over 1.7 million calls and that number is expected to reach about 2.3 million by the end of 2026.
What officials are saying
Most of the department's funding comes from service fees, which are collected on Texas residents' phone bills every month. Cell phone fees are 50 cents, charged by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and landline and business rates have increased to $1.50 and $2.50, respectively.
“That 50-cent charge has been in place since 1997,” Alcorn said. “That funding has not been increased, but their workload has. The populations they serve have increased, the call volume has increased, inflation certainly has gone up, they have broader tech requirements, cyber security obligations.”
Alcorn added that the department has a high turnover rate, and Houston pays the least among the major cities in Texas.
“We pay our call takers the very least at $20 an hour, while other comparable cities in Texas go up to $30,” she said.
One more thing
The budget had to be approved by the Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Network Board of Managers, Harris County Commissioners’ Court and Houston City Council. The budget will take effect Jan. 1.
