By a 3-2 vote, Harris County commissioners adopted the $2.76 billion fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget Sept. 24 that prioritizes pay parity and public safety initiatives. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo cast the dissenting votes.

“Today’s approval is a result of deep coordination and unwavering dedication from every corner of Harris County government,” Daniel Ramos, executive director of the Harris County Office of Management and Budget, said in a statement.

Early in the budget process, county officials projected a $200 million-plus shortfall in FY 2025-26, and over the last eight months leading up to the September budget adoption, commissioners and department leaders weighed how to offset at least $102 million in cuts and other savings.

What resulted was the decision to implement a yearlong hiring freeze to save at least $25 million and for the department leaders to identify at least 10% in cost savings within their current level of services. Commissioners said community-facing services, such as parks, road maintenance and community centers, will remain unaffected.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said despite starting with a deficit, the budget was balanced without increasing the tax rate.

“We have made sure to prioritize the things that residents across Harris County wanted to see,” Garcia said. “It began with public safety, emergency preparedness and public infrastructure. Those were the common threads.”

From the $2.76 billion general fund budget, $2.57 billion will be allocated to the 70 Harris County departments with components that include:

  • Funding to support pay parity initiatives for law enforcement and county employees
  • Expanding the District Attorney’s Office
  • Growing the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance program
  • Preserving the county’s credit rating and financial stability

“This budget reflects hard choices and shared commitment,” Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman said in a statement. “Despite a challenging fiscal environment, we’ve positioned Harris County to maintain essential services, support our workforce and make targeted investments in public safety, health and infrastructure.”

The debate

Law enforcement pay parity has reached various points at Commissioners Court, starting with the motion commissioners approved on May 22 that paved the way for increasing county law enforcement pay—a decision that came with a $104 million price tag and required identifying necessary savings to provide for raises. The move came as Houston City Council approved an $832 million police union contract May 21 that will raise Houston Police Department officer salaries by 36.5% by 2030.

By Sept. 9, commissioners approved a motion, with a 3-1 vote, to increase elected constables' salary to $260,000.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the budget adoption will better equip law enforcement to combat public safety threats.

“The time had come to show our sheriff's deputies and constable deputies that Harris County truly values the critical role they play in community safety,” Gonzalez said. “Otherwise, I was generally concerned that we would face a mass exodus, as you've already heard, of our top reporting veteran deputies and deputy principals and have empty seats in our training academy classroom.”

The last salary increase awarded to the county’s eight constables was implemented in September 2024. The final salary numbers approved by commissioners for the elected constables represent an $81,000 bump from the current annual salary of $178,506, said Brooke Boyett, director of communications for the Harris County Office of County Administration.

Also of note

The county’s employee minimum wage policy of at least $20 per hour and $21.64 per hour for contractors, which originally passed March 27, will also take effect.

“This budget reflects the $20 minimum wage that Harris County gave to its workers and the $21.64 for our contractors, including our janitors, helping working people so that one job is enough,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “This budget also helps set aside an additional $50 million for pay equity for all Harris County employees. We are prepared to continue making sure that we are helping working families, both within Harris County team members and across the county.

The takeaway

Commissioners also approved the county’s property tax rate alongside the budget.

  • Harris County: $0.38096 per $100 of valuation, remaining nearly flat to the FY 2024-25 rate of $0.38529 per $100 of valuation

At the Sept. 18 court meeting before budget adoption, commissioners approved property tax rates for three taxing entities.

  • Harris County Port of Houston Authority: $0.00590 per $100 of valuation, approved unanimously, which is lower than the FY 2024-25 rate of $0.00615 per $100 of valuation
  • Harris County Hospital District: $0.18761 per $100 of valuation, approved by a vote of 4-1, which is higher than the FY 2024-25 rate of $0.16348 per $100 of valuation
  • Harris County Flood Control District: $0.04966 per $100 of valuation, approved unanimously, which is higher than the FY 2024-25 rate of $0.04897 per $100 of valuation

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey was the dissenting vote on the hospital district tax rate.