Harris County commissioners will review the future of several county programs created with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a 2021 federal aid package supporting local governments after the COVID-19 pandemic.
With ARPA support set to expire at the end of 2026, commissioners voted Feb. 26 to consider nearly $14 million in general fund appropriations in fiscal year 2026-27 that would allow the county to continue the services.
Some context
Harris County received a one-time $915 million grant called Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the federal government in 2021, which must be used by Dec. 31.
Early years of the funding prioritized immediate relief for families and small businesses in the county, with later years focusing on long-term projects to address disparities, Community Impact previously reported. Harris County launched an array of services across five categories using the grant:
- Jobs and education: $207 million
- Health: $161 million
- Housing: $120 million
- Justice and safety: $120 million
- County operations: $35 million
Tom Hargis, director of grants and partnerships for the Office of County Administration, said Harris County is on track to spend all of the $915 million by the end of 2026.
Latest update
Commissioners Court’s Feb. 26 decision directed county staff to consider nine programs and services in the FY 2026-27 general fund budget. Hargis said the county’s ARPA steering committee reviewed and recommended the programs.
The action does not guarantee all nine programs will be included in the next general fund, as commissioners workshop the budget during the summer ahead of final adoption in September:
- Apprenticeship Advantage Program
- Behavioral Health
- Chronic Disease Prevention
- Eviction Support & Diversion/Legal Aid
- Food & Nutrition
- Homelessness
- Maternal Health
- Women's Empowerment Center
- Youth Diversion
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said he supports general fund consideration for the Apprenticeship Advantage Program, a 2023 ARPA initiative that provides debt-free workforce training and union apprenticeships. However, he said he could not pledge funding for the rest of the recommended programs when other county services, such as drainage and traffic improvements, should be prioritized.
“There needs to be the conversation as we compare these compelling reasons to all the other compelling reasons that come to this court almost every time,” Ramsey said during the meeting.
Commissioners Court unanimously approved budget consideration for the apprenticeship program. In a separate 3-1 vote, the court authorized funding consideration for the remaining eight programs, with Ramsey opposed.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent from the Feb. 26 meeting.
Zooming in
The Apprenticeship Advantage Program is expected to receive the most funding in the county’s annual budget, pending final approval later this year. Harris County commissioners established the program in 2023 with $10.9 million in ARPA grant funds and allocated an additional $6.7 million in 2024, according to the OCA.
More than 1,200 apprentices have accessed training through the program so far, said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. About 60% of participants come from families facing economic vulnerability and are now earning higher wages than nonunion counterparts, he said.
“As the federal and Texas state governments undermine the foundations of opportunity—public education and unions—it is essential that local governments step up to build training pipelines into good jobs,” Khalil said during the meeting. “Harris County is leading in that.”
Ryan Schuett, business manager for IUEC Local 31, said they’ve been able to double the program’s capacity for incoming apprentices since 2023.
“When this program started, I was told that apprenticeship programs were the best-kept secret in labor,” Schuett said. “This is a proven program that’s changed lives and delivered opportunities to people across all of our communities.”
Next steps
Hargis said the ARPA committee will work with county departments to develop a "current level of service" budget for each program, which is the baseline amount required to maintain the existing services in the next fiscal year.
Harris County commissioners are expected to review the initial FY 2026-27 budget proposal around August, with final approval in late September.
