Harris County commissioners are expected to discuss the budget and tax rate options for the upcoming fiscal year at an Aug. 17 special meeting, as the county faces a potential $178 million shortfall.
In a nutshell
The county’s Office of Management and Budget will present its proposed budgets and tax rates for the court to discuss and potentially take action on. The proposal will also cover:
- Harris County Flood Control District
- Toll Road Authority
- Harris Health System
Commissioners are facing one of the steepest shortfalls in recent history, according to previous Community Impact reporting, though the projected shortfall has shrunk from a May estimate of up to $257 million to $178 million. To compensate for the shortfall, residents could face tax rate increases.
If commissioners decide to increase the tax rate more than 3.5%, according to the state comptroller website, voters will see the proposed rates on their November ballots.
The court will adopt its new budget mid-September, before the start of the fiscal year Oct. 1.
In other news
The court may move to form a grievance committee for elected officials’ salaries, as it did last year after denying requests from district court judges and the county’s eight elected constables for raises.
Those requests were approved during the Aug. 6 Commissioners Court, with the constables, district attorney, county attorney, district clerk, county clerk and tax assessor-collector now set to earn $305,000 annually.
The court is expected to also discuss executive compensation for elected officials in a session closed to the public.
Also of note
The District Attorney’s office is seeking approval from commissioners to apply for a $1.5 million grant to support its work in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and safeguarding victims, according to agenda documents.
The grant would come from the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program, which funds “state, local, and tribal governments, courts and victim service providers,” per its website.
If approved, the grant will not require a matching investment from the county.
Before you go
Harris County Commissioners Court meetings are held at 9 a.m. in Downtown Houston. The administration building is located at 1001 Preston St., Houston. Meetings are also available to livestream here.
