Harris County Budget Gap Hits $200M as Early Childhood Funding, Law Enforcement Raises, and Flood Control Priorities Drive Debate
The August 7 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting gave residents a clear look at how recent decisions have shaped the county’s finances — and a preview of the tough choices ahead. The headline number: a $200 million budget deficit for the coming fiscal year.
Budget Director Daniel Ramos explained the sequence. The county began the budget process projecting a $130 million shortfall, with $50 million tied to employee compensation. The May 22 law enforcement pay parity vote — raising deputies’ and constables’ salaries to match the Houston Police Department’s new five-year contract — expanded that gap to $272 million.
Since then, refining the law enforcement pay scale saved about $39 million, and stronger-than-expected revenue added $32 million. The result is a $200 million deficit, with roughly $150 million of that tied to compensation for county employees.
Law Enforcement Raises Still Shape the Budget
As reported by My Neighborhood News in May, the parity plan is projected to cost about $100 million in its first year and over $1 billion over five years. Supporters — Commissioners Tom Ramsey, Adrian Garcia, and Lesley Briones — called it essential to retaining officers and staying competitive with HPD’s 36.5% raise over five years.
Opponents, Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis, warned it would strain services without voter-approved revenue. Ellis said in May, “We’re going to be cutting services. There is no way around it.”
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Early Childhood Education: Data, Dollars, and Deadlines
The meeting’s most emotional exchanges came over whether to place a “penny tax” on the November ballot to sustain early childhood education programs created with expiring federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Supporters — parents, nonprofit leaders, educators — described how the programs let families work, attend school, and access safe, affordable childcare. A grandparent spoke of the relief of knowing her granddaughter had a place to learn while her daughter worked. Childcare center owners said county funds allowed them to expand capacity for low-income families.
They also cited stark statistics: 75% of kindergarten teachers say children aren’t ready to learn, children without early learning are 25% more likely to drop out, only half of 3–4 year-olds attend preschool, and without support, 60% are less likely to ever attend college. Since inception, Harris County’s programs have reached over 60,000 children, and letting funding lapse would mean restarting the months-long RFP, review, contracting, and rollout process.
Financially, the penny tax would cost the average homeowner about $24/year and fund roughly 40% of the children in need. A poll presented to the court found two-thirds of voters believe more early childhood funding is needed, and 42% said they’d view a commissioner more favorably if they supported the measure.
Ramsey opposed the tax, saying it would raise about $66 million for a program costing less than $30 million and arguing that school districts — which received more than $1.2 billion in ARPA aid — are better positioned to fund such initiatives. Briones agreed early education is important but said permanent programs require detailed, transparent, multi-year plans, not proposals introduced two weeks before a vote.
Hidalgo argued, “It is impossible for you to fund the programs within your precinct… We’ve been talking about it for four years.” Ellis urged, “Give voters a chance to decide for themselves if they want these programs to continue or not.”Ramsey said, “When we started the program three-plus years ago, we knew this day was coming… I’ll not be supporting the motion.” Briones added, “If we’re going to do something, we must do it right with deep expert and stakeholder engagement… not two weeks.”
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Flood Control and Infrastructure
Flood control took up a significant part of the August 7 agenda, with updates on maintenance funding, project timelines, and bond deadlines.
The Harris County Flood Control District is projecting a $15 million surplus this year, consistent with prior years, aided by a Commissioners Court contribution into the maintenance fund to relieve pressure on the 2018 flood bond.
A $100 million maintenance program approved earlier this year was described by commissioners as “foundational to mitigating flooding in this county,” with planned investments in vehicles, work crews, and potentially work camps.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey raised concerns that the day’s agenda included no new construction or capital improvement projects, stressing the need to meet “real severe deadlines” for 2018 bond-funded work. Future August and September meetings are expected to include decisions on what projects will proceed — possibly in phases — to meet those commitments.
Commissioners also credited Flood Control Director Dr. Peterson’s leadership for improved flood performance. They noted that past storms like the Memorial Day and Tax Day floods damaged 300,000 structures, while Hurricane Beryl impacted fewer than a dozen.
To ensure transparency, Ramsey asked for assurances that new maintenance funds will remain dedicated to their intended purposes. Flood Control staff explained they follow a federal overhead rate methodology verified by a third-party firm.
Your County Budget. Your Voice.
Commissioner Briones and the Office of Management and Budget are asking residents to help shape the 2025–26 budget through:
- Budget Survey: Harris County Precinct 4 residents or business owners are invited to rank their top priorities in a quick 3–5 minute questionnaire. Take the survey here.
- Balancing Act Tool: Explore the county’s $2.7 billion budget, try your own cuts or additions, and see the impact here.
“Providing the public with opportunities to express their priorities for the County Budget is key to achieving transparent and accountable government and serving the residents of Harris County,” Ramos said. Feedback is open through August and will be sent directly to Commissioners Court.
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What’s Next
Public hearings on the budget and possible tax rate changes will continue through August. The court must finalize the budget before October 1, deciding whether to seek voter-approved revenue, make deep cuts, or a mix of both — with impacts across public safety, health, flood control, and other core services.
My Neighborhood News will continue covering how these choices will shape daily life for families, neighborhoods, and communities across Harris County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
