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.

In their words: “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.

The details: 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 to the District Attorney’s Office
• Growing the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance program
• Preserving the county’s credit rating and financial stability

• $37.92 million for firefighting services
• $29.33 million for EMS
• $6.09 million for quartermaster services
• $4.2 million for fleet/vehicles
• $3.79 million for dispatch

Harris County Flood Control District officials are holding public meetings in early October seeking community feedback to assist with the county’s first comprehensive flood resilience plan.

The big picture: Building upon the work completed by the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force that originated after the 2018 $2.5 billion flood bond, the flood resilience plan is being developed by multiple county departments that aim to implement actionable initiatives that consider the well-being of communities facing the physical, social and economic hardships of flooding, according to the HCFCD.

What it means: The county’s first flood resilience plan is expected to be completed in February 2027 and have actions categorized by short, medium and long-term actions designed to strengthen infrastructure systems, natural and ecological resources and community networks.

The Nov. 4 election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Oct. 6 to cast votes in various local races and weigh in on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

What to know: Texans who need to register to vote must submit a paper application. The application is available here and must be printed, signed and mailed to the election office in the voter’s county of residence.

Texas does not allow online voter registration, unless residents are updating, renewing or replacing a Texas driver’s license or ID card.

Zooming in: To be eligible to register to vote, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Reside in the county they apply to vote in
• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Not have been declared mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a court