Harris County commissioners approve $2.7B FY 2025-26 budget prioritizing pay parity, public safety
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:
Growing the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance program
Preserving the county’s credit rating and financial stability
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the county’s investment with the budget adoption will better equip law enforcement to combat public safety threats.
Cy-Fair Fire Department's $150M budget for FY 2026 adopted in split vote
The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 board of commissioners adopted a $150 million budget for the district’s 2026 budget year, which begins Jan. 1. The budget includes $102 million in operating expenses for the Cy-Fair Fire Department and just under $50 million for capital projects, including several new fire stations.
In a nutshell: Along with the budget, the board adopted an ad valorem tax rate of $0.0388 per $100 valuation. Expenditures in the $102 million operating budget include:
$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
In case you missed it: The board approved a motion to issue a request for qualifications for district legal counsel in a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Rob Paiva and Jaime Martinez opposed. Paiva objected to the motion, saying it could interfere with ongoing lawsuits involving the fire department. Six lawsuits have been filed against the department as of Sept. 25, according to the plaintiffs' legal counsel.
Harris County Flood Control District seeks public input on flood resilience plan
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.
Texans have through Oct. 6 to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election
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
Registered voters can check their voter registration status online at any time and update identifying information, such as their name and address, online through Oct. 6.
