HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — On Wednesday, Harris County commissioners passed the $2.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Office of Management and Budget said key components in this budget include funding to support pay raises for law enforcement and county employees, expansions of the district attorney’s office, and growth in the flood control district’s maintenance program.
“We were able to make historic, much-needed investments in public safety,” Commissioner Lesley Briones said.
This comes after a contentious debate over closing a $200 million budget deficit.
In previous meetings, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has voiced her concerns about deputy pay raises.
According to the budget director, those pay raises added $100 million to the proposed budget.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez spoke in support of the increase, stating that it will help with law enforcement retention.
“They’re deserving of this raise,” Sheriff Gonzalez said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
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Some commissioners say they have a balanced budget, and taxes won’t increase.
They’ve already approved a county-wide one-year hiring freeze, which is projected to save $25 million.
Hidalgo has said residents will be impacted by less air testing, fewer library staff, and cuts to programs that aim to keep people out of jail.
“I don’t know that there has been a budget passed in recent memory that was this irresponsible as this one when it comes to funding something with cuts to very important lifesaving and public safety services, and also a budget that so puts at risk the financial health of the county,” Judge Hidalgo said.
RELATED: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and commissioners remain on opposite side of budget battle
She said 50 departments will see cuts.
Commissioner Lesley Briones stood with Commissioner Adrian Garcia on plans to cut the deficit with a hiring freeze, not filling open positions, and asking nearly all departments to cut their budgets by 10%.
“Not everybody got what everybody wanted, but overall, we are in a good place to continue the good work that the county does,” Garcia said.
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