Harris County approves FY‑26 budget after heated debate over officer pay, paused flood projects

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The Harris County Commissioners Court voted to approve the countyFY26 budget on Sept. 24, 2025, adopting a package of pay adjustments for county peace officers and related staff while prompting protests from community groups and some judges who said the plan forces cuts to public-health, youth and court services and pauses 27 flood-control projects tied to a $410 million deficit in the 2018 flood bond program.

The budget adoption followed hours of public comment in a special meeting that drew hundreds of speakers, including deputies and their families urging pay parity, neighborhood leaders pressing to preserve sidewalks and flood projects, and nonprofit and youth-advocacy groups warning that cuts to early-childhood, diversion and mental-health programs will increase long-term costs.

Supporters of the budget said pay increases were overdue and necessary to retain deputies and constables who can move to nearby agencies that pay more. "This raise will also afford me the opportunity to spend more time with my family," said Deputy Jason Sauer, a 17-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff's Office, during the public-comment period.

Opponents focused on the trade-offs. County staff and several speakers told the court the budget, as structured, would reduce funding for items including certain juvenile mental-health services, some domestic-relations casework and technology that county officials said is critical to court and jail operations. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and other speakers warned the package would also leave the county unable to proceed immediately with 27 flood-control projects voters approved in 2018 because of a roughly $410 million shortfall in bond funding.

"Those were…