Harris County administrator outlines FY26 cuts, says research team to be pared as security, language-access budgets shift

Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman told commissioners' court on Sept. 2 that the Office of County Administration’s (OCA) proposed FY26 budget reflects a substantial reduction from last year and several programmatic changes intended to preserve core functions while meeting deficit targets. OCA staff and commissioners questioned where large line items had moved and why some programs were being paused.

Dickerman said the proposed OCA book shows a FY26 figure of roughly $13.8 million, though he said the “real” OCA operating baseline—excluding pass-throughs and ARPA positions—is closer to $12 million. He described nearly $3 million in “real” programmatic cuts that result from consolidating and eliminating vacant positions and trimming non‑labor spending. Dickerman said those reductions were painful but necessary given the county’s fiscal situation.

On a frequently asked question—where the courthouse/security money went—Dickerman said the consolidated security budget that had previously been shown inside OCA will be moved to a countywide…