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County Attorney touts litigation wins, warns of budget cuts and shifts positions to discretionary fund
Summary
The Harris County Attorney’s Office said its affirmative litigation and collections work has generated tens of millions for the county in recent years; facing an 11% proposed cut to its general‑fund budget, the office said it will shift positions to discretionary funds to preserve critical operations.
The Harris County County Attorney’s Office told Commissioners Court it has generated tens of millions in revenue for the county through affirmative litigation and collections while facing a proposed reduction in its general‑fund budget.
Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Fambon and other CAO leaders said the office supports 22 county departments, 59 elected officials’ offices, 15 boards and commissions, and roughly 19,000 employees; it also runs revenue projects including toll collections and national‑scale litigation that produced settlements and recoveries. The office reported more than $24 million in toll collections in fiscal year 2025 and more than $60 million in affirmative litigation recoveries since 2021, including settlement proceeds from Volkswagen and opioid‑related cases.
The nut graph: The office said it will absorb an 11% proposed reduction in its general fund by moving roughly 50 positions to a discretionary fund rather than eliminating services, but cautioned that the move is a temporary response and that core funding may need reinstatement in future budgets.
Speakers described recent legal accomplishments: the CAO’s consumer‑protection and affirmative‑litigation teams pursued cases that produced settlement funds (the Volkswagen settlement, opioid abatement outcomes, a Purdue Pharma settlement anticipated to bring a further ~$3.8 million), and the office secured restoration of federal funding streams for county programs through litigation (including for a refugee resettlement screening program and COVID‑related public‑health grants). The office also said it took on delinquent property‑tax collections in 2023 and now works closely with the tax office to improve collection systems.
Court members questioned staffing, the office’s growth in affirmative litigation and consumer protection efforts (including a recent fraud/deed‑fraud case), and how pay and recruiting changes have affected hiring and retention. CAO leaders said they have increased starting salaries for new attorneys since 2021 to approach parity with other government offices and have developed pipeline and recruitment programs; they also said many new hires come from private practice for the experience and public‑service mission.
Ending: The County Attorney’s Office said it will continue to seek revenue through litigation and careful legal work while adapting to proposed budget cuts by shifting certain positions to discretionary funding; it asked the court to consider future restoration of general‑fund support when feasible.
