Houston Police Department proposes $1.1 billion general-fund request as council presses on overtime, grants and community programs

The Houston Police Department on Wednesday presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that requests just over $1,100,000,000 from the citygeneral fund and outlines pay increases, recruitment efforts and contingency funding tied to large events such as the World Cup.

The presentation, delivered by HPDfinance director Ramona Smith and other department leaders on behalf of Police Chief Jay Noe Diaz Jr., described personnel as the budget's main driver, detailed $85 million in active grants and repeated that technology and organizational consolidations are intended to offset manpower shortfalls.

HPD said the department has hired 559 cadets since fiscal year 2024 and increased cadet pay to $52,000 (up from $42,000) with a $1,000 firearm stipend and a one-time $5,000 incentive for academy completion. Director Ramona Smith said, "Our total revenue is projected to increase by $17,700,000 or 16% in fiscal year 20 26." Executive and sworn presenters emphasized recruiting and retention measures as central to stabilizing staffing.

Why it matters: HPD is the city's largest line item. Council members at the workshop pressed officials about practical shortfalls the department faces nownotably overtime spending that outpaced budgeted amounts this fiscal yearand about whether one-time or reimbursable revenues will sustainably cover services the department provides.

What HPD told council - Overall ask and revenue: HPD asked for just over $1.1 billion from the general fund and said roughly 95% of department expenditures are supported by the general fund. The department's total revenue projection for FY 2026 was described as a $17.7 million, or 16%, increase over estimates. - Grants and reimbursements: HPD reported about $85,000,000 in active grants and said it has applied for an additional $18,000,000 in appropriations. Smith said much of the year-over-year revenue shift stems from anticipated reimbursements tied to large-scale events (it cited the World…