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Residents urge tax increase revenue be used for public health, not more policing
Summary
At Aug. 15 public hearings on proposed county and Flood Control tax rates, advocates urged commissioners to direct any new revenue toward public‑health programs and alternatives to policing such as the HEART crisis‑response program, citing recent local deaths in mental‑health encounters and program diversion statistics.
Several residents spoke during the court's public hearing on the proposed 2024 Harris County tax rate, urging that any increase prioritize social services and alternatives to law enforcement. Terry Chen, reading testimony for a Precinct 3 constituent, said mental‑health crises are too often met by armed officers and urged expansion of the HEART program: "Police should not be responding to mental health calls. This is why our taxes need to expand programs such as HEART," she said.
Other speakers urged funding Harris County Public Health and community‑based responses. Moiz Akhtar, identifying himself as a resident and taxpayer, urged the court to invest in public health after noting the county's pandemic response and the county health department's work. Sarah Raymond, a Precinct 4 resident and university instructor, told commissioners she would support a property‑tax increase if proceeds were used to fund social services and HEART, saying the program "has improved community health and safety by providing safe and holistic responses to homelessness, behavioral health, and social welfare concerns." Advocates also cited HEART program impacts, noting that in its first month it diverted hundreds of calls from law enforcement and connected hundreds of residents to services.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the question for voters and the court as one of priorities—whether incremental tax revenue should expand policing or strengthen public‑health systems intended to reduce crisis contacts with police. Commissioners heard a mix of support and skepticism and noted the legal and budgetary constraints around law‑enforcement funding and the county's broader fiscal picture. The public‑hearing record will be part of deliberations as commissioners finalize budget‑and‑ballot decisions.
The court closed the public hearings on the two items and moved on to other agenda business.
