Judge Lina Hidalgo expected to return in time for Harris Co. budget vote

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — By this time next week, Harris County leaders will likely have adopted a new budget.

It’ll have a significant impact on your property taxes, as well as services like law enforcement patrols and public health.

Commissioners aren’t looking at any huge cuts or increases this year, but the $2.4 billion proposed budget does include raises for some employees and additional funding for county courts.

Part of the goal this year is to restore funding that was lost last year.

Harris County did not pass a new budget in 2022 after the two Republican commissioners on the court boycotted meetings for nearly two months, saying they wanted more law enforcement funding.

The end result was the county being forced to adopt what’s called a no-new-revenue tax rate, cutting services more than either Democrats or Republicans proposed.

This year, there’s only one Republican on the court: Tom Ramsey.

“We’re actually having a conversation on how the money is going to be spent,” Ramsey said. “Last year, it was a ‘take it or leave it’ proposition.”

He couldn’t derail the process even if he wanted to, though, because Democrats now have a super majority on the court, meaning they don’t need any Republican votes to pass what they want.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who has been on a leave of absence, is expected to be back in time for the budget vote next week.