After months of work alongside more than 70 Harris County departments and court offices, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones and her colleagues approved a balanced budget for 2026.
This $2.769 billion budget includes increased pay for County law enforcement officers, invests in maintenance, safeguards Precinct funding for roads, sidewalks, and parks, and has no cuts to critical services.
The budget is divided into nine categories.
These funds do not include the three other Harris County budgets: the Flood Control District (HCFCD), the Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), and Harris Health. For more information about these budgets, and other frequently asked budget questions, read our previous budget blog here.
Here are some key highlights from this year’s budget.
Protecting all residents and creating a better criminal justice system is the top priority for the County. More than half of the 2026 budget is dedicated to our law enforcement and justice system.
Below are some of the main ways we are working to keep you and your families safe:
- Pay parity for all County law enforcement officers to ensure we keep experienced officers on our streets, protecting our more than 5 million residents
- Expanded the Public Defender’s Office to ensure the office handles at least 50% of the cases where residents cannot afford an attorney
- Invested in the District Attorney’s Office to support jail population reduction, mental health and diversion, improve case processing, and create the Domestic Violence Bureau
Protecting Public Services
From personal and public health to workforce supports, many residents rely on Harris County’s services. Commissioner Briones is committed to protecting public services.
Below are some of the many programs Commissioner Briones protected:
- Restored funding for Harris County Public Health, which services include vaccinations, mobile health clinics, mosquito control, and the animal shelter
- Fully funded Harris Health’s budget, which includes Ben Taub Hospital, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, clinics, and emergency rooms across the County, amid federal cuts to Medicaid
- Protected the $17.5 million investment in Apprenticeship Advantage, which is helping nearly 1,000 low-income residents upskill themselves and access high-paying jobs
- Increased minimum wage for Harris County employees and contractors
- ed support for County-driven initiatives to expand education for small businesses
With cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service, local government must bolster its response efforts during disasters. Harris County residents know that it’s not a matter of if but when the next hurricane, ice storm, or flood will strike.
Below are some of the main ways we are ensuring Harris County stays ready to serve you before, during, and after a storm:
- Funding debris removal to clear our roads for first responders and drivers
- Deploy new flood maintenance funds to better protect families, homes, and businesses
- Protect the $190M investment in “Rainy Day Fund” to ensure the County is ready for any storm that may come our way
From new sidewalks and trails to drainage and road improvements, Precinct 4 spearheads many crucial infrastructure projects. The County’s 2026 budget protects funding for projects across the region.
Below are some of the main ways we are working to build and maintain resilient, community-focused infrastructure:
- Maintained precinct-level services, such as debris removal, building sidewalks, repairing potholes, and maintaining parks
- Improving our most dangerous roads to ensure our drivers and pedestrians stay safe
- Increasing access to safe, clean, and enjoyable green space
The budget process is never over. Harris County departments are already starting to think about their budget requests for next year. Make sure you are part of the process by staying up to date on our website and socials to get involved in budget surveys and town halls.