Harris County’s budget for 2025 has been approved and will go into effect on October 1, 2024, but what does this actually mean?  

Every year, the County must approve a budget to fund all County operations – from roads and bridges to law enforcement and affordable housing. This year, Commissioners Court approved a $2.67 billion budget, which affects everyone who lives, works, and visits Harris County. The budget is funded primarily by Harris County residents’ property taxes. 

The budget is divided into eight 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. 

Public Safety 

More than half of the budget is dedicated to our law enforcement and justice system. This section of the budget is the largest because protecting all residents and creating a better criminal justice system is the top priority for the County.  

Below are some of the main ways we are working to keep you and your families safe:  

• $1.3M will go toward the creation of Harris County Sheriff’s Office District 6, which will be located between Tomball and Cypress. This new district will make sure there are more officers ready to protect the County’s rapidly growing population.  
• $8.5M will fund the remaining three out of six new Criminal District Courts. These courts increase the County’s trial capacity and assist with processing the court backlog cases. 
• $725K of additional funding will provide more interpreter and language access services for the District ($250K) and County ($475K) Courts. These critical resources ensure everyone understands the legal process. 

Disasters 

Harris County’s Public Improvement Contingency Fund (PIC) exists for when disasters strike. We need additional funds for recovery and cleanup efforts. The PIC is essentially a rainy-day fund that is reimbursed by the federal government.  

After back-to-back disasters in 2024 (a flood, a derecho, and a hurricane) Commissioners needed to replenish the fund. Although some of the fund will be replenished by federal reimbursement, the County also added $20 million of its own funds to make sure we are prepared for any future disasters. This brought the total amount of contingency funds to almost $225 million.  

These funds are used to pick up debris and pay employees who work overtime to help people in need. 

Infrastructure 

Precinct 4, like other precincts, spearheads many crucial infrastructure projects. Our projects are based on needs identified during the planning process, which involves public engagement and data-driven analyses. Projects include examining the need for new sidewalks, upgrading community centers and parks, and improving streets and intersections. 

HCTRA and HCFCD upkeep and build roads, drainage, and other flood mitigation projects across the County.  

Alongside the budget, Commissioners Court unanimously decided that voters should choose whether or not to provide more funding to the Flood Control District to repair and replace aging drainage infrastructure throughout the County.  

Currently, the County’s flood control infrastructure runs on a 270-year lifecycle. This means, on average, if the County built a new structure for flood control today, it would not be fully replaced until your 8x great-grandchild was born. If the voters approve the new tax rate in November, structures would be replaced about every 67 years. 

To have your voice heard, you can visit the polls this November and have a say in the future of Harris County’s infrastructure maintenance. 

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 town halls. Stay on top of all Precinct 4 and Harris County happenings by watching Commissioners Court and attending our events.