County

The Supreme Court of Texas denied a September 9 petition seeking to declare Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s seat vacant, leaving the makeup of Commissioners Court settled ahead of its September 17 budget and tax rate vote.

Harris County Commissioners Court is scheduled to adopt 2026-27 budgets and tax rates on Thursday, September 17, including a county budget of about $3.09 billion and the proposed 7.6 percent property tax rate. No vote has been taken yet.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt told NewsRadio 740 KTRH that combined budgets at the five largest Texas counties, Harris among them, went from $8.7 billion in 2016 to $14.6 billion this year. The figures are the senator’s.

Harris County has paid Flock Safety about $1.3 million since 2023 for its license plate reader network, well above the $160,500 in its first contract. County Judge Lina Hidalgo is calling for a special meeting on oversight.

Harris County Commissioners Court voted September 9 to extend the county’s $20 an hour living wage standard to 222 Harris Center employees who provide mental health and IDD services, KPRC 2 reported. The vote comes a week before the September 17 county budget and tax rate vote.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones proposed $1.4 million for county worker pay, including a $20 minimum wage for more than 200 Harris Center mental health staff. Commissioners Court votes September 17.

Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin announced two civil lawsuits September 9 accusing nine people of fraudulent claims on at least 10 homes. No criminal charges have been filed. The county wants the homes returned to their owners.

Law enforcement agencies across Harris County arrested 297 people on drunk driving charges over the three day Labor Day weekend, with 45 of those made by Precinct 4 deputies.