HOUSTON – As Harris County Commissioners inch closer to finalizing a new budget, residents, county employees, and community organizations are left grappling with one major question: Is there still a deficit, or not?
Mixed messages from county leaders have added to the uncertainty. On Tuesday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo cited a projected $133 million budget deficit, while, today, Commissioner Lesley Briones told KPRC 2 the county’s deficit now stands at zero.
“We were projecting a $133 million deficit,” Judge Hidalgo said during a recent commissioners meeting.
“We have a deficit of zero,” countered Commissioner Briones.
So what’s the truth?
Briones says the deficit is gone—thanks to cuts and adjustments
Commissioner Briones laid out a revised budget plan that she claims eliminates the county’s $200 million shortfall through a series of strategic cuts and temporary cost-saving measures.
One key adjustment: renegotiating law enforcement raises. According to Briones, nearly $100 million was saved through negotiations that scaled back original pay increase allocations. Another major cost-saving move? A proposed one-year hiring freeze, which Briones says could save the county $25 million.
“Only approximately 110 vacancies of over 2,000 will be affected,” she said. “This helps save approximately $11 million.”
Hidalgo pushes back: “That money doesn’t exist”
But Judge Hidalgo argues those savings may be more theoretical than practical. She contends that some of the funding Briones lists as “savings” was never actually secured—especially the money earmarked for law enforcement raises.
She also challenges the hiring freeze savings, suggesting that the county could still face department-level cuts or last-minute amendments aimed at preserving certain roles—moves that would ultimately offset projected savings.
Budget Director’s Office: “No clear answers”
To clear up the confusion, we reached out to the Harris County Budget Office for clarification.
Their response: “I’m not able to provide anything on this at this time.”
Community organizations say they’re left in the dark
For organizations that rely on county funding, the back-and-forth has real consequences. Many say they are struggling to plan for the year ahead, and that the lack of clarity is undermining public trust.
“It’s hard to effectively prepare,” said Alfredo Dominguez, with the Community Safety Budget People’s Counsel. “How can we actively turn people out to meetings? How can we have a really engaged Harris County populace if Harris County themselves is not doing a better job of putting that information out?”
Dominguez and others have been vocal at public commissioners’ meetings, pushing for transparency and sustained investment in community-based safety and support programs.
What’s next?
As the budget process continues, all eyes are on the next commissioners court meeting, where funding decisions will begin to solidify. The budget must be approved by September 18th.