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Harris County, TX, July 16, 2026, During Harris County’s fourth and final day of budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) on Thursday, multiple Harris County department heads asked to fund programs that will not only better serve community needs, but will save Harris County money in the future.

Harris County is currently facing a $129 million deficit for FY27. The Harris County Office of Management & Budget (OMB) asked each department to provide 8% worth of options for cuts to close the deficit. While final budget decisions won’t be made until September, departments are advocating for investments now that could save the county money in areas including public health, the criminal justice system, and affordable housing.

Harris County Resources for Children & Adults (HCRCA) operates a guardianship program to provide services to vulnerable adults who are deemed legally incapacitated due to a mental or physical disability. HCRCA proposed creating a fund to help expand their guardianship program and save the costs associated with these individuals staying in hospitals or the criminal justice system instead:

“It’s about $2,500 - $3,500 a day for someone to remain in Harris Health when they don’t need medical treatment, but they’re there because they don’t have a safe discharge. Harris Health reports that some individuals have been there more than 365 days because they can’t get a safe discharge. If we can’t take them in, they either stay in hospital, or they cycle in and out of jail, or they’re out on the streets. This fund won’t solve the problem, but it will give us more that we could cover for room and board,” said HCRCA Executive Director Joel Levine during budget hearings Thursday.

The Harris County Veterans Services Department (VSD) advocated against a proposed cut to their claims and benefits team: “Our claims and benefits team will see 4,000 veterans this year. When we assist a veteran or family member with claims and benefits, that makes a significant impact on their lives as well as an impact financially to the community. It allows us to get out and meet vets where they are. A reduction of one of those positions makes us significantly limited on how much we can do out of the office,” said VSD Executive Director Dave Lewis during budget hearings Thursday. 

Harris County Housing & Community Development proposed creating a housing trust fund in response to the current housing affordability crisis: 

“Housing affordability is at the top of everyone’s mind. The matter of why now versus later is that this problem will only get bigger. Land prices will only grow, costs of construction and materials will grow. We’ve got to find all the tools that we can. We’re looking for opportunities and ways to contribute consistent revenue. Even if it’s small, if it’s ongoing and building, then we can get there. It’s a statement to our community that our county is investing directly in affordable housing,” said HCD Executive Director Thao Costis during budget hearings Thursday.

The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) advocated against a $1.6 million proposed cut to their NeuroPsychiatric Center (NPC), which provides emergency psychiatric services to people in crisis: 

“[The cut] would translate to 4,380 people we’d lose capacity for in NPC. Those are literally people who have to be taken somewhere else or they won’t get care. If it’s law enforcement drop offs, that’s people who are a danger to themselves or others. It’s a high need, complex population. There are only four or five psychiatric emergency centers in Texas and NPC is one, so that would have a pretty dramatic impact,” said Harris Center Chief Executive Officer Wayne Young during budget hearings Thursday.

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