Judge Hidalgo advocates for a transparent Harris County FY2026 budget that does not hurt residents’ quality of life.

As budget season continues, Judge Hidalgo is highlighting the proposed cuts in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) budget. Harris County is currently facing a $200M+ deficit, largely due to unfunded raises for law enforcement that Judge Hidalgo did not support. The Harris County Office of Management and Budget (OMB) presented a proposal that would balance the budget by making cuts that would lead to:

• Fewer resources for emergency response
• Longer wait times for court hearings and case processing
• Cuts to domestic violence response, reentry programs, mental health diversion, and community-based safety initiatives
• Longer wait times for mental health care for foster youth
• Cuts to rental assistance and homelessness prevention programs

Judge Hidalgo is calling for transparency and accountability from the Commissioners who voted to put Harris County in the deficit in the first place. She will not vote for a budget that cuts services and harms residents’ quality of life.

Commissioners will vote on a budget proposal at the September 9th Commissioners Court, and formally adopt the budget on September 18th.

Below are resources to learn more about the cuts that the majority of Commissioners are proposing to balance the budget:

• CJO Deficit Analysis: Shining a Light on the $220M in Cuts for FY2026
• Setting the Record Straight