Judge Lina Hidalgo warns of major service cuts as nearly 50 Harris County departments face FY2026 budget reductions

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Nearly 50 Harris County departments are facing potential budget cuts in Fiscal Year 2026 as commissioners prepare to vote on a proposal aimed at eliminating a $200 million-plus deficit.

According to Judge Lina Hidalgo, the financial shortfall is largely due to a $100 million unfunded law enforcement raise approved by a majority of Commissioners in May 2025. At the September 9 Commissioners Court meeting, the court voted to advance a budget that addresses the deficit through widespread departmental reductions.

“There’s a saying that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Judge Hidalgo stated. “Some Commissioners want to say they have balanced the budget, eliminated our $200M+ deficit and passed raises for law enforcement – all without raising taxes or reducing services. That gives residents a false sense of security. Balancing the budget is not an achievement. It is a statutory requirement.”

Hidalgo affirmed her support for law enforcement raises but stressed that voters should decide whether such raises should come at the cost of other critical services and programs.

A full breakdown of the proposed FY2026 budget cuts is available online. The final budget will be posted and formally considered during the September 24, 2025, Commissioners Court meeting.