Texas comptroller accuses Harris County of defunding police, threatens to stymie 2023 budget

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar this week accused Harris County commissioners of defunding local constables and threatened to prevent the county from implementing its proposed 2023 budget if the county does not reverse course. In a letter sent late Monday, Hegar said the county’s move to do away with “rollover” budgeting led to more than $3 million dedicated to the constables last year being returned to the general fund. “If the county proceeds with the Constable budget as proposed without obtaining voter approval, the county may not adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the county’s no-new-revenue tax rate,” Hegar wrote. Harris County Administrator David Berry on Tuesday afternoon said Hegar's position would prevent the county from adopting a budget that increases funding to Harris County Constables’ and Sheriff’s offices by "millions of dollars."

"The Comptroller’s position would keep us from making these new investments," he said, "which is contrary to the intent of SB 23. ... I hope the Comptroller’s position does not prevent us from achieving our goal, and we look forward to working with the state to resolve this matter. Berry said that in the past, county departments could “roll over” their unspent budget from one year to the next "with no questions asked." "This practice was unique to Harris County and is not the practice of other local governments," he said. "Under the current policy, departments, including the Constable’s Offices, can request the use of unspent funds on vehicles, equipment, and other one-time expenses. The County has continued to support these investments." Paradoxically, by preventing Harris County from adopting the new tax rate, Hegar's actions would prevent the county from implementing $96.7 million in increases to the sheriff and constable offices, and a proposed $10 million increase to the District Attorney's Office. Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman -- one of the two constables who first raised the issue with Abbott -- said he was "thankful" to the governor and to Hegar for looking into the matter.