The fiscal year began on October 1 with $3.7 million for eviction prevention, $2.3 million for food and nutrition benefits, and new resources for mental health, housing, and other services.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Harris County began its FY 2027 year on October 1 with a budget that maintains priority services and allocates millions of dollars to eviction prevention, food distribution, mental health, maternal and child health, responses to homelessness, and support for survivors of domestic violence.
The General Fund has approximately $3.35 billion in available resources for FY2027. The adopted budget does not call for layoffs or staff reductions and keeps priority services at current levels.
Several of the line items allow continuing programs that previously received federal ARPA funds.
However, the allocation of money does not mean there is a new open application for every line item. Some resources fund services operated directly by the county and others support programs with their own requirements, providers, or eligibility processes.
Harris County designates $3.7 million for eviction prevention and rent assistance
The budget includes $3.7 million for eviction prevention programs through Housing and Community Development.
The resources can sustain legal assistance for tenants and flexible rent assistance that was previously funded through ARPA.
Funds for staff dedicated to eviction diversion in Justice of the Peace 2-2 continue, and another $76,000 is reserved for a similar position in Justice of the Peace 7-2 starting in January 2027.
This budget allocation does not by itself constitute the opening of a new general rent assistance program. Availability and eligibility depend on each funded service.
Other $2.2 million sustain shelter, temporary housing, and homelessness services
Harris County allocates $2.2 million to maintain coordinated services for people experiencing homelessness.
The line item covers outreach work, case management, emergency shelter, and temporary housing through Housing and Community Development.
The department’s budget rises from approximately $21 million in FY2026 to $26.8 million in FY2027.
Public Health receives $2.3 million for food distribution and nutrition benefits
Harris County Public Health receives $2.3 million to continue food distribution services and enrollment assistance for food and nutrition benefits.
These services had also used ARPA resources.
The line item is part of a broader increase for Public Health Services: the budget grows from approximately $59.6 million in FY2026 to $76.7 million in FY2027.
Mental health and maternal-child health receive another $2.2 million
The budget maintains $1 million for behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder services, and overdose response via Harris County Public Health.
Another $1.2 million allows continuing maternal and child health services, including home visits, case management, and care coordination.
These line items support services that were previously funded by ARPA.
Residents seeking healthcare available in the region can also consult the guide to free or low-cost clinics in Harris County, with options including primary care, vaccines, and mental health services.
The budget adds $1.9 million for domestic violence survivors
Public Health also receives an increase of $1.9 million for services directed at victims and survivors of domestic violence through the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund.
Resources can be used to help people leave dangerous situations via services that include housing, transportation, and child care.
The availability of each service depends on the programs and organizations administering those resources during the fiscal year.
Harris County Library increases its budget to $49.3 million
Harris County Public Library rises from approximately $44 million in FY2026 to $49.3 million in FY2027.
Within the budget, $1.1 million is allocated to library collections and materials to maintain educational and reading services.
The county library network also provides access to computers, digital resources, educational activities, and other free services at its branches.
Public Defender’s Office receives $15 million to add about 95 positions
The budget designates $15 million in additional funding to the Harris County Public Defender’s Office to support approximately 95 new positions, including attorneys and support staff.
The expansion is part of a multi-year plan to increase the share of defense cases for people charged with offenses who cannot afford private legal representation.
The adopted budget for the Public Defender’s Office reaches approximately $86.5 million in FY2027, up from $69.2 million in FY2026.
Harris County funds 100 additional detention officers
Another $3 million funds 100 detention officer positions in the county jail system.
Harris County aims with these hires to reduce the number of incarcerated people who must be transported to facilities outside the county.
The budget also adds $900,000 to maintain the contract with The Harris Center for Mental Health, which provides psychiatric evaluations inside the jail.
The budget allocates $50 million to pedestrian infrastructure and another $50 million to high-risk roadways
The infrastructure plan contemplates using $50 million in bond funds for investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Another $50 million will be directed to addressing safety issues in a portion of the road network with a high incidence of injuries identified within the Vision Zero Action Plan for Harris County.
For parks and trails, the budget plans to use $200 million in voter-approved debt for construction, maintenance, and other investments in county facilities.
It also contemplates using $200 million of bond funds for neighborhood drainage and $100 million to improve roads where conditions require investment.
Harris County property tax rate increases for FY2027
The budget also changes the county’s tax burden.
The total Harris County property tax rate for FY2027 is $0.41750 per $100 of taxable value, up from $0.38096 in the previous fiscal year.
For a home valued at the county’s estimated average of $402,489 and after applying the 20% homestead exemption, Harris County estimates approximately $1,344 in county taxes, compared with $1,202 last year.
That calculation applies only to Harris County and does not include separate taxes for Flood Control, Port of Houston, Harris Health, or other taxing entities.
The FY2027 budget will be in effect through September 30, 2027
The adopted budget began on October 1, 2026 and will cover county operations through September 30, 2027.
The line items determine how much money Harris County can use to maintain or expand these services, but they do not guarantee that every resident will be directly eligible for assistance. Eligibility, availability, and access depend on each program.
The Harris County FY2027 adopted budget contains the full allocations for departments, services, and infrastructure.
