Harris County may look to reserves for Sheriff’s Office

Members of Commissioners Court said Tuesday that the county may need to exempt the Sheriff’s Office from a hiring freeze and dip into reserve funds to increase the number of deputies, even as the court cuts millions in spending from other departments.

A $1.36 billion preliminary budget discussed at Commissioners Court would be about $52 million less than what Harris County will have spent in the year ending Sunday.

Most of the county budget is funded by property taxes, and decreasing property values likely will reduce the amount of taxes collected, according to a report by the county budget office.

The preliminary budget would reduce Sheriff’s Office spending from $424 million this year to $361 million in the coming year. Commissioners accepted the preliminary budget with few changes. They are scheduled to officially adopt a spending plan on March 9.

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