(The Center Square)
In response to State Comptroller Abbott’s request to evaluate Harris County’s budget to determine if it is violating a state law that prohibits local entities from defunding police departments, Texas Comptroller Glenn Heger announced Friday that Texas’ largest county is defunding its police and that they are imposing sanctions. Consequently on it.
Harris County Judge Lena Hidalgo said she “needs to go back to the accounting class” as she fights her ruling in court and says the county actually increased the money.
On December 14, 2022, Governor Abbott’s Division of Criminal Justice requested Hegar’s office to investigate a complaint from Harris County Constable Office Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap, alleging that the county’s fiscal year 2023 adopted budget reduced resources available to Precinct 5, 244367. Compared to previous year.
State law requires the comptroller’s office to determine whether a proposed cut or reallocation of law enforcement funding has been implemented without the required voter approval, when requested by the governor.
“After careful review, I find that the complaint provides evidence of a reduction in funding for the law enforcement agency when comparing the adopted budget for the current fiscal year to the budget adopted for the prior fiscal year,” Hegar said.
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Heap alleged that Harris County’s budget reduced overall funding for Precinct 5 by $2,367,444.86 annually on a month-to-month basis. The comptroller’s office said Harris County “again uses a spiral method with two different multipliers and excludes two pay periods to argue otherwise, although the math is clear and straightforward. The funding shortfall is $2,367,444.86.
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As a result, “Harris County shall not adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the county’s new-income tax rate until the earlier of the following: my office issues a written determination; the county has resolved the funding reduction; or the funding reduction has been approved in an election.”
Last fall, two Republican county commissioners succeeded in forcing Harris County to adopt a “no-new-revenue” property tax rate for the 2023 fiscal year. His actions saved residents nearly a billion dollars. However, Democrats redistricted one of the commissioners, a Republican who lost re-election last November. With a 4-1 Democratic majority, the court is now able to meet a quorum and pass agenda items without opposition.
However, “the root cause of that debate over police fraud remains unresolved,” Heger said, adding that “Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Harris County Commissioners Court are defrauding the police.”
Hidalgo’s office posted a statement on social media, saying, “Comptroller Hegar and his allies seem to be struggling with basic accounting. In each of Harris County’s 26 pay periods, funding for the Precinct 5 Constable’s Office increased by more than two million dollars (from $46.6M to $48.5M) between the two budgets.
He said he looks forward to fighting Hegar’s ruling in court, and “in the meantime, Comptroller Hegar needs to get back to the accounting class.”
Hegar suggested the state Legislature consider taking any “more action to ensure Texas law enforcement agencies and personnel have the resources necessary to keep Texans safe.”
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Gov. Greg Abbott’s press office did not respond to requests for comment on Hager’s findings. However, when he first requested the investigation, Governor Abbott said, “The dangerous actions taken by Judge Lena Hidalgo and Harris County represent a disregard for the safety and security of the Texans they are sworn to protect. Millions of dollars in funding come at a time when Texas law enforcement is working harder than ever to keep criminals and dangerous drugs out of our communities. The loss threatens public safety throughout the county.
“Harris County continues to show a complete disregard for public safety, even as the county’s revolving door bail program releases dangerous criminals back onto the streets to commit more violent crimes like murder. While Harris County politicizes the public safety of its citizens, the State of Texas knows that our brave law enforcement partners have the resources necessary for this serious responsibility. Confirms.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
