Commissioner Rodney Ellis issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Harris County FY24 Budget:
“This budget builds a future in which communities are safer, healthier, and better protected from flooding and climate change. It represents a set of investments in a more just legal system, expanded access to health care, housing, and jobs, and the advancement of fair and free elections. With the resources at our disposal, we are proud of the progress we are making and the life-changing investments we have made today.
This progress was made despite Austin politicians slashing vital services by restricting our ability to fund county government adequately.
State laws and political games by some members of Commissioners Court have cost residents nearly $2 billion in resources over the past five years. These numbers translate into real and immediate effects on every Harris County resident, particularly those who have borne the brunt of inequity and underinvestment for decades.
While this budget is a step in the right direction, significant unmet needs and challenges persist. We remain committed to budget priorities that expand access to opportunity, advance justice, and make our communities stronger and safer.”