Sep 12, 2023 Special Commissioners Court

[00:00:06]

SO I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S GOING TO JOIN US AS SOON AS HE CAN, SO I WANT TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

IT IS 10:08 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.

SO IF WE WOULD, LET'S DO THE US PLEDGE AND TEXAS PLEDGE.

I'LL GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE AGENDA.

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

I HOPE THIS IS ALL RIGHT. WHAT I MAY DO IS START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE CAN USE OUR DAY.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS DETAINED FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN I'LL GIVE THE OVERVIEW.

SO DON'T DO IT TWICE.

THAT. ALL RIGHT? YEAH, THAT WORKS FOR ME.

JUST. WELL, MAYBE I SHOULD DO IT SO THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BY THE WAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME PEOPLE PRESENT FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND THEN WHEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA COMES IN, WE WILL WE'LL PAUSE.

WE'LL STOP AND GO BACK TO THE REGULAR ORDER.

SO WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM HARRIS HEALTH ON THAT PROPOSED BUDGET.

THEN WE WILL SET PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR HARRIS HEALTH, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND A FINAL VOTE ON THOSE RATES ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

SO IN SHORT, COLLEAGUES, I'M REALLY CALLING FOR, SHOULD WE CALL IT A STRAW VOTE, JUST BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA IF YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'LL HAVE.

SO WE DON'T SPEND THE WHOLE DAY TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'D LIKE TO SPEND IT BUT DON'T HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT WE HAVE.

I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN WE GET A REVENUE ESTIMATE AND THEN WE SPEND BASED ON THAT.

SOMETIMES THE REVENUE ESTIMATE CHANGES AT THE END OF THE SESSION AND IT'S A DIFFERENT IT'S A DIFFERENT ORDEAL, BUT I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

THE THIRD THING WE WILL DO IS HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON THE STATUS OF ARPA FUNDING.

ARPA SPENDING FOR THING WE DO IS DISCUSS AND VOTE ON POSSIBLE FUNDING OFFSETS.

THAT MEANS THINGS WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE THAT MAY GIVE US MORE MONEY THAT WE CAN DISTRIBUTE.

WHEN WE GO THROUGH AMENDMENTS.

THEN WE WILL DISCUSS THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET.

WHAT MEMBERS CAN REQUEST CONSIDERATION OF ANY BUDGET AMENDMENT.

EACH MEMBER WILL MAKE ONE AMENDMENT AT A TIME UNTIL THERE ARE NO FURTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

BECAUSE I'M SITTING IN THE CHAIR TODAY, NORMALLY ONE WOULD COME FIRST.

SO HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE SINCE DON'T DON'T WANT TO BE FIRST, I PROPOSE THAT WE FOLLOW THE ORDER, PRECINCTS IN THIS ORDER.

FOUR, THREE, TWO, THEN ONE.

AND THEN WE WILL ROTATE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF US MAY HAVE MORE THAN OTHERS.

SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK OF AMENDMENTS AT THE TABLE.

I GET THAT. BUT YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IN ADVANCE.

BUT WE'RE ROTATING.

SO IF RODNEY DOESN'T HAVE TEN, HE ONLY HAS TWO.

WHEN MY ROTATION COMES, SOMEBODY WILL LET ME KNOW AND I'LL GO TO THE NEXT PERSON IN THAT ORDER.

FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. ARE YOU DOING ONE AT A TIME? SO. YES, SIR. YEAH.

ONE AT A TIME. AND THE REASON AND IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION IS OBVIOUSLY UP TO Y'ALL.

UM, YEAH, UH, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A.

IF WE STARTED WITH ONE OF FOUR BIRTHS AND LET'S SAY FOUR OF ONE HAD FIVE, AND THEN WE VOTE FOR THEM ALL, THEY WILL HAVE A RUNNING TAB.

MR. RAMOS WILL HAVE THAT.

IT KIND OF CHANGES THE DYNAMIC WHEN WE WHEN WE GET TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO MY THOUGHT WAS THAT'S THE WAY TO TRY TO MAKE IT FAIR.

SO WE JUST ROTATE IT AND EVERYBODY GET THIS OUT, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL OVER AND OVER.

YEAH. YEAH.

YES, SIR. SO ONE COMMENT ON THE WAY THAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF KNOWING WHAT MONEY YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH IN ORDER TO SET A BUDGET.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND.

UH, THE RIGHT THAT WE MAY AGREE ON MAY BE A FUNCTION OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON.

I AGREE. AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S ONLY A STRAW VOTE.

IT'S NOT BINDING. AND AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER FROM THE PAST.

IT TAKES THREE VOTES TO CHANGE WHATEVER WE DO IN THE BUDGET PERIOD.

[00:05:01]

UNDER STATE LAW, ONCE THAT DECISION IS MADE, WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT ALL.

SO JUST ASSUME INSTEAD OF US GOING THROUGH OUR WISH LIST, OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY DECIDES THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW? UH, BUT THEN ALL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE SECONDED WILL BE TAKEN UP FOR FINAL VOTE AFTER THE BREAK.

SO HERE'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING.

LET'S GET THEM ALL IN.

THE ONES THAT ARE SECONDED.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU GET TO EXPLAIN IT.

WE WANT TO CUT OFF ANYBODY'S ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR CASE.

SO I'M NOT SAYING YOU JUST READ THE AMENDMENT.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SECOND, IT DIES AND YOU COULD EXPLAIN IT.

I THINK WE'RE ALL MATURE ENOUGH.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AT NAUSEUM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE TWO HOURS TO EXPLAIN IT.

IF WE DON'T GET IT IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I THINK IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT THAT THAT MOTION PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE TO SUPPORT.

BUT LET EVERYBODY MAKE THEIR CASE ON THAT.

MAYBE ONE OTHER ONE OTHER POINT.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE WANT TO ADD.

UH, THERE MIGHT BE A THOUGHT OR TWO AT THAT POINT.

WELL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT? NOW, MR. RAMOS HAS PUT SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THOSE EARLY.

SO THAT WAS IMPLICIT IN ONE OF MY ITEMS. SO THE ONE I SUGGESTED, EACH ONE OF US MAY HAVE A SONG OR TWO ON WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAY IN ORDER TO DO IT.

SO THAT'D BE THE AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WOULD DO THAT WOULD BE UNDER FOR THE WHAT YOU DISCUSS AND VOTE ON POSSIBLE FUNDING OFFSETS.

SO THAT'S WHEN I CALL IT OFFSETS.

BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU REFERRED TO FOR THAT.

AND THEN WE IF I MIGHT, IF FOLKS HAVE MOTIONS THAT WERE NOT IN YOUR ORIGINAL BATCH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THEM TO ME.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY MANNING A PRINTER BACK IN THE BACK.

ANY MOTION WILL PRINT OUT EIGHT COPIES SO THE FOLKS AT THIS TABLE CAN GET IT, BUT FOLKS AT THE DAYS CAN GET IT.

JUST SO WE'RE ALL WORKING OFF THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING THEM TO ME IN ADVANCE.

WE'LL HAVE A BINDER READY FOR YOU WHEN WE GET BACK FROM BREAK.

OF ALL THE ALL THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO US THUS FAR.

OF AS IF THERE ARE ANY OFFSETS.

COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

I'LL GET THEM DRAFTED RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN WE'LL PRINT THEM OUT AND HAVE THEM READY FOR YOU JUST TO MAKE MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL JUST ON THE SAME PAGE THE ENTIRE TIME.

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, COMMISSIONER BRANDS? SO THEN BASICALLY, IF I'M JUST TO RECAP IT, YOU'VE SAID THE TAX RATE AGREEMENT AND THEN THE OFFSET, THEN THE AMENDMENTS.

THAT'S A TAX RATE PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON ARPA MONEY, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS THE POSSIBILITY OF OFFSETS.

THEN THE OFFSETS AND THEN YEAH, AND THEN WE GO THROUGH OUR AMENDMENTS.

AND THEN WE TAKE A BREAK SO THEY CAN PUT THEM ALL IN ORDER.

MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND IT.

TAKE THEM TAKE A BREAK OR MAYBE LUNCH.

DEPENDS ON HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU.

PROBABLY LUNCH TIME. AND IF HE SAYS HE NEEDS AN HOUR AND A HALF OR 45 MINUTES, WE'LL TAKE THAT BREAK.

MY STAFF'S ALREADY WORKING ON IT, SO SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN AN HOUR.

BUT I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW IF THERE'S ANY HICCUPS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND WE MAY REACH BACK OUT FOR SOME CLARIFICATIONS.

BUT WE THINK WE HAVE A HANDLE AND I'LL GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN WHEN COMMISSIONER SEE IT COMES IN.

SO WE COME IN AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CONSENSUS ON.

LOOK, ON THE ON THE IDEA OF A PRINTER BACK THERE AS OPPOSED TO US KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I'VE MESSED UP A NUMBER OF GOOD INTENTIONS, JUST KIND OF SAYING IT AND HANDWRITING IT SO WE PASS IT OUT.

I KNOW IT'S OLD SCHOOL, BUT IF WE JUST HAVE A PRINTER, WE PASS IT OUT.

WE ALL LOOKING AT IT. I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL.

AND UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO REVERSE THAT A BIT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S ATTENDING A MEETING, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC AND HEAR FROM SOME SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEN WE'LL STOP.

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND YOU WANT TO WATCH HOW THIS SAUSAGE IS MADE AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. SO IF WE CAN TAKE UP SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME, UH, TIFFANY PHILLIPS, YOU CALL THEM UP.

[Appearances Before Court]

FIRST IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE? YEAH, WE HAVE ONE MINUTE.

BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AND SAY YOUR NAME AND IF IF IF NOT TIFFANY OR ONE OF US WILL REMIND YOU.

SO. BAGHEERA WAS THE FIRST NAME.

DID YOU SAY? CHRISTOPHER CHRISTIAN? DO YOU HAVE ANY? WHAT WAS THAT NAME? IT WAS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

OKAY. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

LET'S TRY THE SECOND. AND IF CHRISTOPHER COMES IN, RIVERA WILL SWITCH, WHICH IS SECOND.

NEXT IS LINWOOD MURROW.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. I AM LINWOOD MORROW FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTIES ORGANIZATION.

DAVID CUEVAS ASKED ME TO COME TODAY BECAUSE HE IS IN CLASS.

LAST MONTH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LOST 76 PERSONNEL.

[00:10:08]

OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE PAYING MORE MONEY AND PAYING BONUSES TO GET OUR PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEM FROM US.

WE NEED A DOUBLE DIGIT RATES JUST TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE FROM LEAVING.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE EVERY DAY TO OTHER AGENCIES AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS NONPROFIT RUNNING AROUND, BUT NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.

I WORK WITH A TEXTILE RIGHTS PROJECT.

I ALSO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AGENDA.

AND I'M HERE TO REALLY SUPPORT THE HEART PROGRAM.

THE HEART PROGRAM IS REALLY BEEN A CRUCIAL SERVICE.

IT STARTED AS A PILOT PROGRAM.

NOW IT'S A FULL FLEDGED PROGRAM AND IT'S SERVICE.

IT SERVICES OVER 30 AREA CODES.

IT HAS RESPONDED TO OVER 4000 CALLS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS WELLNESS CHECKS AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH.

PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

AND IT ALSO HAS OFFERED OVER 2000 PEOPLE DIRECT SERVICES.

SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT REALLY HELP COMMUNITIES STAY SAFE.

IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO POLICING.

AND IF THERE'S ISSUES TRYING TO FIND MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF PROGRAM, WE SUGGEST OR WE DEMAND THAT YOU FREEZE THE POLICE BUDGET, WHICH IS MONEY TO THE SHERIFF'S CONSTABLE, TO THE LOCAL DA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BLOATED BUDGET AND WE SEE THAT THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE AND ACTUALLY PREVENT CRIME AND ACTUALLY PREVENT CRIMINALIZATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST ASKING FOR SIMPLE SERVICES.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT. NEXT IS MO CORTEZ.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE ELSE.

PRETTY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT WHAT CHRIS JUST SAID.

PLEASE FULLY FUND THE HEART PROGRAM.

PLEASE ALSO FULLY FUND THE THE HARRIS CENTER AS WELL.

AND PLEASE RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM JUNE 2020 TO RELEASE ANYBODY WITH A CASE OLDER THAN NINE MONTHS FROM HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WITH THE NONVIOLENT CASE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS MIYOUNG KIM USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

AND NOW SAIL FOR ENGLAND SENIOR TEAM.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU NEED TO GO, MAN.

COME ON, MAN.

I'M NOT GOING GO TO NORTH CAROLINA.

I'M SO GLAD YOU WE HAVE TO GO TO THAT.

MANZOOR AHMED TWO YEARS AGO.

JONAH LOMU.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. AND I THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED.

MY NAME IS MYUNG SHIN KIM, A SENIOR TEAM MEMBER OF WORRY AND LIVE IN DISNEY FOR TODAY.

I'M HERE TO REQUEST FUNDING TO BUILD KURA AS WELL AS TO PLANT TREES, CREATE GREEN AREA AND PROMOTE URBAN INTERESTING PROGRAMS. SUMMERS ARE BECOMING HOTTER THAN USUAL AS A RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING, SO WE WANT TO PLANT MORE TREES AND CREATE MORE GREEN SPACE TO MAKE THE SUMMER MORE BEARABLE.

MORE TREES WILL PROVIDE FRESH AIR AND ABSORB THE HEAT FROM THE SUN.

LAST AUGUST, WHEN I VISITED CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, I KEPT INHALING DEEP BREATH BECAUSE THERE WERE PLENTY OF TREES AND THE AIR WAS SO CLEAN.

HOWEVER, A WEEK AFTER, WHEN I RETURNED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS AIRPORT, MY THROAT WAS DISCOMFORTING AND SORE.

SO THAT MADE ME MAKE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.

[00:15:03]

THANK YOU FOR COMING. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER ¥7 CONG.

USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

AND NOW SAM SICILIA, CECILIA HARRIS COUNTY, HUNGARY.

HUNGARY WILL UPDATE COUNTY HONOR AND FAMILY SERVICES.

JOHANN INSTANTIATE A DEMAND AND NEEDED A NEW OPERATION ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND SERVICES IRAN SERVICE AND BE HONORED.

COUNTY WEBSITE SAYS THE FAMILY SERVICE REPLACING THE FOUR MONTH CURRENCY ON THE OF CONCERN.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. HELLO, MY NAME IS YUAN CONG.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE REGION TYPHOON TEAM AS WELL.

TODAY I HAVE AN IMPORTANT REQUEST FOR HIS COUNTY.

THE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY PLAN MUST BE UPDATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S LANGUAGE DEMANDS.

I HAVE RECENTLY HAD EXPERIENCE CALLING 301 WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ABLE TO PROPERLY DISPOSE A DEAD DOG THAT HAD BEEN FOUND BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH IT TOOK A FEW MISTAKES BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTIONS.

SO AS A RESULT, THE DEAD DOG'S BODY REMAINED INDUSTRIES FOR SEVERAL DAYS, STINKING UP THE AREA.

HARRIS COUNTIES OFFERS A VARIETY OF EXCELLENT SERVICES THAT WE WANT TO INCREASE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY SO THAT A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA ARE AWARE OF THIS WONDERFUL SERVICE. I RECENTLY LOOKED AT THE COUNTY WEBSITE ONLY 311 SERVICE AND PRECINCT FOR SUPPORT.

GOOGLE TRANSLATE AND OTHER REGIONS ONLY PROVIDE LIMITED LANGUAGES TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY.

DEMAND COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES ON AN AMENDMENT THAT FUNDS LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY CITY BY MOVING PROPOSED FUNDS AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT MYUNG YU USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

AND YOUR TENDENCY IS TO GIVE ME THAT.

I HAD TO PUT THEM IN.

THEY COME IN AND TOLD ME THAT HAD TO GO IN AND GO TO THE BATHROOM AND PROGRAM HAD TO SIX COUNTY AND EVERYONE HAD TO GO ME THAT.

THAT. I MEAN, HELLO, MY NAME IS MYUNG SOOK AND I'M A MEMBER OF REGIONAL SENIOR TEAM LIVING IN 64.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE HEART PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO POLICE OR 911, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING POLICE OR 911 IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION.

ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE HEART PROGRAM IS THAT IT IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND MENTAL STATUS OF DRUG USERS.

REDUCING DRUG DOSAGE AND FREQUENCY, REDUCES THE MEDICAL AND LEGAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE, AND IMPROVES DRUG USERS SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS AND EMPLOYMENT.

WITH THE RECENT GROWTH IN DRUG USE IN HOUSTON, THE WORK OF HEART MAY HELP TO PREVENT FURTHER MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS VIOLENCE.

REQUEST COMMISSIONER TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENT THAT ALLOCATES $12 MILLION IN FUNDING WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW OR REGULATIONS AND VOTE YES AND EXPAND HEART SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY BY MOVING FUNDS AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

[00:20:05]

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER NINE HOO KIM.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO, I'M KIM AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.

RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO OUR LIVES DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

OUR SHOOTING IS ONE OF THE CITIES HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO THESE FREQUENT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS HAVE ELEVATED OUR ANXIETY AND RISK.

MORE AND MORE.

SO I HOPE THAT THIS TIME WE WILL FOCUS ON URBAN SPEED REDUCTION PROGRAM, PRIORITIZING TO CREATE GREEN SPACE AND COOL AND PERMEABLE PAVEMENT.

SO I COMMEND THE COMMISSION, OF COURSE, TO INTRODUCE AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE PROGRAM BY MOVING SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING AWAY FROM CITY ATTORNEY AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW TO AVOID CROSSING TIPPING POINT.

I REQUEST THE COMMISSIONER PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO IMMUNOTHERAPY.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS MYUNG YO USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

. HELLO.

I'M MYUNG SOO RYU, A MEMBER OF SENIOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM.

AFTER LIVING AS AN IMMIGRANT FOR LONG QUITE A WHILE, AND AS I GET OLDER, OLDER, I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING AND FILLING OUT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO VARIOUS HEALTH ISSUES AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND THESE DOCUMENTS ARE ONLY OFFERED IN ENGLISH.

AS A RESIDENT IN AMERICA, I WISH I COULD LIVE WITHOUT HAVING TO FACE LANGUAGE BARRIERS EVERY DAY AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS HIGH QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES REGARDLESS OF MY ENGLISH SKILL. I BELIEVE THIS WISH OF MINE CORRESPONDS TO AMERICA'S MINDSET ON EQUALITY.

PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S SAFE ROUTES PROGRAM TO COVER MORE AREA TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS DO NOT MISS TREATMENT DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND DO RECEIVE EQUAL ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES.

THEREFORE, I DEMAND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE $5.5 MILLION TO EXPAND LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ENSURE HAYS COUNTY'S DEPARTMENTS ARE STRONG, ACCOUNTABLE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TO MEET THE COUNTY'S LANGUAGE NEEDS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE STATE LAW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 11 YOON WAH LEE USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[00:25:16]

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO ALL INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES TO AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CLEAN STREETS SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE.

THESE DAYS, WHEN I VISIT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ONLY THE FLOWERS, BUT EVEN THE GRASS ARE DYING DUE TO THE SEVERE DROUGHT.

THE STREETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DIRTY AND THE DRAINS ARE CLOGGED.

RESIDENTS ARE DOING WELL, TAKING CARE OF THEIR HOMES.

BUT THE STREETS AND ROADS SURROUNDING THE AREA ARE A MESS.

THE ROADS ARE SO UNDEVELOPED, UNDERDEVELOPED THAT THEY ARE BUMPY AND THE COLORS OF THE LANE LINES ARE FADED, MAKING DRIVING ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AND WORSENING THE IMAGE OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEREFORE, I DEMAND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE CLEAN STREETS.

SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE ARE LOCATED FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 12 OK SUSAN CHOI USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, BIG BROTHER AND SISTER PROGRAM . HELLO, MY NAME IS AUSTIN CHOI. I'M WORKING AT WOODY HUNTER'S AS A SINGLE FELLOW.

CURRENTLY, CONCERNS ABOUT YOUTH, DELINQUENCY AND CRIME ARE BEING ANNOUNCED THOROUGHLY.

VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS, AS CAN BE SEEN FOR BIG DATA STATISTICS.

THESE ISSUES MAY LEAD TO HARMFUL STEREOTYPES, AND THEY MAY BE CAUSED BY A LACK OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, CHANGES IN THE PARENTAL SITUATIONS, LACK OF ROLE MODELS AND IMAGES OF HEALTHY ADULTS, ETCETERA.

EVEN WHILE MOVING FROM STATE TO STATE.

MY SON STARTED AS A CUB SCOUT AND GREW UP IN AN EAGLE SCOUT DURING THE PROCESS.

HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE FELLOW SCOUTERS AND SCOUT LEADERS AS WELL AS HIS GOOD CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, HELPED HIM GROW INTO HEALTHY AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

I HEARD THAT HOUSTON HAD SIMILAR PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB CLUB, AS WELL AS THE BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS PROGRAM.

I HOPE THESE PROGRAMS CAN GROW AND EXPAND TO OFFER EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS WHILE HELPING THEM GROW INTO DESIRABLE ADULTS WHO GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY.

I DEMAND COMMISSIONERS COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE $1 MILLION FOR YOUTH FOCUSED AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, SPORTS THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS AND SAFE AREA PROGRAMS BY MOVING A PROPOSED FUNDS AWAY FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS.

SPEAKER 13 JOSHUA NA USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[00:30:06]

DISTRICT THREE. I'M IN CHARGE OF INFORMING GUESTS AT THE FRONT DESK.

I BELIEVE WHAT IS MOST DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE UNITED STATES, A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY, IS TO SOLVE VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COMMUNICATION THAT ARISE DUE TO LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY.

PARTICULARLY, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, WEBSITES AND MAIL ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN A FEW LANGUAGES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR PERSONS WHO NEED RELATED INFORMATION TO GET QUALIFIED SERVICES.

ESPECIALLY AS OF SEPTEMBER 2022, THERE IS A LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY LIMIT FOR MORE THAN 15,000 KOREAN AMERICANS AND MANY OTHER ASIAN AMERICANS LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THEREFORE, WE ASK COMMISSIONERS TO UPDATE THE CURRENT LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN TO ENSURE IT IS SOLID, ACCOUNTABLE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE TO MEET HARRIS COUNTY'S LANGUAGE NEEDS WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW AND ALLOCATING $5 MILLION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND VOTE YES TO SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SPEAKER 14 HYANG RI USING THE INTERPRETER.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

ITHANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.

HI, MY NAME IS YOUNG-SOOK RHEE AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE SENIOR TEAM AT URI.

AS TENURE TO ASK FOR EXPANSION OF THE HEART PROGRAM, I HAVE HEARD THAT THE HEART PROGRAM COULD HELP IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF REPETITIVE DRUG USERS BY PROVIDING A SAFE POINT OF CONTACT.

I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE OF MY 46 YEAR OLD SON'S REPEATED DRUG USAGE.

UNABLE TO FIND A FINANCIALLY AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OPTION, I HAVE KEPT THIS A SECRET UNTIL NOW.

HOWEVER, I'M NOW REVEALING THE TRUTH IN HOPES OF SUPPORTING A PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE HEART PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY BEING USED IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE AND FOUR.

MY REASON HAS YET TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM.

THEREFORE, I DEMAND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES, AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE $12 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HEART EXPANSION TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

A COUNTY ALLOCATED FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO MY REQUEST TO PREVENT CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO RECEIVE TREATMENT DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AND SO THAT NOT ONLY DRUG USERS THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR FAMILIES, CAN ESCAPE THE CYCLE OF PAIN TO LEAVE PRIVATE, HEALTHY LIVES.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SARAH SAEED.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

A GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS SARA AND I SERVE AS THE SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR WOODY JUNTOS.

HUI AND KOREAN MEANS WE OR US RISING AND PUNTOS IN SPANISH MEANS TOGETHER WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE FULL AGENCY PARTICIPATION AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE OF ASIAN DESCENT AND ALL IMMIGRANTS. IN TEXAS.

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY 13 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, A PART OF A LARGER COALITION ECOSYSTEM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INTENTIONALLY ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AGENDA.

AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS MORE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES.

FOR MANY OF US, LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURING FULL PARTICIPATION.

GOOGLE TRANSLATE, THOUGH, ADDED TO A LOT OF THE COUNTY WEBSITES, IS LIMITED IN ITS ABILITY TO HELP, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INDIGENOUS AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN ALPHABET OR ORIGIN MATERIAL.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS IT RELATES TO EXPANDING VOTER ACCESS.

THE IPADS AT EACH POLLING LOCATION HAVE THE APPLICATION TO ORGANIZE A LIVE INTERPRETER OR LANGUAGE ASSISTANT.

YET IT'S NOT A SERVICE THAT IS EVEN ACTIVATED OR AVAILABLE TO VOTERS OR FUNDED ALONG WITH THE 57 574 INDIGENOUS NATIVE POPULATION IN THE US, THERE ARE 110 INDIGENOUS GROUPS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, 16 FROM TAIWAN.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. VIETNAM AND 750 705 INDIGENOUS.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. MANY IN THIS ROOM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 16, DAMARIS GONZALEZ.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

[00:35:05]

I'M THE STATEWIDE IMMIGRATION ORGANIZER WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

AND I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED TODAY BY MY HARRIS COUNTY TOP MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES.

I'M A DISTRACTION.

GOALS. BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS.

THERE ARE PUBLIC DISPLAY OF WHAT WE CARE ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO INVEST IN.

THROUGH THIS COUNTY BUDGET, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW COMPASSION WHILE ENSURING GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY BY EXPANDING DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND INVESTING MORE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE INCARCERATION RATES.

I CALL ON YOU TO PROPOSE AND PASS A BUDGET THAT PRIORITIZES PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT OF JAIL AND NOT LOCKED UP.

IN ADDITION, WITH THIS BUDGET, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WHATEVER INCREASE IN FUNDING IS GOING TOWARD COUNTY JAIL IS BEING SPENT ON IMPROVING CONDITIONS INSIDE IT AND NOT ON GROWING THE JAIL. RELATED TO THIS, THE COUNTY MUST ALSO DISCONTINUE HAVING ICE PRESENT IN OUR COUNTY JAIL AND HAVING THIS AGENCY OPERATING OUT OF THE JAIL LEADS TO MORE FAMILY SEPARATIONS WHILE NOT INCREASING SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS STEPHEN WU.

MORNING. MY NAME IS STEPHEN.

ORGANIZING AND POLICY DIRECTOR FOR WOODY JUNTOS.

AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE VERY ELOQUENTLY SAID ALREADY, DID A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB.

WE WANT YOU ALL TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE FOR AMENDMENTS THAT WILL SUPPORT ITEMS THAT KEEP US SAFE, THAT OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY AGENDA COALITION HAS SHARED WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICES TO SUPPORT THIS MOVE AS MUCH ALLOCATED FUNDS AS POSSIBLE AWAY FROM THE SHERIFF AND OR THE DA'S OFFICE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO FACILITATE THIS.

STATE LAW PERMITS THE ITEMS IN THE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET, UNLIKE THOSE TWO AGENCIES JUST MENTIONED, WILL ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE, FULLY FUNDING THINGS LIKE THE HEART LANGUAGE, ACCESS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, URBAN HEAT REDUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT WILL TACKLE HOLISTICALLY THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE THINGS THAT FORCE OUR PEOPLE TO COMMIT ACTS OF SURVIVAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE WORK WITH A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED ALIENS AND HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS TOLD ME IS THAT THEY JUST WISH THEY HAD THE RESOURCES IN THE FIRST PLACE TO PREVENT THEM FROM COMMITTING THOSE CRIMES.

THE POLICE PUNISHMENTS WILL NOT DETER NOR END CRIME.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK.

SO I WANT TO ASK US NOT TO DEMONSTRATE.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO GET TO HAVE A MINUTE.

BUT WE'RE LISTENING. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WHO'S OUR NEXT ONE? NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER JENKINS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M BRENDAN.

I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET THAT PUTS POLITICS OVER PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO OUR COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS OVER EXPANSION TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE RECOMMEND A FREEZE TO CONSTABLE'S BUDGETS AND THEIR CURRENT LEVEL, AND MORE INVESTMENT IN MEDICAL SERVICES AT THE JAIL AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC OVERCROWDING.

ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS THE SHERIFF'S REQUEST FOR 37 MILLION TO RELOCATE PEOPLE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY PRISONS DUE TO OVERCROWDING.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNDING PRIVATE PRISONS AND CORPORATE INTERESTS RATHER THAN INVESTING MORE IN DIVERSION PROGRAMS LIKE THE HEART PROGRAM.

LOOK AT THAT WAY TO DIVERT AND OTHER REHABILITATION TO REHABILITATE RESIDENTS.

WE SUPPORT SPENDING INCREASES FOR OUR HARRIS COUNTY PRISONS AND JAILS.

WE ACTUALLY IMPROVED JAIL CONDITIONS, BUT NOT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY, NO MATTER THE AGE, RACE, LANGUAGE OR AGE AGENDA AGENDA, THE LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK.

BACKGROUND IS HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS JASMINE TILLIS.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JASMINE TÉLLEZ AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING STUDENTS AND ORGANIZERS FROM P.S.

ONE ON CAMPUS.

AND I'M HERE ASKING THAT YOU FREEZE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET AND THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR ANY AMENDMENTS.

INCREASING OUR BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE HART AND CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR HEALTH PROGRAMS. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT INVESTING IN PEOPLE HAS A MUCH BETTER IMPACT IN COMMUNITY SAFETY THAN FUNDING POLICE AND PRISONS.

AND UNDER TEXAS LAW, AN INCREASE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET CAN NEVER BE UNDONE.

WE WANT THE COUNTY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND HARM BEFORE IT HAPPENS AND NOT JUST CREATE A RESPONSE AFTER AFTERWARDS.

WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS SABA BLENDING.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HI, MY NAME IS SABA BLANDING OF HARRIS COUNTY TO PROVIDE ITS CONSTITUENTS WITH ROBUST BUDGET, EMPHASIZING THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE COUNTY AND INVESTING VALUABLE TAX

[00:40:09]

WE NEED TO INVEST MORE DOLLARS INTO HEART.

THE HEART PROGRAM NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND GROW UNTIL IT CAN ADEQUATELY OFFER SERVICES TO EVERY RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THE COUNTY ALSO NEEDS TO INVEST $4 INTO THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM.

TODAY, THERE ARE EIGHT EVALUATIONS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN STUDIES AND REPORTS SHOWING A LARGE IMPACT ON REDUCING VIOLENCE FOR SUCH PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO COST EFFECTIVE AND HAVE SHOWN IN SOME LOCATIONS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, THERE ARE $18 IN SAVINGS.

IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT HARRIS COUNTY INVEST IN OTHER PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TIED TOWARDS POSITIVE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING SUSTAINABILITY AND POLLUTION CONTROL, FLOOD MITIGATION, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, EXPANSIONS IN HEALTH CARE HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO RESULT IN COST SAVINGS OF $13.6 BILLION DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN CRIME.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS ANDREA NORMAN.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS IAN NORMAN.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCES.

I LIVE IN PRISON FOR.

WHEN I TRY TO REGISTER FOR THIS MEETING, I WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE THERE WERE THE KOREAN VERSION OF THE APPEARANCE REQUEST FORM THIS TIME. THIS IS A BIG.

THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE.

YOU GUYS SEE US.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

BUT ONE MINOR COMPLAINT, THOUGH.

I NOTICED THAT THE ZIP CODE BOX WAS LABELED AS A ZIP IN THE KOREAN BORDERS IN.

THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE.

AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED CULTURALLY COMPETENT PEOPLE TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ACCESS TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP BECAUSE.

BECAUSE YOU'RE THE LAST ONE.

Y'ALL DONE A GREAT JOB.

NOW, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I HAVE BEEN AT CERTAIN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA TOGETHER.

GOOD COMMISSIONER, BUT DIDN'T SAY MOST IMPORTANT PART.

CAN I SAY THIS ONE? YES. OKAY.

QUICKLY. QUICKLY.

GO RIGHT TO MANAGE COMMISSIONER COURT TO INTRODUCE AND VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENT THAT FULLY FUNDED A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN BY MOVING PROPOSED FUNDING AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT VIOLATING STATE LAW. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HOW ABOUT IF I WRITE IT OUT? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS QUICK.

COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE ONE MORE.

WE HAVE ONE MORE. OKAY.

YES, SIR. SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, LAURA GALLIER.

GALLIER.

GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY I WAS LATE.

I AM LAURA GELLER.

I'M THE FOURTH OF SIX GENERATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF FUNDING A COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET THAT FREEZES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET.

RATHER, WE CAN KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE BY PREVENTING THE DESPERATE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE CRIME THE ONLY OPTION FOR OBTAINING SHELTER, FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH RELIEF AND HEALTH CARE.

THESE INCLUDE BANNING THE BOX AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FULLY FUNDING HART HARRIS HEALTH AND FLOOD PREVENTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, YVETTE AND TIFFANY.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

THANK YOU. SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA WENT THROUGH THE AGENDA EARLIER AND WE PRINTED OUT AND GAVE IT TO EVERYONE.

SO THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME, ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE OF BUSINESS COURT ITEMS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE ITEMS AS PRESENTED IS THEIR SECOND.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

AND NOW LET US GO TO THE AGENDA THAT I LAID OUT EARLIER.

PRESENTATION FROM OUR HARRIS HEALTH FROM THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET.

[00:45:01]

GOOD MORNING. WE MIGHT LEFT IT UP THERE A LITTLE BIT.

LIFT IT A LITTLE BIT. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US AGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S JUST LIKE ONE SLIDE THAT WE WANTED TO SHOW.

THERE YOU GO. LET ME TRY THIS.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE PRESENTED A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL.

THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROPOSAL WORKBOOK WAS SHARED WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFF A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER THE BOARD OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM APPROVED THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE SHARED SOME OF THE DETAILS WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S STAFF.

WHAT I'M SHOWING TODAY WAS THE ASK BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR FOR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET FOR A PROPOSED BUDGET OF $888 MILLION.

WHICH IS PRESENTED AS THE COMMISSIONERS REMEMBERED, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED THE BUDGET NOT TO EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF $9,904 MILLION.

SO AFTER WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND ALSO WORKING WITH OUR INTERNAL OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL LEADERS, HARRIS SYSTEM BELIEVES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR BY ADJUSTING THE INITIATION OF SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

SO I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE THE SUGGESTION OF THE OF THE NUMBER $888 MILLION THAT ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO APPRECIATE DANIEL RAMOS, HIS STAFF AND HIS OFFICE AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH US.

AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YEAH.

THANK YOU. DR.

KESSLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN AGAIN AND WORKING WITH EVERYONE TO TO MAKE SURE WE WE KNOW WHAT. WHERE YOUR SYSTEM IS AT.

TO KEEP IT AFLOAT. THE ONE OF THE LAST MEETING, I THINK SOMEONE.

UM. INMATES TRY TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT HOW WE HAVE SET YOUR BUDGET.

AND THEN INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET HISTORICALLY.

AND I THINK IT'S WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CHART, COMPARING TO DALLAS AND OTHER PLACES, WHAT YOUR RATE LOOKS LIKE IN COMPARISON TO THAT. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THIS SIDE OF THE BUDGET TABLE ON THE BACK OF YOUR SYSTEM. IT'S WHY YOUR SYSTEM IS DETERIORATING.

IT'S WHY YOUR PLUG IT HOLE, WHY YOU'RE HAVING TO TRY TO SAVE LIVES AND HALLWAYS OR BROOM CLOSET.

SO I JUST WANT YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE RESPECTED, HOW MUCH THEY'RE APPRECIATED FOR CONTINUING THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE TO CHARGE US, THAT MAKE THE PEOPLE AS HEALTHY AND AND HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEM BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VISION THAT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING THE SYSTEM THAT TAKES CARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

BUT YOUR VISION IS THAT ANY ONE OF US COULD HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO GO TO THE MENTOR OR TO DO WHAT WE WOULD DO AT MEMORIAL HERMANN AND BE ANDERSON AT ANY OF THE SITES.

I APPRECIATE THAT VISION AND I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO TO GET IT THERE.

BUT TO THAT END, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE, TRANSPARENT, PRESENT TO WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF YOUR OPERATIONS AND YOUR BUDGETS.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETIMES DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT WE'VE COME A FAR, FAR AWAY FROM WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE COULD JUST ARBITRARILY COLLECTED TAX RATE JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE GOT THE CONSENSUS ON YOUR NUMBER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THANK THE REASON WHY HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM HAS BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THROUGH THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS OF A VIEWPOINT, YOU KNOW, REALLY BALANCING THE ENTIRE BUDGET OF THE COUNTY SOMETIMES AT THE EXPENSE OF HIGHER SELF ESTEEM.

[00:50:08]

TO REALLY CUT OUR DEPENDANCE ON CONTRACT LABOR, WHICH HAS BEEN A MAJOR SOURCE OF ADDITIONAL COST, NOT JUST FOR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, BUT ALL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM FOR ALL SYSTEMS, HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I SHARED WITH THE COMMISSIONER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON CONTRACT LABOR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, YESTERDAY I HEARD THAT AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, THE OVERALL NURSING VACANCIES AT 11%, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.

USUALLY THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 20% IN THIS REGION AND NATIONALLY.

SO 11% VACANCY RATE COMING OUT OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE I THINK THE LEADERSHIP AND ALSO THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE PROVIDING THE CARE THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

SO THANK YOU, MR. RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BOYLE.

OF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD MORNING, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WORKING WITH ME.

WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS.

AND AND THAT'S I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES HERE.

I'LL START WITH I'M GOING TO BRAG ON HARRIS COUNTY.

GOT THE GREATEST MEDICAL COMPLEX IN THE WORLD.

IN OUR EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

BOTH BAYLOR AND UT SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN DALLAS, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF TAKE THAT PERSONALLY.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING DOWN HERE IS PRETTY SPECIAL.

YES, SIR. I THINK I THINK THOSE FOLKS UP AT DALLAS COULD JUST WE JUST WE JUST SIT HERE AND SAY, MAN, IF WE COULD JUST HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT UP HERE.

SO I THINK THAT DOES AFFECT FUNDING.

I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP, OBVIOUSLY, ONE THIRD OF WHAT YOU GET COMES THROUGH THE COUNTY.

TO YOUR CREDIT, THROUGH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, CREDIT TWO THIRDS COMES FROM OTHER SOURCES.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

I THINK AS WE GO INTO THE THE BOND DISCUSSIONS AND THE AND THE ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE KNOW DATES, DATES ON WHEN CLINICS WILL BE BUILT, THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

THEN TODD IS A LEVEL ONE PROBLEM.

AND KNOWING WHEN THAT 400 MILLION AND HOW THAT 400 MILLION IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON OUR CURRENT LEVEL, ONE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN LEVEL ONE.

BUT TODAY IT'S NOT BEEN OBVIOUS.

SO THE SENSE OF URGENCY, AT LEAST FROM ME, RELATED TO BEN TAUB AND KNOWING WHEN THOSE DOLLARS AND IT HASN'T BEEN CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO ME WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT.

I THINK THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE CLINICS ARE GOING TO BE BUILT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL ON ON THE ON THE GROUNDBREAKING AND ALL THOSE DETAILS.

BUT I THINK GOING FORWARD, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THOSE OTHER THINGS WILL BE WILL HAPPEN. THAT'S JUST A COMMENT.

AND FINALLY, I GUESS GOING INTO THE BOND, THERE'S A TAX RATE THAT'S A PART OF IT.

BUT YOU HAVE, I THINK, IN RESERVE NEARLY ONE YEAR'S BUDGET, 800 MILLION.

I REPLIED TO THE $2.5 BILLION.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FROM TAX RATE, YES, SIR.

IT'S ABOUT 800 MILLION.

YES, SIR. IN RESERVES.

SO FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ISSUES IN THE OPERATING ROOM, O&M AND OTHER THINGS, I THINK YOU'RE ALL TAPPED INTO THOSE THOSE DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY AND MAYBE GET TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE URGENCY.

BUT I THINK I THINK TO THE POINT WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE FOLKS OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT AT LEAST WE DO HAVE A STABLE FINANCIAL WE'RE IN GOOD, STABLE FINANCIAL CONDITION WARRANTING OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE MORE DEBT.

OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE TO OPERATE A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER LIKE LBJ IS GOING TO BE, WHAT, 500 MILLION? HALF A BILLION? AND WE WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE IN GOOD, STABLE STEAD.

SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS WE CONSIDER THE DOCTOR.

I APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, ONE, I MENTIONED ABOUT THE CUTTING OF RELIANCE ON THE ON CONTRACT LABOR.

I WASN'T GOING TO GO THERE, BUT SOME OF OUR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, I WON'T MENTION ANY NAMES.

[00:55:01]

SO AGAIN, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE.

COMMISSIONER ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT.

ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK EVERYTHING IS COMING TOGETHER IS THAT WE CAN SAY THIS WE HAVE THE BEST COMMISSIONERS OF ANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, AND I SAY THAT WITH SINCERITY.

AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ENJOYED ALL OF OUR MEETINGS AND OUR CONVERSATIONS, AND I SAY THAT SINCERELY AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT TEN TOP.

THIS YEAR.

GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING ABOUT HOW HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNABLE TO INVEST IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR HARRIS, SELF-ESTEEM HAS BEEN IN THE 50, 60, $70 MILLION ANNUALLY.

THIS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN IN THE 160 TO $180 MILLION.

THIS NEXT YEAR, $180 MILLION.

A LOT OF THAT SINCE YOU MENTIONED.

BEN TAUB IS ACTUALLY THE BEN TAUB REVITALIZATION AND ALSO ADDRESSING THE PLUMBING ISSUES THAT BEN TAUB, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID AT LBJ.

SO THAT WE WON'T WE WON'T WAIT FOR THAT TO BECOME A DIRE SITUATION.

SO THE WORK IS ALREADY ONGOING.

COMMISSION. I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

ABSOLUTELY. AS FAR AS THE DATES AND I PROMISE YOU THAT BEFORE AND I PROMISE YOU AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE THOSE DATES.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR. MR. BRADLEY. THANK YOU, DR.

FAUCI. THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE BEAUTIFUL WORK THAT YOU DO.

AND SO MUCH OF THIS. IS FUNDAMENTALLY VERY IMPORTANT FOR LEADERSHIP IN OUR COUNTRY.

FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.

I, TOO, AM SO PROUD OF LIVING IN THIS REGION WHERE WE HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDICAL CENTERS THAT I KNOW.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS.

WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE IS THAT WE STILL HAVE A DELTA OF 20 YEARS LIFE EXPECTANCY, DEPENDING WHICH SIDE YOU GIVE ME OR THAT WE'RE LEADING THE NATION AND ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE WORLD. I DO IT BY THINKING, RIGHT? THERE'S THESE UNCONSCIONABLE DISPARITIES THAT I KNOW.

HARRIS HEALTH IS AT THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY.

DAY WORKING. AND I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID.

MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE 35 MILLION.

THAT HERSELF HAS.

MY IDEAL IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD FUND EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY AT THE LEVEL THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED AND NOT HAVING TO BE CONNECTED TO THE STATE.

THAT BEING SAID.

THEN THE FINANCIAL STATE OF PARIS.

AND THIS 35 MILLION IN ARPA.

I NOTICED SOME BIG STUFF LIKE THE CENTRAL OFFSET AND I WANTED TO PROVE THAT THEY CAN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UM. YOU KNOW.

LET ME LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I FRAME THIS CORRECTLY.

KNOW IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, WE WERE LOOKING AT A BUDGET DEFICIT OF, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 45, $50 MILLION.

AND AT THAT TIME, THIS NOTION OF APPROPRIATING $45 MILLION OF ARPA MONEY TO HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED, WHICH WAS VERY GREATLY APPRECIATED. AS I PRESENTED LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP THE FISCAL YEAR WITH ALMOST 9.5% MARGIN WITH CLOSE TO $240 MILLION. BUT THAT SAID, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PARIS DEALT WITH THEM BUT IS COUNTING ON THE REMAINDER.

YOU KNOW, SO FAR I THINK THEY'VE RECEIVED $9.5 MILLION.

SO THEY NO LONGER $45 MILLION, BUT $35 MILLION.

WE HAVE BEEN COUNTING ON THE REMAINDER OF THE ARPA MONEY COMING TO US.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING AS OF JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER OUR BUDGET WAS PROPOSED AND APPROVED BY THE BY OUR BOARD AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THAT MONEY IS NOW BEING POTENTIALLY TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.

THE MAIN THING ABOUT THAT BUDGET IS THERE'S $28 MILLION THAT HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR OUR CENTRAL PHARMACY.

AND JUST VERY QUICKLY, WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE FOUR ROBOTS THAT ARE FILLING OUT ALMOST 2 MILLION PRESCRIPTIONS A YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT INTERVENTION.

THE WOULD THEN HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE OUR FTES BY MORE THAN 90 PHARMACY TECHS BECAUSE THE ROBOTS ARE DOING THAT AND THEY CAN DO IT 24 OVER SEVEN. THEY DON'T NEED BREAKS AND VACATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WELL, THE ROBOTS ARE ENDING UP GETTING CLOSE TO THEIR END OF USEFUL LIFE, SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.

[01:00:01]

WE HAVE ALREADY PLANNED IN OUR BUDGET $12 MILLION FOR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE'RE COUNTING ON ADDITIONAL $28 MILLION TOWARDS THE PHARMACIES.

IF THIS MONEY WERE TO GO AWAY.

BASICALLY, THE OPTIONS WOULD BE TO.

EITHER COME UP WITH THAT $28 MILLION SOMEWHERE ELSE, REPLACE IT WITH SOME OTHER CAPITAL OR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, OR AGAIN, MOVE SOME OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FURTHER DOWN THE LINE SO THEY CAN COME UP WITH THIS $28 MILLION OR NOT DO ANYTHING AND HOPE THAT THINGS WILL GO WELL.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLAN.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I'VE COMMUNICATED AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO MY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH SWAGIT UP OUR MANAGEMENT IN OFFICE AND SPECIFICALLY MR. RAMOS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.

I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE ABOUT THE TIMING.

IF I KNEW ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO, I THINK OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE LOOKED DIFFERENTLY.

WE DIDN'T. THIS WAS NEWS TO ME AS OF LIKE TWO THURSDAYS AGO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.

BUT THAT SAID, IF YOU WERE TO POINT BLANK AT ME, DR.

FAUCI, YOU KNOW, WOULD THIS CAROUSEL SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY WOULD IT WE WILL MANAGE LIKE WE HAVE ALWAYS, WE WILL FIND A WAY.

SO I WANT TO SAY THIS AND I WANT TO ONE MORE TIME THANK MR. RAMOS FOR REALLY BEING WILLING.

TO WORK WITH US AND LISTEN TO US LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID.

IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE 100% IN AGREEMENT ALL THE TIME.

IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE THAT WAY.

BUT I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH HIM AND I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, DR. COSTA. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR US? UH, JUST JUST A SINCERE THANK.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AS IT'S, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THEIR BOND PROPOSAL TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT THAT THIS THAT'S THE NOTION OF HOPE THAT PERMEATES NOT JUST OUR STAFF BUT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU MENTIONED THE UTNE READER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE PHYSICIANS.

I'M HEARING FROM THEM THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME, THERE IS A PEP IN THEIR STEP THAT THEY ARE VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YEAH, I GOT ONE QUESTION, TOO, AND MAY MR. RAMOS CAN ANSWER THIS FOR ME AS WELL.

I KNOW WE WERE ASSUMING THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A DEFICIT.

WHEN THE VOTE WAS TAKEN TO GIVE YOU THAT MONEY, THAT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS FOR.

AND YOU GOT ABOUT A 9.7% MARGIN, ABOUT 242 MILLION.

BUT MR. RAMOS, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? THAT WAS WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE.

IT WAS FOR A DEFICIT.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND AND WHAT DR.

PORSCHE EXPLAINED AND WE WERE ON THE PHONE LATE LAST NIGHT JUST MAKING SURE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY, BUT THAT'S CORRECT.

THE MONEY WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO COVER A DEFICIT.

HARRIS HEALTH WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A SURPLUS THIS YEAR, BUT A LOT OF ONE TIME THINGS KIND OF TURNED TURNED THEIR DIRECTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT, BUT THAT'S KIND OF HOW I VIEW IT.

UM. A PORTION OF THAT MONEY, ABOUT 180 OF THAT $240 MILLION SURPLUS IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE CAPITAL PLAN.

SO THERE'S SOME SPACE THERE WHERE WE FEEL THINGS CAN KIND OF BE RESHUFFLED TO TO TO FUND THE CENTRAL FILL PLAN.

ALSO, AS A REMINDER, IN THEIR BASE BUDGET, THERE IS AN ASSUMED A $46 MILLION TAX PAYMENT, WHICH AGAIN WILL BE REIMBURSED IN FISCAL YEAR 25.

SO WE SO I FEEL THAT AT THE TAX RATE THAT THAT'S THERE'S ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH AND BOTH IMPLEMENTING THE CENTRAL PLAN REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

SO IF I MIGHT GO BACK, COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK YOU TO DR.

FAWCETT AND JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT IT WAS THAT WILL SAY IS HELD TO BE FOR, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO BE HERE IF YOU AND I WERE POSITIONS ONE OF US GETS CANCELED.

YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WORLD CLASS MEDICAL CARE PEOPLE COMING FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY.

IS HE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN THIS COUNTY? AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE OUR COMPARISON TO OUR PEERS AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY LEAVES US WOEFULLY SHORT.

AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU, DR.

FAUCI, I THINK WHEN YOU FIRST CAME HERE.

I MEAN, YOUR FIRST BUDGET CYCLE OR THE SECOND ONE.

AS I RECALL, I WAS LINING UP PEOPLE TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR CASE TO GET A HIGHER RATE AND THEN SOME ON YOUR BOARD.

[01:05:09]

YOU ANGER THE COURT SO YOU ALL PASS A LAUGH LESS AND KIND OF FELT LIKE THE RUG IS PULLED OUT, MAN, THAT OTHER THINGS TO DO.

SO I THINK I TOLD YOU, I SAID, I'M THE ONE THAT'S PUT MY NAME ON THE BALLOT.

IF I GOT TO TAKE THAT HEAT SAYING YOU OUGHT TO HAVE THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU COME IN AND SAY, MAKE IT EASY FOR ME TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, PULL THE OSTRICH ROUTINE.

AND, MR. RAMOS, I KNOW YOU SENT AROUND A MEMO OVERALL.

UH, WOULD SHOW, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW CHANGES ON THE STATE LAW, IF THIS COURT, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD OPTED NOT TO GO TO, UH, NO NEW REVENUE.

WELL, WE HAVE WE'VE GIVEN UP ABOUT 1.9 BILLION.

IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT.

AND YOU WERE TAKING A MORE CONSERVATIVE ROUTE.

IF WE HAD DONE SO, I THINK THE QUESTION WAS ASKING IN COURT WAS IF WE HAD DONE WHAT THIS COURT DID FOR THE PREVIOUS 30 YEARS, WITH EXCEPTION TO TIMES THAT HARRIS HEALTH WAS CUT TWO CYCLES.

WHAT WOULD THAT FIGURE HAVE BEEN IF THEY HAD NOT BEEN SENATE BILL TWO? UH, WITH WITH THE RESTRICTIONS, WHAT WOULD THE MONEY HAVE BEEN? THAT WAS MY BROADER QUESTION.

CALCULATE. IT'S ABOUT 4 BILLION, SO ABOUT DOUBLE.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR.

BUT THAT'S NOT HARRY.

THAT'S EVERYBODY. THAT IS, IF WE HAD STAYED AT THE 2019 RATE ACROSS THE BOARD.

ASSUMING SB TWO HAD NOT BEEN PASSED AND KEPT THE RATE THE SAME AS IT HAD DONE FOR I THINK IT WAS 19 STRAIGHT YEARS, IT'S CUMULATIVELY ABOUT $4 BILLION.

SO, DR.

BOYCE, I JUST WANT YOU TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO YOUR TEAM.

HOLD ON. HELP'S COMING.

BUT IT TAKES TIME BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS ON.

I'M JUST GUESSING ABOUT $60 MILLION WORTH OF VERY WORTHY PROGRAMS THAT MEMBERS AT THIS TABLE ARE GOING TO SUGGEST.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF THAT MONEY, WHICH WAS ARPA MONEY GIVEN FOR A DEFICIT, THAT DID NOT MATERIALIZE, IF WE TAKE THAT, THAT HELPS US TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL.

THAT WAS AN OLD, OLD TIMER WHEN I FIRST GOT STARTED IN POLITICS, I GUESS.

NOW, HERE'S A HERE'S A NEWER WORLD AND A GREAT LINE OF OUR TRASH.

HE SAID, THE PROBLEM IS EVERYBODY WANTS TO THROW IT DOWN, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO PICK IT UP.

JUST SOME GREAT LINE.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND MONEY.

BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO BRING IT IN.

SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.

THAT'S THE DILEMMA WE'RE UNDER.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 4 BILLION TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW STATE LAW WOULD HAVE BEEN 1.9 BILLION.

EVERYBODY, NOT JUST YOU.

BUT THAT'S THE DILEMMA THAT WE FACE.

SO I HOPE THAT IN NO WAY WILL YOUR EMPLOYEES OR YOUR SUPPORTERS FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S NOT SUPPORT AROUND THIS TABLE.

FOR ME, I'VE BEEN A STAUNCH ADVOCATE.

WHEN CAME THE CHALLENGE? I'M ABOUT TO PUT MY NAME ON THE BALLOT AND YOU DON'T RUN ON SAYING YOU WANT TO GIVE MORE.

YOU KNOW, YOU RUN ON SAYING WE WANTED YOU TO HAVE MORE.

YOU WANT WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS. BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

SO I JUST HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, MR. ELLIS. I'M LOOKING FOR THE MOTION THAT I HAD MADE ON THE 45 MILLION.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THINGS CAN CHANGE.

UM. BUT I WAS.

SURPRISE WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET.

MATT. THERE HAD BEEN.

SOME DEGREE OF DECISION MADE TO CHANGE THE NUMBER IN SPITE OF THE VOTE WITH THEIR BODIES.

AND SO WE'RE AT A POINT OF OF DOING SOME BUDGET PATCHING HERE TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A BALANCED BUDGET. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I HAVE HAD, DR.

PORTER. UM, BUT I.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.

YOU STILL HAVE NEED. THAT OUTPUT CAN BE HELPFUL WITH.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ROBOTICS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.

BUT I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR IF YOU.

[01:10:02]

THAT YOU THINK YOU'VE ONLY USED ABOUT 9 MILLION OF THE 45.

NINE AND A HALF? YEAH.

THAT IF YOU WERE NOT TO GET ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF THAT $45 MILLION PROFIT.

UM, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR ROBOTIC YOUR PHARMACY FILL PROGRAM IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE ROBOTS ARE NEAR LIFE END OF LIFE.

UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY COOPERATE AND CONTINUE WORKING UNTIL THEY'RE PROJECTED INTO LIFE.

THEY THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY ALREADY USING SOME DUCT TAPE AND BAND-AID FOR THEM AS WELL.

BUT IF THAT PROGRAM WERE TO FAIL TOMORROW.

WHAT? WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS DECISIONS YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE TO KEEP PHARMACY SALES WORKING? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER.

I'M GOING TO GET TO THAT. BUT BEFORE DEPLOYMENT TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I KNOW THIS IS ABOUT THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU MEANT, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. IT IS DEFINITELY HELPFUL BEFORE.

BUT YOU ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HOW WE COMPARE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PROVIDING CARE TO THE UNINSURED.

PERHAPS NOT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SAID IT, BUT LIKE, NOT AT THE SAME LEVEL OF OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE STATE.

I WOULD I WOULD DISAGREE THAT WE PROVIDE TOP NOTCH CARE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT, BUT I THINK YOU MEANT THAT IT WOULD DO MORE.

AND WE'RE NOT FUNDED AT THE LEVEL.

I AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF THE ROBOTICS PROGRAM WOULD FAIL TOMORROW, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY PEOPLE.

UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, I BECAME AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL OF THIS NOT BEING FUNDED.

I HAVE. WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN? SO THAT WOULD MEAN NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN.

IN ADDITION TO RAISING AN ARMY OF NEW TESTS, MY BEST ESTIMATE WAS 110 MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO HIRE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE 110 PEOPLE TOMORROW.

SO IT WILL TAKE US A WHILE TO RAMP UP.

THE RAMIFICATION FOR THAT WOULD BE A DELAY IN PEOPLE GETTING THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.

LONG WAIT TIMES.

DISGRUNTLED PATIENTS AND POTENTIALLY ISSUE WITH MEDICATION COMPLIANCE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THE MEDICATION AT SOME TIME.

SO THE IMPACT WOULD BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THAT IT'S REALLY, TO ME, AT LEAST, A FLAWED SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE ISSUE OF.

THIS MONEY BEING TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.

IF THE TIME IS THAT, THAT IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

HAD BEEN KNOWING THIS THREE MONTHS AGO, SIX MONTHS AGO, WE WOULD HAVE PLANNED VERY DIFFERENTLY FOR FUTURE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO COME UP BY NEXT FOR EXAMPLE I TALKED ABOUT DENTAL HOSPITAL, MR REVITALIZATION AND FLEMING.

THAT'S URGENT. BUT WHAT'S THAT THEN? HAVE TO TAKE A BACK SEAT TO? OUR CENTRAL PHARMACY.

IF A ROBOT COULD FAIL, I DON'T KNOW.

IT WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A LIST OF ALL OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND SEE WHAT WE COULD SHOVEL TO ADDRESS THIS.

SO WOULD IT BE.

CONVENIENT AND APPROPRIATE AND EFFICIENT TO HAVE THE MONEY AND PROCEED WITH THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE LAST YEAR, ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD ALL GET WHAT WE WANTED.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T, AND THAT'S REALITY.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

AND IN THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

BECAUSE I SEE IN MY NOTES, IS APPROXIMATELY 28.5 CENTS.

THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S THE TOTAL COST IS $40 MILLION.

WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED $12 MILLION CAPITAL COSTS.

SO WE WERE COUNTING THE 28.5 MILLION CREDITS.

THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT MISSING SOMETHING.

SO IN MY MIND, IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN I VOTED THAT THAT MONEY, ARPA MONEY.

WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A SHORTFALL.

WAS THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND. AND WAS THERE SOME WAY OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE?

[01:15:05]

IT WAS CLEAR AT LEAST WHEN I VOTED.

THAT'S WHAT MY ASSUMPTION WAS.

I DON'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE, PROBABLY, BUT IT WAS IT WAS CLEAR TO YOU SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

HOW DID THAT YOU GOT ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? BECAUSE ANYTHING WE COULD DO I MEAN, IS IT LEGAL FOR YOU TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S A EX-OFFICIO PERSON TO SIT IN ON THAT BOARD MEETINGS? I MEAN, WHAT COULD BE DONE TO AVOID THIS MISCOMMUNICATION IF IT WAS FOR ONE THING AND THEN IT ENDS UP BEING USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE? SHE THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO AVOID THAT.

I'LL REFER TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE EX-OFFICIO STATUS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WHAT I WILL SAY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE MOST OF THESE ISSUES WORKED OUT MOVING INTO NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN ILA THAT WILL BE SIGNED BY ME AND DR.

PORSA WHEN IT RELATES TO THE BOND, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE EXECUTING THEIR BOND SALES ON BEHALF OF HARRIS.

SO IN THAT ILA WILL LAY OUT SOME OF THESE.

IT'S MORE A TIMING ISSUE IN TERMS OF WHEN WHEN MY STAFF, ME AND MY STAFF GET THE BUDGET, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THEIR THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOP, THEIR BOARD.

I THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE LARGELY WORKED OUT AND WILL COME AS PART OF THE ILA IN EARLY OCTOBER.

IS THAT A YEAR? SURE, COMMISSIONER.

I THINK AS A A THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT STATUTE ITSELF DOESN'T REALLY ALLOW FOR AN EX-OFFICIO KIND OF POSITION, BUT I THINK SOME OF THIS IS BEING WORKED OUT THROUGH THE IOA.

A MORE FORMALIZED, STRUCTURED RELATIONSHIP WAS THE ILA.

IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN A THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASING NOW FOR SERVICES, FOR LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY.

WE'RE NOW, I THINK, FORMALLY EXTENDING IT OUT.

I THINK THERE WAS ONE AFTER A LONG TIME AGO RELATED TO THE BUDGET, BUT THERE JUST HASN'T BEEN ONE THAT THAT I THINK HAS BEEN UPDATED.

AND SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH A MORE FORMAL PROCESS TO DO THAT AND IT WILL CODIFY THE RELATIONSHIP AND STRENGTHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP TO ALLOW FOR THIS COMMUNICATION AND AND ESPECIALLY ON THE TIMING AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

BUT SO ARE YOU LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER ENTITIES DID SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS OR WHEREVER, THEY HAVE A MUCH MORE HANDS OFF RELATIONSHIP? I BELIEVE WE SAMPLED THEIR DALLAS.

FORT WORTH. THERE WAS A THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF I'M SORRY, THERE WAS A MUCH MORE HANDS OFF RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH THE LOCAL COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE.

THEY FUNCTIONED KIND OF SEPARATE PARALLEL TRACKS.

I THINK WE ARE MORE INVOLVED.

AND ONE THING I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, TO HIS CREDIT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME WITH OUR CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE FORECAST, THEY CAME WITH A CURRENT LEVEL SERVICE FORECAST THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

THEY PRESENTED ON THEIR QUARTERLY PROJECTIONS RIGHT ALONGSIDE ME, WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

I BELIEVE WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE GETTING THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.

THE LAST STEP, IT'S JUST ALIGNING OUR BUDGET CALENDARS, WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE THAT COMES IN OCTOBER.

AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALIGNING THE BUDGETS FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK EVEN WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE BEFORE DR.

FAUCI CAME, WHAT IS TAKING IT SO LONG? I THINK HIS PREDECESSORS WERE TALKING ABOUT ALIGNING.

IF I MAY JUST MAKE A COMMENT, COMMISSIONER.

LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY ACTUALLY OUR BUDGETS ARE LINED UP AS FAR AS THE FISCAL YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST FULL YEAR THAT BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGETS START ON OCTOBER 1ST.

EVEN LAST YEAR, WE WERE STILL ON A MARCH 1ST FISCAL YEAR.

SO THIS I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH MR. RAMOS THAT I THINK THIS IS A THIS IS A NON-ISSUE.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMMEDIATELY IN THE DAY FOLLOWING THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO PUT THIS ISSUE TO BED.

YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT LEAST FOR ME, I WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO VOTE TO JUST GO VOTE TO GIVE A BLANK CHECK TO HARRIS HEALTH TO JUST SPEND THE MONEY.

TRUST ME, AT LEAST THERE'D BE ONE, ONE THAT YOU'D HAVE BE UP AGAINST IT.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MISSION ALIGNED.

UNDERSTOOD. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, DR. POISSON.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. BEFORE I READ THE PROPOSED MOTION, MEMBERS JUST WANT TO WALK BACK THROUGH THE AGENDA.

SO WE'VE DONE THE SPEAKERS.

WE DID THE BUSINESS COURT ITEMS PRESENTATION FROM DR.

FORRESTER. OUR NEXT RULE SET PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND WHAT USED TO BE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND HARRIS HEALTH. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON THE STATUS OF ARPA SPENDING AND THEN DISCUSS AND VOTE ON POSSIBLE FUNDING OFFSETS AND THEN DISCUSS THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET.

EACH MEMBER WILL MAKE AN AMENDMENT WHICH WILL OFFER AMENDMENTS AT THAT TIME AND WE'LL GO IN REVERSE ORDER SINCE SINCE I'M SITTING IN FOR THE JUDGE TO CHAIR, THE

[01:20:06]

AND IF A PRECINCT OR COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE AN AMENDMENT, WE JUST GO TO THE NEXT AND THEN ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE SECONDED WILL BE TAKEN UP FOR A FINAL VOTE AFTER A BREAK.

SO WE'LL STOP FOR LUNCH A LITTLE AFTER LUNCH, I GUESS, AT THIS POINT NOW SO THEY CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER AND THEY'LL TELL US HOW LONG WE SHOULD TAKE A BREAK.

UH, AND UH, AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS AND VOTE ON EACH PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

ANYONE. NO QUESTIONS ON THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO GO AND MAKE A MOTION FOR THE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE YET? I DO. OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2023, AT 10 A.M.

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING 2023 TAX RATES PER 100,001 PER 100 OF TAXABLE VALUE, $100, $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE, UH, FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY.

FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE RATE OF 0.30281 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND THE RATE OF 0.04726 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.35007.

OR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

THE RATE OF 0.02010 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND THE RATE OF 0.01095 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.03105.

FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THE RATE OF 0.14 TO 0 SIX FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND THE RATE OF 0.00137 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.14343. FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, A DEBT SERVICE RATE OF 0.00574 AND FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY ENTITIES, A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.530297. IF.

I HAVE SOME POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.

HERE, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO WALK THROUGH THE REVENUE NUMBERS THAT SUPPORT IT.

SO FOR THE PROPOSED RATES THAT ARE IN THIS MOTION SUPPORT THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THREE AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

FLOOD CONTROL IS AT THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH WAS PART OF OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE PORT OF HOUSTON SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

THAT IS SET BY STATUTE.

THERE'S NO FLEXIBILITY IN JUST YET THAT THE COUNTY HAS ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON FOR HARRIS HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

IT IS AN ANNUAL RATE OF 888 MILLION, WHICH IS 16 MILLION BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AND 29 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WE HAD IN OUR BASE BUDGET. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER? THIS. IT'S NOT IN.

IT'S MINE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WOULD BE A TAX RATE YEAR OVER YEAR FROM LAST YEAR.

HE SAID. SECOND TAX RATE CUT.

I'M SORRY. YOU HAVE A QUESTION FIRST, MR. ANTHONY? A QUESTION. AS I UNDERSTAND, WE ARE PUTTING A VOTE.

WE'RE PUTTING A NUMBER OUT THERE THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY FINALLY VOTE ON A WEEK.

YEAH, IT'S A STRUGGLE.

SO AS YOU YOU TERMED IT A STRAW VOTE.

YEAH. SO IF WE DON'T SHOW UP OR WE DON'T VOTE FOR IT WHEN WE COME BACK.

WELL, I'VE GOT MINE IS MORE QUESTIONS.

I'VE GOT QUESTIONS, TOO.

THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT THAT I'M GOING TO NEED ANSWERED BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE IS TAKEN NEXT WEEK.

SO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL NEED ANSWERED.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN OUR FOLLOWING NEXT CONVERSATION ON HOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

UH, THAT'S OUR TAX RATE.

THAT'S OUR GENERAL FUND TAX RATE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE HERE BEFORE WE END TODAY HOW THE MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT WITH THAT WILL EFFECT HOW I WILL VOTE IN A WEEK.

AND THEN, UH, UH, UH, JUST A COMMENT ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

UH, I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, MR..

THAT THERE'S AT LEAST TWO OF US ARE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2024.

[01:25:02]

AND GIVEN A YEARS OF NOTICE THAT WE DOUBLED THE TAX RATE FOR THE FOR THE FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL.

THE FLOOD CONTROL, BECAUSE THAT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE GOT AT ROCKEFELLER.

WE'VE SAID IT TO EACH OTHER MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

UNDERSTAND THAT WILL MEAN YOU'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND THEY'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

AND I'M GIVING PLENTY OF NOTICE BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF CONVERSATION.

WELL, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I WOULD MAKE RELATIVE TO THE STRAW VOTE WE'RE TAKING TODAY.

I RECOGNIZE WE NEED MORE MONEY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER.

THAT WOULD BE THE CONTEXT FOR MY VOTE.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED AS HAVE DONATED PASSES.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE ARPA PRESENTATION.

THE. BARTON. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THAT'S OKAY. CONDITIONS.

WHAT? GOOD MORNING.

I'M LEAH BARTON, DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

HARRIS COUNTY WAS VERY LUCKY TO RECEIVE A DIRECT ALLOCATION OF $915 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS FROM THE US TREASURY. WITH FORECASTED INTEREST EARNED, WE EXPECT TO HAVE APPROXIMATELY $975 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR CORE ARPA.

FUNDS MUST BE COMMITTED BY DECEMBER 2024 AND SPENT BY DECEMBER 2026.

COMMISSIONERS COURT ESTABLISHED FOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE PORTFOLIO HEALTH, HOUSING, JOBS AND EDUCATION AND COUNTY OPERATIONS.

OUR STEERING COMMITTEE THEN IDENTIFIED 20 FOCUS AREAS FOR ARPA INVESTMENTS WITH POTENTIAL AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO EACH FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

THOSE ALLOCATIONS CURRENTLY EXCEED THE $975 MILLION AVAILABLE.

WE NEED TO BRING OUR ALLOCATIONS DOWN TO 100% AND OUR COMMITTED FUNDS UP TO 100% BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR AND HAVE ESTABLISHED ASSOCIATED GLIDE PATHS FOR EACH.

NEXT SLIDE. TO REMAIN ON THAT PLANNING GLIDE PATH.

WE NEED TO MAKE SOME OFFSETS.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE $1 BILLION, $82 MILLION ALLOCATED ACROSS THOSE FOUR AREAS TO REMAIN ON OUR TARGET GLIDE PATH.

WE NEED TO BRING THAT DOWN TO $1,000,000,063 BILLION THIS QUARTER.

THEREFORE, THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY AT LEAST $19 MILLION IN OFFSETS THIS MONTH IN ADDITION TO OFFSETS FOR ANY NEW ARPA REQUESTS.

FUTURE OFFSETS WILL STILL BE NEEDED AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD THAT 100% ALLOCATION BY NEXT DECEMBER.

NEXT SLIDE. ACROSS OUR FOCUS AREAS, WE HAVE ACTIVE PROJECTS APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

PROJECTS APPROVED BY OUR ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE, BUT NOT YET PRESENTED TO COURT.

SUCH AS PROJECTS CURRENTLY OUT FOR RFP AND PROJECTS STILL IN PLANNING PHASES.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRENTLY CONTAIN THE LARGEST AMOUNTS OF UNCOMMITTED FUNDS.

VETERINARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN VERY STRONG RESPONSE TO THEIR MULTIFAMILY ACQUISITION RFP AND EXPECTS TO BRING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT SOON.

WHILE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE TEAM IS IN SEVERAL ACTIVE CONTRACTING PROCESSES AND DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL PRODUCT CAPABILITIES.

NEXT SLIDE. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW AREAS WHERE YOUR GUIDANCE IS NEEDED.

AS JUST DISCUSSED, COMMISSIONER, SUPPORT OBLIGATED $45 MILLION FOR HARRIS HEALTH.

HOWEVER, ONLY $9.5 MILLION IN PROJECTS HAD BEEN APPROVED BY OUR FOCUS AREA TEAM AND STEERING COMMITTEE.

CONTRACTS FOR THOSE WILL BE COMING TO COURT SOON.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE ON THE REMAINING 35.5 MILLION.

IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PREFERENCES ON AREAS FOR OTHER ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENTS, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.

THERE ARE A FEW AREAS WHERE ONLY LIMITED PLANNING HAS OCCURRED.

DEPARTMENTS AND FOCUS AREA TEAMS ARE WORKING ON MOST OF THESE, BUT I'M HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED TO CONFIRM DIRECTION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

FINALLY, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT AN CLIP AT THE END OF 2026.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO ARPA CLIPS, ONE AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 24 WHEN SOME OF OUR PROJECTS THAT HAVE ONLY BEEN APPROVED ONE YEAR AT A TIME

[01:30:05]

AND ANOTHER AT THE END OF 2026 WHEN OUR LONGER TERM PROGRAMS FLOWS.

IF WE NEED TO RESERVE FUNDING THE RENEWAL OF THE PROJECTS ENDING NEXT FALL, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR INPUT.

LET. SO BEYOND YOUR INPUT TODAY, OUR PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A LIVE PROCESS.

WE'LL BE MONITORING, PROGRAM SPEND, TRACKING, PLANNING EFFORTS AND MAKING ASSOCIATED ADJUSTMENTS.

WE WILL ALSO BE ASSESSING NEW PROGRAMS. ADDITIONAL OFFSETS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ANY PROGRAMS NOT YET PLANNED.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR AND YOUR STAFF MEMBERS SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS AND WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK.

QUESTIONS. THE LEAH THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE AND I APPRECIATE YOU MEETING WITH MY OFFICE LAST WEEK.

AND. AND YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME PROGRAMS WERE BARELY GETTING GOING, BUT YOU WOULD ALSO SAY IN SPITE OF THEM ALSO BARELY GETTING GOING, THEY'RE GOING WELL.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM GO FROM BARELY GETTING GOING TO GOING DOWN AND TO GIVE US CONFIDENCE THAT THIS MONEY WILL THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AND REAPPROPRIATE THAT MONEY? YEAH. WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS OUR INTERNAL AND OUR EXTERNAL PROGRAMS IS THAT.

BOTH OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS AND OUTSIDE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN, IN MANY CASES, SLOW TO HIRE.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT HIRING ENVIRONMENT AND SO RAMPING UP SPEND HAS, IN MOST CASES HAPPENED MORE SLOWLY THAN EXPECTED.

HOWEVER, MOST OF OUR PROJECTS WERE NOT PROJECTED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF 2026.

AND AS LONG AS WE'RE ABLE TO ADJUST THOSE TIMELINES, ALMOST ALL OF OUR PROJECTS EXPECT TO DELIVER THEIR FULL FORECASTED SPEND.

THERE'S ABOUT LOOKING ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO, THERE'S ABOUT $3 MILLION IN IN UNDER SPENDING THAT PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY FORECASTING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT VERY CLOSELY AND YOU'LL START TO SEE MOTIONS COMING THROUGH FOR THE OBLIGATING FUNDING WHERE WE THINK THAT PROJECTS WON'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER.

AND SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE 78 MILLION IN ARPA MONEY THAT IS THAT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

IS THAT ACCURATE? IS THAT MONEY? THAT IS NOT YET.

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MHM. SO ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE LIMITED PLANNING THUS FAR? YES. SO YEAH, THERE ARE THERE ARE PROJECTS LIKE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE, SOME OF OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDS.

THE REMAINING $10 MILLION IN WATER AND SEWER WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO SEE SOME DEPARTMENT AND FOCUS AREA TEAM ENGAGEMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO GIVE US THAT DIRECTION.

BUT APPROXIMATELY 78 MILLION AND THEN.

AND THEN THE AND I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

ARE YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY VERY SPECIFIC REQUESTS THAT YOU WANT US TO ENTERTAIN AS IT RELATES TO YOUR FUNDING? I THINK THE OTHER THAN THE ONE SPECIFIC ONE WHERE WE WOULD LIKE SOME DIRECTION TODAY IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED FUNDING OF THAT JAIL CAPACITY PROJECT.

AND AS MUCH AS THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES THIS MONTH AND SURROUNDING CONTRACTING, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO KNOW THE FUNDING SOURCE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WE EXPECT TO NEED ANOTHER 14 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE FIRMS, THE EFFORTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED OUT OF ARPA, WHICH ARE SEPARATE FROM THE CELL AND AND THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THE SOUTH? THAT'S CORRECT.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO.

THE I WASN'T I DON'T THINK I HEARD IT AS A CAPACITY.

PROJECT. LOOKING.

WHILE HE'S LOOKING FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY AS AT THE 14 MILLION POTENTIAL THAT WOULD BE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THEY BOTH HAPPEN TO BE 14 MILLION.

THAT'S THAT'S ALL THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE MTC CONTRACT, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY FUNDED OUT OF ARPA, WAS NOT INCLUDED IN FUTURE YEARS AND WAS NOT WAS NOT SENT BACK TO THE.

SO I HAD MADE AN ASSUMPTION AND I'M PAYING FOR IT NOW THAT IT WAS BUILT INTO THE ARPA YEARS.

[01:35:01]

IT TURNS OUT IT WAS NOT IN ANY OF THESE PROJECTIONS.

IT WAS MEANT TO BE A TIME LIMITED PROJECT WHERE, AS WE'VE SEEN, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT OUTSOURCING ENOUGH.

NOT THE REVERSE AT THIS POINT.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, THE 44, 55 AND 60.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

AND THE 14 FOR LASALLE WOULD FREE UP.

GENERAL FUND REVENUE TO GO TO ANY OF YOUR PRIORITIES.

IT. YOU, RIGHT? OKAY. I'M GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER? DID YOU FINISH? I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I KNOW HE HAD RAISED THIS ONE, SO I'LL GO UP.

SO A COUPLE THINGS.

LEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING AND MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED.

A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

I THINK IT'S BEEN MENTIONED AT THIS TABLE THAT FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.

FACILITY, I WOULD CALL IT BASIC TAKING CARE OF SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON WHETHER IT'S PARK FACILITIES, PARK BUILDINGS, COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDINGS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

IT WOULDN'T TAKE THIS TABLE VERY LONG TO COME UP WITH A LIST, AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE PROBABLY 2 OR 3 MILLION FOR A PRECINCT THAT THERE'S THAT MUCH NEED.

AND AGAIN, SPENDING THAT MONEY.

WHAT I WOULD CALL ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, CERTAINLY THAT COULD BE DONE BEFORE THE TIME WOULD RUN OUT.

I WOULD PUT THAT ON THE TABLE.

THAT'D BE BALLPARK $10 MILLION SPLIT BETWEEN THE THE FOUR PRECINCTS.

BUT I WOULD I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ONE, IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH NEEDED, CLEARLY DEFINED.

AND THE ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO THE LIST TO CONSIDER WAS THE.

WHEN WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME SPEAK TO THIS COURT ON THE CONDITIONS DOWN AT THE JAIL.

MORE THAN ONE RELATIVE HAS SAID THAT SOMEBODY PLEASE FIX THE CHILLER AT THE JAIL.

TO ME, THAT'S BASIC AIR CONDITIONING.

THAT'S BASIC, TAKING CARE OF SOME PRETTY DIRE CONDITIONS AT THE JAIL WHERE THERE CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM.

SO TAKING SOME CAPITAL DOLLARS HERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT A CHILLER COST, BUT WOULDN'T TAKE US LONG TO FIGURE OUT.

DANIEL, WE JUST GOT A REPORT, I THINK, ON THE JAIL.

DOCTOR AMON, I THINK HAS GOT THAT.

SO TAKING A DOLLAR OR TWO OVER THERE TO THE JAIL AND ADDRESSING SOME PRETTY URGENT MAINTENANCE ISSUES, THAT AFFECTS THE CONDITIONS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERMS OF WHO'S LOCKED UP.

THOSE TWO WOULD BE CONSIDERED.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. SO I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER CONNECTED NOTED HERE FOR THE TOWN UNION.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE QUITE LARGE, 40 MILLION.

ONE LARGE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN DONE IN ONE PRECINCT AND NOW WE HAVE 10 MILLION REMAINING.

SO SEEING THAT ON THE LIST, IS THAT ONE OF YOUR RECOMMENDED THAT THE AREA THAT REALLY NEED TO DO ANOTHER PROJECT WITH THAT 10 MILLION AND IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THE POTENTIAL OBSTRUCTION? I DON'T THINK WE COULD DO ANOTHER PROJECT CERTAINLY OF THE TYPE OR MAGNITUDE OF OUR CURRENT PROJECT, WHICH IS A WASTEWATER INVESTMENT BECAUSE THOSE HAVE LONG LEAD TIMES IN TERMS OF PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION.

THERE MAY BE SOME OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE SEPTIC SYSTEM REPLACEMENT OR EFFORTS THAT WE COULD DO, YOU KNOW, AT AN INDIVIDUAL HOME OR IF THERE WERE ANY SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT WERE APPLICABLE, WE COULD CERTAINLY EXPLORE THAT.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WOULD JUST NEED TO HAVE DIRECTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR TO BE GETTING GOING BASED ON THOSE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT BASED ON THE NON-NEGOTIABLE FEDERAL DEADLINES THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST AND THE REALITY OF PROJECTS ARISING IN THE ALLOCATION SENSE. I SEE THE SHORT LIST, BUT IS THERE ANY IF YOU HAD TO SUMMARIZE THE WHY BEHIND WHAT YOU GUYS.

OFFSET IS RECAP THAT FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK I WOULD GO BACK TO THOSE TWO AREAS THAT HAVE THE MOST UNALLOCATED FUNDS RIGHT NOW, WHICH ARE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE ARE MAKING VERY RAPID PROGRESS.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S THAT'S REMAINING, THOSE 50% REDUCTIONS.

ANTHONY SUTTON. YOU COMMENTS? JUST WALK US BACK, IF YOU WOULD, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE CAME UP WITH HOW WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE THIS AFTERNOON.

WE HAD TWO PROCESSES OPERATING IN PARALLEL IN 2021.

THE FIRST WAS OUR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PROJECT WHERE WE LOOKED FOR AREAS TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT THE MOST QUICKLY.

[01:40:03]

AND SO THAT YIELDED OUR SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM, DIRECT ASSISTANCE, COVID VACCINE INCENTIVES, EMERGENCY NURSING AND OUR FIRST MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT.

IN PARALLEL, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND ENGAGED WITH ABOUT 1000 RESIDENTS.

200 LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WERE INTERVIEWED, 200 EXPERTS WE INTERVIEWED, AND THEN WE GOT INPUT THROUGH PUBLIC SURVEYS AROUND FROM ABOUT 600 MORE PEOPLE.

AND WE TOOK THOSE INPUTS COMBINED WITH RESEARCH INTO PANDEMIC IMPACTS AND IDENTIFIED THESE 20 FOCUS AREAS.

AND THEN MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE DEVELOPED SOME PRELIMINARY ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDING ACROSS THOSE FOCUS AREAS TO USE FOR PLANNING AND AND JUST HELPING ME RECOLLECT HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT PROCESS WAS WHEN THE CONSULTING FIRMS THAT CAME IN, WE LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, HOW DO WE COME UP WITH OUR PROCESS? WE PROPOSED A GOVERNANCE PROCESS THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED IN APRIL AND DID THAT TOGETHER WITH WITH THE OUTSIDE CONSULTING HELP AND A LOT OF INPUT FROM OUR STEERING COMMITTEE.

AND WE FOLLOWED IT. WE DIDN'T GO PLUG HOLES.

MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND EVEN IN NEIGHBORHOOD PLUG HOLES WOULD EXISTING THINGS, BUT WE OPTED NOT TO DO THAT AND WE FOCUSED ON THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.

WE REALLY FOCUSED ON PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE PRIORITY OUTCOMES THAT WERE DEVELOPED IN THAT PROCESS.

I CAN REMEMBER FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN THINGS WOULD COME ON THE AGENDA, WE'D SEND THEM BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS, MAY HAVE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, HAD A BRIGHT IDEA OF WANTING TO DO IT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE SENT THEM BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEP. THE PROJECTS HAVE GONE FROM THAT FOCUS AREA TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND THEN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER? WITH THAT PROCESS, WE WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION WE WILL KNOW IF WE NEED TO CHANGE SOME PRIORITIES.

YOU FEEL CONFIDENT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEND OUR MONEY LIKE IN THE HOUSING AREA, THE CHILD CHILDCARE AREA.

OBVIOUSLY WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT IN THOSE AREAS, BUT THOSE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE MOVING AND THEY NEED TO STAY ON ON THEIR PROJECTED AMOUNTS.

THEY NEED TO BE MEETING THEIR PLANS.

WE WILL KNOW A LOT MORE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AS MORE MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS COME THROUGH.

WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AS WE SEE ADDITIONAL RATES OF SPEND.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIND OF DECISION POINTS LINED OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW QUARTERS AS TO WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO SHIFT EACH TIME.

AND THEN EVERY QUARTER WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SPEND VERSUS FORECASTED SPEND.

AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA POINTED OUT, TO SEE WHERE WE MIGHT NEED TO UPDATE OR CHANGE.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M GOING TO SUGGEST WE TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK.

YEAH, IT'S ABOUT THAT TIME.

OKAY. TEN MINUTES.

IS THAT ENOUGH? 10 OR 15? PERFECT. 15 MINUTES.

SO IT IS NOW 1151.

I CAN CALL IT A BREAK. RIGHT.

KEEP THAT ON ME. I DON'T NEED TO ADJOURN.

I'M GOING TO STOP THIS. 1051.

WE'LL TAKE A RECESS AND COME BACK IN 15 MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

IT'S 1210 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.

PROPER LANGUAGE AND SO MEMBERS NOW WE NEED TO GO TO THE OFFSETS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE OFFSETS WILL GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS.

AND I KNOW THAT THE OMB SENT AROUND A LIST OF OFFSETS OF I ASSUME EVERYBODY'S SEEN THE LIST.

WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE PACKAGE THAT STARTS WITH MOVE TO TRANSFER X MILLION IN GENERAL FUND EXPENSES TO ARPA.

YEAH. IF THERE'S A MOVE TO DECREASE ON BUDGET RESERVE IS THAT'S THE RIGHT ONE.

THE RIGHT ONE. HAVE YOU ALL SEEN IT? IF THERE'S A MOTION ON THEM.

IF NOT, I'LL LAY THEM. I'LL LET IT GO.

I'M SURE. CAN WE. CAN WE TAKE THEM ONE BY ONE JUST TO EXPLAIN THEM? I'D LIKE TO SKIP THE ARPA ONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE DISCUSSION ON HOW MUCH ARPA TO TAKE FOR GENERAL FUND OFFSETS.

SO WHY DON'T WE SKIP THAT ONE? OKAY. FOR THE SECOND ONE.

I'M RECOMMENDING MOVING OUR UNBUDGETED RESERVES.

THIS IS IN DEPARTMENT 202 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.

WE CURRENTLY BUDGET $10 MILLION FOR ANY UNBUDGETED ITEMS DURING THE YEAR.

I'M RECOMMENDING GOING FROM 10 MILLION DOWN TO 5 MILLION, WHICH WOULD FREE UP 5 MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDS FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

MY REASONING BEHIND THIS IS.

IT'S A VERY LARGE CUSHION.

BUT TO ME, THE BUDGET IS THE PLAN.

AND WHILE THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCIES OR CHANGES OF PRIORITIES, WE SHOULD BE IN THE PRACTICE OF STAYING TRUE AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO WHAT PORT HAS DEVELOPED AND APPROVED.

AND SO MOVING IT DOWN, I THINK WE'LL ONE FREE UP MONEY FOR OTHER PRIORITIES AND TO FURTHER INSTILL MORE FISCAL DISCIPLINE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND WHERE THE 10 MILLION.

[01:45:02]

THERE'S ACTUALLY AN EXHIBIT IN OUR BUDGET BOOK FOR FOR THE 2002 BUDGET.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING GOING FROM 10 TO 10 DOWN TO FIVE.

AND THEN I'M JUST THAT WAS THAT WAS GOING TO BE 10 MILLION THAT WAS GOING TO GO INTO OUR CONTINGENCY.

AND YOU'RE NOW RECOMMENDING FIVE VERSUS TEN.

THAT WAS FOR ITEMS THAT COME UP DURING THE YEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, A DEPARTMENT OVERSPEND, SOMETHING BREAKS.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY DRAWN OUT FROM.

UM, SO BUT YOU HAD EARLIER RECOMMENDED TEN.

NOW YOU'RE YOU WANT TO RECONSIDER THE.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

SO COMMISSIONER BRIAN SAID COMMISSIONER ANSWERED A TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, WHY THE RECONSIDERATION? AND TWO, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE LISTENING, CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY? SO IT'S NOT AS IF THERE'S MONEY WILL JUST BE DOWN TO THE LAST 5 MILLION BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PICK AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.

CAN YOU JUST GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR EMERGENCIES AND OTHER CONTINGENCIES? SURE. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE FOR THE QUESTION.

WE DO HAVE 160 MILLION IN OUR FUND, NOT THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT'S RIGHT AROUND THERE, ALONG WITH 200 PLUS MILLION IN FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS WHERE OUR FIRST INSTINCT IS GOING TO BE TO ALLOCATE FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE PICK.

SO IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCIES, WE DO HAVE CASH ON HAND READY TO BE SPENT FOR ANY EMERGENCIES.

WE ALSO HAVE AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY BLESSED.

IT'S ONE OF THE BEST BALANCE SHEET IN THE COUNTRY.

SO ON TOP OF THAT, WE ALSO HAVE FUND BALANCE OR WORKING CAPITAL THAT WE CAN DRAW DOWN FROM.

ALSO, PRIOR BUDGET ADMINISTRATIONS HAD EMPHASIZED PUTTING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING CASH AWAY INTO SPECIAL FUNDS.

SO THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET YOU'VE SEEN WHERE THERE'S WE'RE RECOMMENDING MOVING GENERAL FUND EXPENSES TO A SPECIAL FUND THAT WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS THAT DO HAVE CASH THAT WERE ACTUALLY SO WE HAVE CASH RESOURCES TO FUND ONE TIME ITEMS LIKE EMERGENCIES, LIKE ONE TIME FACILITY PURCHASES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE STRUGGLE ON THE RECURRENT FUNDING, OUR RECURRING NEEDS, GIVEN WE'RE GROWING COUNTY AND WE'RE UNDER A REVENUE.

AND CAN YOU NOW LET US KNOW WHY YOU ATTEND TO THE FIVE? SO THE TEN TO THE FIVE, THE.

I JUST THINK TEN IS A LOT.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MANY CHANGES OR SORRY, THAT MANY UNBUDGETED ITEMS COME OUT AND ANYTHING THAT'S AT THAT $10 MILLION LEVEL, WE'D LIKELY BE USING THE PICK ANYWAYS FOR THE IT'S ACTUALLY A THE COURT ADOPTED A POLICY WHERE IT'S A $5 MILLION MINIMUM TO TO TO ACCESS THE PICK.

SO WE WE HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE.

OH MY. YOU KNOW I'VE RUN DEPARTMENTS, I'VE BEEN AT AN ADMINISTRATOR IN ANOTHER CITY.

THEY WE SHOULDN'T BE HOLDING BACK MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR OF SERVING OUR RESIDENTS IS KIND OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF IF I COULD JUST START TO WHITTLE DOWN ON THIS SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE CONSENSUS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

RAMSEY MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS ON THIS ITEM.

YEAH. JUST QUICK, QUICK.

THE I THINK WE ALL TAKE IT TO ZERO DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.

DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE MULTIPLE RESERVES.

WE HAD SOME IN THE CLOSET UNDER THE BED AND ALL THIS OTHER WELL WE HAVE ONE POT, WE GOT THE PICK.

IT'S 160 MILLION.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU EVEN HAVE FIVE.

TAKE THAT TO ZERO.

THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE IS TO HAVE THAT MONEY.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY.

THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE.

BUT BUT AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT TO RESERVE ITS 160 MILLION.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU KEEPING THE FIVE.

I WOULD PUT THE WHOLE FENCE.

I WOULD RESERVE SOME AT LEAST A COUPLE MILLION, 3 MILLION AT VERY MINIMUM, BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE DEPARTMENTS ARE JUST PICK ON THAT. THE POLICY AS IT EXISTS TODAY, YOU HAVE IT'S A 5 MILLION.

YEAH, IT'S A $5 MILLION MINIMUM.

PLUS, I BELIEVE THERE HAS TO BE A DISASTER DECLARATION BY THE COURT.

YEAH. WE DO HAVE AGAIN, FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS OUR KIND OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT SEGREGATED OR FENCED OFF FROM OTHER AND THAT OTHER THAT OTHERS ARE BESIDE THE PIC IS HOW MUCH IS IT NOW.

IT DEPENDS.

WE GO AS HIGH AS 1.2, 1.2 BILLION.

WE GO AS LOW AS 300 PLUS.

WHEN WE'RE RIGHT AROUND NOW IS WHEN WE'RE ON OUR KIND OF LAST LEGS.

THERE AREN'T RESTRICTIONS ON THAT THAT THERE IS ON THE PIC.

CORRECT. SO WE DO HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE, CORRECT?

[01:50:04]

UH, IF WE WERE TO LEAVE 5 MILLION IN THERE AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS A NEED TO ACCESS IT, DOES IT COME BACK TO US? THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE SUPPLEMENTAL IS THEY'VE COME FROM THIS AREA.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS KIND OF A BAD YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE DEFAULTED TO THE AND WE WERE DOING FIX IT BUDGET TRANSFERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT WHEN WE HAD THE I BELIEVE IT WAS SHORT FISCAL YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BODY WORN CAMERAS FOR CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THIS IS THIS IS THAT POT OF MONEY WE TOOK IT OUT OF.

AND JUST HISTORICALLY, HOW OFTEN HAVE WE ACCESSED IT? LET'S SAY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO MY TWO YEARS HERE.

I BELIEVE BOTH YEARS.

SOME OF IT WAS UTILIZED.

I THINK I MEAN, IT WAS AT 15 MILLION, WHICH TO ME IS ABSURD.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND I'M UP TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT.

IF AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD WE SEE THAT, WE PROBABLY WON'T NEED IT.

WE COULD GO BACK AND ACCESS IT TO FUND SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS DOWN THE ROAD.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER SMITH.

YEAH. SO WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE TO REDUCE THE UNBUDGETED RESERVE FROM 10 MILLION TO 5.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? YEAH.

IT PASSES FOUR TO NOTHING.

BE. AND JUST TO BE JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF IF WE ARE A COUPLE MILLION SHORT ZERO, WHAT SAY NOTHING FOR THE TO KNOW.

SAY TO SAY.

I THINK I'VE SAID THIS TO ALL OF YOUR STAFFS AT VARIOUS POINTS.

IF WE GET WITHIN A COUPLE MILLION LIKE THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY.

LET'S JUST RATHER THAN FIGHT OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, PERCENT OF A PERCENT OF THE BUDGET, LET'S JUST CALL IT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER OFFSETS.

OKAY. THE SECOND ONE.

THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE TO RAISE THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE VOTER APPROVED RATE, WHICH WHICH WAS ALREADY DONE.

OKAY, WE GOT THIS.

OKAY. IS IT.

GOT IT. THAT'S NOT ONE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT WOULD BE AND WE'VE SEEN ALL OF US HAVE SEEN THIS, RIGHT? DON'T WANT TO SEE. THEY WERE SENT OUT YESTERDAY.

ARE YOU THROUGH? DIDN'T YOU OR WERE YOU GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST? OH, CAN WE DO THEM ALL? IF Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THEM, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THEM, CAN WE JUST MAKE A MOTION FOR ALL OF THEM? YEAH. I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR.

OKAY, GO AHEAD. SO THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE MOVE TO DECREASE THE JAIL MEDICAL BUDGET BY 4.3 MILLION.

THIS IS ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU SAW A MEMO FROM THE SHERIFF TO ME SEEKING YOU ALL REQUESTING THAT THE HARRIS HEALTH BUDGET BE KEPT FLAT.

I THINK THAT THAT IS TOO AGGRESSIVE.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WOULD BE BORNE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO CUT IT DOWN, THEN NEED TO CUT BACK IN FUTURE, IN FUTURE COURTS AND RESTORE THE FUNDING.

I THINK REDUCING IT BY 4.3 MILLION, WHICH WILL GET UP TO 97 MILLION, IS AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER.

I'VE WORKED WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE SHERIFF AND BOTH FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THAT.

SO I MOVE TO DECREASE THE JAIL MEDICAL BUDGETS BY 4.3.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.

WHO HAS A NO NAYS.

IT PASSES. ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND NON-TAX REVENUE REVENUE ESTIMATE BY 2.3 MILLION TO ACCOUNT FOR AN ADDITIONAL AWARD IN FISCAL YEAR 24.

WE RECEIVED WHAT'S CALLED A GAP GRANT.

DON'T ASK ME WHAT THE ACRONYM IS, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT IT IS A GRANT WHERE WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THE CARE OF UNDOCUMENTED INMATES.

SO WE HAD BUDGETED 4 MILLION.

THE AWARD CAME BACK AT 6.4 MILLION.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT IS GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAT COULD BE REAPPLIED.

SO WE'RE ASKING TO RAISE OUR REVENUE ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO UPDATE THE GAP GRANT AWARD.

SO IS THERE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? FOUR YESES.

NO NOS AS READ AS SPOKEN BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SPOKEN BY COMMISSIONER. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? THAT LANGUAGE IS OKAY. OKAY.

THAT WORKS. OKAY. YEAH.

UH, THE NEXT ONE IS MOVE TO REDUCE HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES BUDGET BY 500,000.

WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY HAPPENED? SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE COST OF THE ELECTRONIC THE INTERLOCK DEVICES FOR FOR FOLKS CHARGED WITH DUIS HAS GONE UP.

SO HAS THE VOLUME.

BUT WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO EAT THAT COST OF THEIR BASE BUDGET.

SO WE DID A $1.7 MILLION, UH, CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE CHANGE FOR THEM TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT COST.

BUT DURING THE YEAR THEY ACTUALLY ACCRUE TONS OF VACANCY SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER STAFF.

THAT'S A REALLY HARD JOB.

IT'S THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE ACTUALLY VERY HIGH THAT REQUIRES A COLLEGE DEGREE.

[01:55:04]

OR DO YOU WANT TO DO ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRETRIAL YOU WANT TO DO I CAN DO THE LIBRARY WORKS.

IT'S A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION WITH THE LIBRARY.

DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS, DR.

MELTON BROUGHT THIS UP AS WELL.

THE COST TO ME, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THEIR CIRCULATION THAT THEY TURN OVER AND EXPAND EVERY YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER IS, BUT THE COST OF THOSE BOOKS, BOTH DIGITAL AND IN PRINT, HAS GONE UP.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO AN OFFICE THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TURNOVER VACANCIES.

AND SO WHAT THEY DO DURING THE YEAR IS THEY TAKE THEIR VACANCY SAVINGS AND REPURPOSE IT.

THEY TRANSFER IT TO THEIR NON-LABOR BUDGET IN ORDER TO DO FIRST DO BOOK PURCHASING.

SO WE DID A $1.9 MILLION ADJUSTMENT.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING TAKING IT DOWN TO 1.4.

SO THE COMBINED WOULD BE A MILLION.

SO I MOVED TO REDUCE OR ADJUSTMENTS FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS REDUCING FIELD.

GESTRIN FOR LIBRARIES FOR BOOK CIRCULATION BY BY HALF A MILLION AND REDUCING FEARLESS ADJUSTMENT FOR THE PRETRIAL SERVICES BY HALF A MILLION.

AND WE'RE 40S.

YEP. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. IT PASSES.

OR AS IN NO NAYS.

I MOVE ON.

MOVING THE LASALLE INMATE OUTSOURCING CONTRACT TO RPA BY 14 MILLION.

HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. YES.

14 MILLION RECORDS.

14 MILLION MTC.

AND THEN POTENTIALLY, IF YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COLA.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SEGMENT OF THE MEETING.

BUT TO GO BACK TO THE SPORTSMAN 14 ISSUE WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT, WHICH WAS THE.

BARTON, WOULD YOUR RECOMMENDATION BE THEN THE 28 MILLION THAT YOU NEED FOR THE JAIL CONTRACTS? YEAH. SO I BELIEVE THE NUMBER THAT I KIND OF MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO TAKE $21 MILLION OUT OF ARPA, 14 OF WHICH WOULD BE THE LASALLE CONTRACT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BUDGETED IN THE GENERAL FUND, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 7 MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALL FUNDING 14 MILLION FOR THE MTC WILL BE A TOTAL OF $35 MILLION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE OBLIGATED FROM OTHER OTHER BUCKETS.

AND IF COURT WANTED TO GO ABOVE THAT, IT JUST SCARED WHATEVER NUMBER WE'D BE OBLIGATED.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBTRACT 14 OUT OF IT, AND THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND SAVINGS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE REALLOCATED TO OTHER PLACES.

BUT ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THE OBLIGATING, WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO DO COAL AND OTHER THINGS IF THIS MOTION PASSES.

YEAH. ONE THING, JUST TO TAKE A STEP BACK, I.

I KNOW THIS SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS WORRYING SO MUCH ABOUT WE'RE CUTTING THIS TO FUND THAT.

LIKE, WHAT I'M. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO IS LIKE, WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE LIKE? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO OUT? HOW MUCH DOES THIS BODY HAVE TO REALLOCATE? SO WHILE IT MIGHT BE 21 MILLION FOR COLA, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE 15 DEPENDING ON WHERE COURT LANDS.

IT'S REALLY WHAT IS YOUR COMFORT LEVEL? HOW MUCH OF ARPA ARE YOU? ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH YOU OBLIGATING? WE'LL SUBTRACT 14 OUT OF THAT FOR THE MTC AND THE THE BALANCE OF THAT WILL GO TOWARDS YOUR THE SPENDING CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AFTER THAT.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS 35.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO A RECONCILIATION? AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND IT DOWN AT THE END OF AFTER YOU AFTER COMMISSIONER COURT READS ALL OF ITS BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

I'M GOING TO PUT A DOCUMENT TOGETHER AND SHARE IT WITH ALL YOUR OFFICES.

WE'LL ALSO POST IT ONLINE AND AND WE'LL HAVE HOW MUCH HAS BEEN AGREED TO AT THIS POINT.

SO WITH WITH THE CONTRACT, IT'D BE 29.5 MILLION IS AVAILABLE.

ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WOULD IF WE IF YOU WERE TO AGREE WITH ME AND SAY DID YOU OBLIGATE 35 MILLION, THAT WOULD BRING IT UP TO 36.5 MILLION THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR A BUDGET? AMENDMENTS SO WHAT WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS THIS ITEM WE NEED TO HAVE AND I HAD A SENSE OF COMFORT WITH THE OBLIGATION AT 35 MILLION.

THAT'S CORRECT. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I DON'T I'LL DEFER TO DIRECTOR BARTON ON THIS, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO GET TO THAT 35 IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION TODAY, PREPARE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT THE STEERING COMMITTEE, THAT THAT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THIS COURT.

IS THERE A SECOND, COMMISSIONER? SIR. WHAT'S THE MOTION? WE NEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT.

MOTION IS TO MOVE INMATE OUTSOURCING CONTRACT TO RPA BY 14 MILLION.

IS THAT SUFFICIENT? WHAT DO YOU.

[02:00:01]

BUT IF FOLKS WANT TO GO FURTHER THAN THAT, I WOULD OKAY WITH.

I DON'T. I THINK THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT IS 14 MILLION.

CORRECT. OH, OKAY.

THAT'S SO I'M ONLY MAKING A MOTION TO MOVE OVER THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT.

LET ME SAY THIS. THE FIGURE IS GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN 35 MILLION IF WE'RE GOING TO DO COLA AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS AMENDMENT. IS THAT RIGHT? SO WE'RE GOING TO PLUG IN MOVIE TRANSFER X AMOUNT AND GENERAL FUND EXPENSES TOO.

YEAH, THAT THAT WILL GIVE US THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT I SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL BE NOW.

SO IF WE GO WITH THE 14 MILLION AT THE 29, YOU WOULD HAVE 29.5 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

AFTER ALL THE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN.

SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION PASSES YOU.

YOU NOW HAVE $29.5 MILLION IN FUNDING AVAILABLE TO MAKE BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON.

HOW MANY BUDGET MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE UP THERE? YOU KNOW. I'M SORRY.

HOW MANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS HAVE COME IN TO YOU? UM. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 29 MILLION LEFT IN ARPA.

NO, IN GENERAL FUND THAT GENERAL FUND.

YEAH. THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU FREED UP.

THAT'S HOW MUCH THIS COURT HAS JUST FREED UP IF COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION WERE TO PASS.

I WOULD ALSO IF IF THE COURT IS COMFORTABLE, TAKE ACTION ON THE MTC SO THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT JUST DOES NOT FREE UP GENERAL FUND THAT IS JUST A NEEDED TO NOT AVOID PAYING FOR IT IN GENERAL FUND IN THE NEXT YEAR.

I'M SORRY. HERE.

NO, I'M NOT CONFUSED.

I THINK OF IT MORE AS THE MACRO, SO I WANT IT TO MOVE TO FREE UP X AMOUNT.

AND I WAS THINKING UP TO WRITE FUNCTIONALITY, INCLUDING COMMA, INCLUDING THE 13 MILLION FOR THE SALE.

AND THEN NOW WE NEED THE 14 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS FOR GIVING THE CONFUSION.

I KNOW I'M JUMPING AHEAD, BUT I WANT THE 7% TO RUN FROM OCTOBER BECAUSE THAT'S 21 MILLION.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WE CAN DO THREE SEPARATE MOTIONS OR THE TOTALITY OF AN UP TO THE AMOUNT.

AND THEN IF WE WANT TO SPECIFY COMPLETING THE SALE AND SEE WHATEVER ELSE.

SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST I WOULD I WOULD SUGGEST DOING THEM INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE WE TEND TO FORGET WHAT WE VOTED ON.

SO, SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SUGGEST BEFORE WE BEFORE WE DO THIS MOTION, RESPECTFULLY, WE OUGHT TO DECIDE HOW MUCH IS ARPA MONEY WE'RE GOING TO FREE UP.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SUGGEST AND WE'LL KNOW BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO THIS.

SO I'M GOING TO IF I MIGHT MAKE A MOTION TO TO THE ABROGATE 35 MILLION FROM HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM PORTFOLIO TO COVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET NEEDS.

I'LL MAKE THAT KNOWN TOO MUCH.

I'VE GOT TWO MOTIONS ON THE TABLE WITH ONE PHONE CALL.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO POINT OF ORDER.

THERE WAS A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

SO WE HAVE TO ACT ON THE PLACE.

OKAY, LET'S DO THAT. SECOND.

SECOND. YOU MIND REPEATING THAT JUST FOR COURT RECORD? IT IS TO MOVE THE LASALLE INMATE OUTSOURCING CONTRACT TO RPA FOR 14 DAYS.

I. OH, SORRY.

GO AHEAD. YEAH, LET'S FINISH THIS.

AND THEN I HAVE A SUGGESTION ON HOW TO PURSUE THAT.

BUT GETTING TO COMMISSIONER, JUST BASED ON ME NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH MONEY WE GOING TO HAVE, AT LEAST FOR ME, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS.

OKAY, SO MAYBE I SHOULD JUMP IN AT THIS POINT.

SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS TAKE ACTION ON THE SAL, TAKE ACTION ON MTC, AND THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE ANYONE FROM MAKING AN ADDITIONAL MOTION TO SAY.

MOVE SEVEN ADDITIONAL MILLION OF GENERAL FUND EXPENSES TO ARPA.

SO THAT WOULD BE A THIRD MOTION.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH EVERYONE.

SO WE WOULD DO 1414 MILLION, WHICH THE LASALLE CONTRACT WHICH GARCIA MR. GARCIA'S MOTION THAT WE WOULD DO 14 MILLION FOR MTC SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DIP INTO GENERAL FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT CONTRACT AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THAT. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER? WHAT? WELL, I KNOW THEY MUST NEED TO, BUT THEY WOULD FINISH THE.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE EASIEST THING TO GO IF WE CAN DO THAT.

YEAH. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. HI.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

UH, THREE YESES AND.

NO, NO, THAT'S. AND THERE.

SO NOW MOVE TO MOVE THE CONTRACTS TO ARPA FOR 14.

SO WOULD. MOTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.

AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

ANY DISCUSSION? MAKES ME CRINGE, FRANKLY, THAT WE ARE OUTSOURCING THE PRIVATE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE ALL THE PROBLEMS WAITING FOR

[02:05:09]

AND SO I VOTE IN FAVOR BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE IN DESPERATE TIMES, CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING ENOUGH OF THE ARPA TO DO SOME OF THESE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO HELP ADDRESS FUNDAMENTALLY THIS DESPERATE SITUATION WE'RE IN.

SO, YES, VOTE, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR GOING TO SEE AND THE LAST CALL, BUT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO NEVER HAD THEM.

AND TO ME ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER VOTES.

SO I HAVE A DISCOMFORT WITH VOTING FOR IT UNTIL I KNOW.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT TO JUST TO THIS POINT.

I HAVE TALKED TO SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE FAMILY IN THESE LOCATIONS.

AND IT SPEAKS TO THE DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR CURRENT JAIL.

THEY WOULD RATHER BE IN A MUCH BETTER CONDITION.

THAT WAS ALL THAN OUR COUNTY JAIL.

SO WHEN I'M THINKING OF THAT, WHEN I'M SAYING THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY IT'S NOT WHAT WE WOULD ANYBODY WOULD WANT, BUT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IS A LOCAL UP TO SPEED UP THE STANDARD JAIL.

BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW THAT IN MANY CASES THOSE FAMILIES ARE BETTER SERVED.

THOSE INMATES ARE GOING TO SERVE THEIR TIME.

AND I WOULD JUST ADD TO OUR HOST OF THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE YEARS THAT IF WE COULD DO SO, WE HOLD SOME PEOPLE TRULY DANGEROUS INSTEAD OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT.

BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT TO GO AND CONVINCE, AT LEAST FOR ME.

NOW I CAN GO BACK AND CHANGE MY VOTE AND NOT ANYBODY CARES.

BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.

SO IF WE IF WE WERE VOTING ON THE ARPA ISSUES FIRST, THEN I WOULD VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT.

IT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME TO TO MAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH.

OKAY. SO THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED VOTE NO.

THREE EYES AND ONE NO.

MOTION PASSES. AND NOW I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I MOVE TO OBLIGATE 35 MILLION FROM HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM ARE FOR PORTFOLIO TO COVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET YEAR SUBJECT TO 30.

YES, I WILL VOTE NO ON THAT BECAUSE THE.

THE IDEA THAT THERE WAS A DEFICIT WAS ON THE TABLE.

IT'S THE REASON I MADE THAT MOTION.

HOWEVER, I FUNDAMENTALLY DO NOT AGREE WITH HOW THE CONVERSATION FOR MOVING THAT MONEY AROUND WITHOUT ENGAGING.

THE FOREFOOT IGUAPE.

I THINK THAT WAS BAD FORM.

SECONDLY, THE.

REALITY OF OF WORKING THOSE NUMBERS AND MOVING THAT AND KNOWING THAT THE MONEY WAS THERE PRIOR TO THIS PARTICULAR VOTE WAS HOW THE DISTRICT WAS USING IT TO BUDGET IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR.

DR. FAUCI HAS BEEN GRACIOUS THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO CREATE A.

I MAY BREAK YOU ON THIS, BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK IT'S I'M JUST STICKING TO OUR BUREAUCRACY AND HOW CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THEY WERE.

SO I'LL BE VOTING THAT, AND I RESPECT THAT.

WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I HAVE ADVOCATED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, AS I'VE MENTIONED, EVEN BEFORE YOU CAME AT ONE POINT, UH, TO GIVE HARRIS HILL THE MONEY THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR, AND I, FOR ONE, WOULD EVEN TAKE THE VOTE.

I'LL TAKE THE HEAT. UH, BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THREE OF US WILLING TO GO DO THAT.

I THINK HE'D DO THAT. BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO DO THAT.

UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE PROPERLY.

SECOND, REPEATING IT FOR COURT RECORD.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE MOTION WAS TO OBLIGATE 35 MILLION FROM HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM ARPA PORTFOLIO TO COVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.

I LOVE YOU TOO. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE WAS A SECOND. SORRY.

IT SHOULD BE 35.50.

35.5. I'M SORRY.

I MOVED TO THE OBLIGATE 35.5 MILLION FROM HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM HARPER PORTFOLIO THE FISCAL YEAR END FOR BUDGET YEAR.

AND THAT WAS A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED? NO. THREE GAYS AND ONE NAY.

MOTION PASSES.

NOW WE DON'T HAVE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VOTE FOR THE OTHER TWO ITEMS THAT VOTED AGAINST.

I DON'T MIND VOTING FOR IT. I KNOW THE MONEY IS THERE.

OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO RECONSIDER IT.

SURE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE TO THE 9 MILLION FROM WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO TO COVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.

SOME. I'VE WORK AVENGER PART OF THAT.

[02:10:04]

9 MILLION FOR THE WATER AND SEWER.

BUT YES, THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER.

AND JUST WALK US THROUGH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

NO, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT COULDN'T BE FUNDED, BUT SOMETHING ELSE WILL BE DONE IN THE SAME AREA.

JUST WALK US THROUGH THE ITEM.

SO WE HAD ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED USING UP TO $50 MILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS AT THE ADVICE OF THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE.

$40 MILLION HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AS THE CURRENT COST OF THE WESTFIELD ESTATES PROJECT, WHICH WILL ADD 735 WASTEWATER CONNECTIONS IN PRECINCT TWO.

THE REMAINING 79.9 MILLION IS IS AS YET UNPLANNED.

AND THEY'RE PLAYING IT BY NOW.

IT'S NOT TEN.

I MEAN, NINE AND TEN AT THAT POINT.

WHAT IS IT? NINE. SO ENGINEERING'S LATEST ESTIMATE IS 40.1 MILLION FOR THE WESTFIELD ESTATES PROJECT, INCLUDING CONTINGENCY, WHICH LEAVES US WITH 9.9 REMAINING.

NINE POINT WHAT? 9.9.

AND. AND LED BY MY ENGINEERS ARE TELLING ME THAT THE PROJECT.

START AT A MINIMUM OF 12 MILLION.

THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING AS WELL? OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WERE CONSIDERED, THEY WERE LARGER.

SO I WOULD I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK OF THE FACT THAT INSTEAD OF THE OBLIGATING IT, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

I MEAN, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON SEPTIC TANK RESOURCES.

I WOULD I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE I MEAN, I'LL VOTE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS, BUT I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT.

YOU'RE ONLY POTENTIALLY 2.5 MILLION AWAY FROM CREATING A PROJECT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND THIS IS JUST CRITICAL VERSUS THE OBLIGATIONS.

I WOULD JUST CHALLENGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT USING THE BE A STARTING POINT FOR ANOTHER PROJECT WHEN WE WHEN. THE BARTON CAME BY AND WE VISITED AND HAD THE SIMILAR SIMILAR ISSUES MRS THAT.

BUT WE'RE DOWN TO TWO YEARS TO GET ONE PLANNED, DESIGNED AND BUILT BECAUSE YOU GOT TO HAVE IT IN THE GROUND, AS I UNDERSTAND. IS THAT RIGHT? WELL. YES.

AND THE CHALLENGE WITH WATER AND SEWER IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE GENERAL FUND AUTHORITY TO SPEND ON THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.

SO WE CAN'T EXTEND IT PAST 2026 USING THE FLEX FUND, WE GOT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS. COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT THE TIMING CONSTRAINTS AND THEN THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.

SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF OBLIGATING THIS AMOUNT.

I BET. WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

GIVE GIVING A GOOD READ. OH, IT'S 9.9, RIGHT? YEAH. THE AMOUNT IS 9.9 MILLION.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU.

I KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S IN YOUR AREA.

WE'RE NOT MAKING A MOTION.

AND SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE FOR 9.9 MILLION.

LET ME READ IT AGAIN. YES, PLEASE. JUST REAL QUICKLY, LEAH, IF I COULD ASK YOU TO COME BACK ON JUST TO CONFIRM THE OBLIGATING, THIS WILL NOT IMPACT THE CURRENT PROJECT. NOT AT ALL.

AND AGAIN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO REVIEW THEIR COST ESTIMATES AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF IT TURNS OUT THEY DO NEED MORE.

YEAH, THAT WAS A QUESTION I ASKED ABOUT ANY ADVERSE INTENT AND SOME CHANGES YOU COULD MAKE.

LET US KNOW, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. AND WHAT WOULD BE THE SENSE OF WORKING WITH YOU? SO MOVED TO THE AGGREGATE 9.9 MILLION FROM THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO THAT COVER FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET YEAR.

AND THAT WAS A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SORRY, ALL OF OPPOSE.

OR AS IN NO NAYS.

OF ITEM PASSING. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS FOR OTHER FUNDS TO BE OBLIGATED? I WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMALS.

TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE, WHAT IS THE CURRENT TOTAL NOW THAT HAS BEEN OBLIGATED TO ANYONE WATCHING CAN FOLLOW ALONG? SO IT WOULD BE, I BELIEVE WHAT I HEARD WITH THE 9.9 MILLION.

IT WOULD BE IT SHOULD BE BETTER AT MATH.

I HOPE WE ARE.

WELL, THAT'S SCARY. SO IT WOULD IT WOULD BE 39.4 MILLION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REALLOCATE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE TOTALITY OF ALL THE OFFSETS WE'VE ALREADY.

[02:15:03]

SORRY, INCLUDING THE 35 FROM THE HOSPITAL? NO, SORRY. IT'D BE 40.

46 MILLION.

I APOLOGIZE. NOW, IF WE JUST MAKE SURE.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT, UH.

ARE. OKAY.

AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS? I KNOW THERE'S OTHER AREAS, BUT PUTTING ASIDE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER OFFSET RECOMMENDATIONS THAT NOW GIVEN THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION, THAT.

I HAD ONE OTHER OPTION.

SEMESTER HAD ONE AND.

OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE DUTIFULLY MAINTAINED 45 OR 44.

A FUNDED, UNFILLED POSITIONS IN THE PRECINCT AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING FUNDED UNFILLED POSITIONS.

I GET TO PUT $6 MILLION OVER HERE IN A LOCKBOX, SO I CARRY THAT $6 MILLION EVERY YEAR.

SO WHAT ABOUT THAT 6 MILLION? WELL, IT'S IT'S FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING FUNDED BUT UNFILLED POSITIONS.

AND I'M JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT THIS COMING YEAR.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT DOWN TO PROBABLY LESS THAN 20, FREEING UP FOR MY GENERAL FUND, PROBABLY $3 MILLION.

WELL, I WOULD ASK THE COUNTYWIDE QUESTION, AND WE LOOKED AT THAT.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY 531 FUNDED BUT UNFILLED, AND I WOULD EVEN SAY LIKELY NOT TO BE FILLED.

POSITIONS THAT TOTALED $32,792,000.

SO WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT, THAT OF PUTTING THAT THOSE DOLLARS BECAUSE THE MONEY'S ENCUMBERED AND YOU CAN'T USE THAT MONEY.

WE CAN'T USE THAT MONEY.

AND I THINK THIS YEAR WE PROBABLY COULD.

THAT'S 32 MILLION.

IF YOU DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT IN 32, 732,792,000, I DO HALF OF IT.

BUT IT'S IT'S A NUMBER.

ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.

SO THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT.

IT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME CLARIFICATION.

SO WE'LL RUN IT DOWN AND HAVE A WHEN WE GET BACK FROM BREAK ON, HOW MANY HOW MANY PER DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS LIKE MANY OF THOSE VACANCIES ARE AT THE SHERIFF BETWEEN DETENTION AND PATROL.

THOSE OFFSET THE OVERTIME THAT THEY SPEND TO FILL THEIR SLOTS.

SIMILAR EFFECTS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME. IT MIGHT BE A DEFENDER, IT MIGHT BE THE COURTS, IT MIGHT BE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE MIGHT BE. SO YOU PUT THEM OVER HERE TO ME.

I TOOK THEM OUT FROM MY ANALYSIS.

THAT'S WHAT THE 531 IS.

SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SENDING ME WHATEVER WAS DONE.

WE DID LOOK AT IT.

WE AND WE DO LOOK AT THE VACANCY SAVINGS.

WE DID BUDGET $5 MILLION IN VACANCY SAVINGS AS PART OF THE BASE BUDGET.

WHAT I WILL ALSO SAY, THOUGH, IS THOSE ARE THE ONE MUCH OF THE OVERTIME OFFSETS EITHER CONTRACTUAL STAFF, WHEN WE CAN'T FILL IT, WE GO OUT.

ENGINEERING IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN ENGINEER AVAILABLE, THEY HIRE ON A CONSULTANT TO DO THE WORK OR AN ARCHITECT OR WHATEVER THAT THAT JOB MAY BE.

YOU KNOW, BUILDING MAINTENANCE.

THEY HIRE OUTSIDE CREWS IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HIRE INSIDE CREWS.

SO I THINK A FURTHER ANALYSIS WOULD BE DONE, COULD BE DONE ON THAT.

I'D BE KIND OF RELUCTANT TO TO COUNT SOME COUNT THAT IN THE BASE BUDGET.

BUT I CAN GO BACK AND DO THE WORK AND PRESENT AT THE AT SOME FUTURE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE WE SEE THE THE 360 DAY VACANCY. LIKE I THINK COURTS SHOULD HAVE A POLICY AROUND AROUND RECOUPING THAT MONEY WHEN IT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

WELL IT USED TO BE BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED, IT ENDS UP BEING A RESERVE FOR EACH DEPARTMENT WITH THEIR LITTLE RESERVE AND DON'T DON'T MIND IT RESERVE. BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS STUFF, WE ALL TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE SPEND THE MONEY AND HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET.

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING THOSE NUMBERS ON THE TABLE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.

THAT'S NOT A LITTLE NOVEL.

IN FACT, THE 32 792 KIND OF IT'S IT'S 100 MILLION IF YOU LOOK AT AT EVERY POSITION.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ADVOCATING EVERY POSITION THERE NEEDS TO BE JUST LIKE I'M GOING TO BE 22 BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR ME TO HAVE THAT BIT OF FLEXIBILITY.

SO I'M NOT SAYING ELIMINATE ALL OF THEM, BUT LORD, WE COULD ELIMINATE SOME OF IT.

[02:20:06]

WE DID. THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE THE PRIMARY GENERATORS OF THAT PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNITY SERVICES, UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

ALL THREE OF THOSE TOOK IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES, ALMOST $1 MILLION CUTS WHICH ARE BASICALLY FLOWING DIRECTLY FROM THOSE THAT VACANCY SAVINGS.

COMMUNITY SERVICE GOT THEIR FULL 2% VACANT AS PART OF THAT.

AND WE'RE ALSO BUDGETING 5% ON TOP OF THAT.

SO I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE SHOULD HAVE A POLICY AROUND RECOUPING IT.

AND I'M COMFORTABLE COMING BACK EVERY QUARTER AND SAYING HERE ARE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR LONGER THAN A YEAR AND THE DEPARTMENT CAN'T JUSTIFY IT.

WE SHOULD REPEAT THAT FUNDING.

I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT TODAY ON THE FLY.

I AGREE. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY SHOULD LOOK INTO IN A WAY THAT'S THOUGHTFUL AND REALLY LOOKS AT THE DATA AND THE DRIVERS AND THEN CREATE A POLICY THAT'S CLEAR, CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED AND THAT HAS THE RIGHT INCENTIVE STRUCTURE AND TO POISE THE DEPARTMENT FOR SUCCESS, MAKE SURE THAT OUR HR DEPARTMENT.

ASSIST RETIRING.

RIGHT. BECAUSE THERE COULD BE A MYRIAD OF REASONS WHY FOLKS ARE SQUIRRELING THIS AWAY.

AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME TALENT GAPS, HIRING CHALLENGES.

RIGHT. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THOUGHTFUL, FAIR, BUT ALSO CREATES A GOOD INCENTIVE STRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE AND ACT VERSUS JUST.

BUT THAT'S ONE THING I PUSHED APARTMENTS REALLY HARD ON.

THERE HAS BEEN THIS NOTION I'VE HAD IT CORRECTED A COUPLE TIMES THAT APARTMENTS WHERE I GOT IT, I HAVE TO KEEP SOME POSITIONS AVAILABLE.

LIKE YOU'RE BUDGETED FOR A PAYROLL NUMBER.

YOU KNOW, BE AGGRESSIVE IN YOUR HIRING.

AND IF YOU GO OVER ON ONE PAYROLL, WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE HIGH TURNOVER DEPARTMENTS.

BUT LIKE BE AGGRESSIVE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO KEEP POSITIONS.

I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

AND WE REALLY NEED THE TALENT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK.

AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS TO SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR.

I AGREE WITH THAT. I'M WONDERING.

AND WE APPLY IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT BOTH TO PROTECT IT UNDER STATE LAW AND.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD WE WOULD DISCOURAGE JUST BASED ON SO SO FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, IF WE DO IT, YOU HAVE CERTAIN OFFICES WHERE ABOUT 60 SOME ODD 60% OF THE BUDGET IS BEING SPENT.

WE WOULD ONLY BE DOING THIS TO THOSE THAT ARE LEFT.

IT'S MY REGULAR. BUT I CAN COME BACK WITH A POLICY.

THERE ARE CIVILIAN POSITIONS IN THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

UH, WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR.

WHAT? FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.

I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR.

AND JUST TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT I'VE SEEN IS DEPARTMENTS HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION TO DEFUND SOME POSITIONS, FUND OTHER ONES AND PLAY, YOU KNOW, SHELL GAMES TO KIND OF TO CONFUSE WHAT IS SHOULD BE A MUCH EASIER, UH, MUCH EASIER ANALYSIS THAN IT IS.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO THE WORK.

I THINK LOOKING AT PAYROLL, WHAT THEIR BUDGET VERSUS THEIR PAYROLL IS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS IS A WORTHWHILE.

I THINK COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD HAVE MORE MORE CONTROL, FRANKLY, OVER SOME OF THESE DECISIONS AROUND CLASSES, FUNDING AND DEFUNDING POSITIONS, CREATION OF NEW POSITIONS. I THINK I CALL IT DEFUNDED LAST TIME.

LAST TIME SOMEBODY HAD THAT BRIGHT IDEA, LOOK WHERE IT ENDED UP.

THEN THEY'LL BE SAD. IF WE DEFUNDED, WE DEFUNDED FLOOD CONTROL AND DEFUNDED.

IF YOU LOOKED AT AND WE WE DID AND WE WE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT HAVE REMAINED FUNDED BUT NOT FILLED AND OVER A YEAR FUNDED BUT NOT FILLED IN OVER A YEAR, YEAH, I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE TAKE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE SOMETHING THAT THEY THOUGHT THROUGH, BUT I DO.

I LIKE THE TERM YOU USE THE CONCEPT OF SQUIRRELING AWAY SOME NUMBER THAT'S COST A LOT OF MONEY.

YEAH. YEAH.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SQUIRREL AWAY.

I WAS THINKING ON A DEFUNDING PIECE, BUT WHEN YOU SAID PHRASE AND WE JUST HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE INTERLOCAL, HOW DO THEY HANDLE IT OVER THERE? DO THEY GO HAVE ALL THOSE POSITIONS OVER THERE? ALL RIGHT, YOU GET YOU GET A LITTLE PEEK.

IN TERMS OF HILL.

YES. SO BEFORE WE GO IN HERE AND SQUEEZE ALL OUR FOLKS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND TALENT AND THEN WE DON'T DO IT.

WE CAN'T DO IT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU DON'T DO IT. JUST BE REAL CAREFUL FOR WHATEVER YOU DO.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO KEEP ON LOSING CONTROL.

AGAIN, I'M PRACTICING PREACHING HERE.

I TOOK 44 DOWN TO 22, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH.

I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POSITIONS.

I CAN'T DO IT. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT OFFSET AS WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO GET SALARY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS.

[02:25:05]

SO I THINK DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME WILLING TO OFFSET IT WITH THEIR VACANCIES TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO I WANT TO DO THE WORK.

I THINK, FRANKLY, I THINK COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL THAN YOU DO OVER POSITIONS AND MANY HR ISSUES.

I JUST WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO INCLUDE IT IN THIS BUDGET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK A FAIR TIME HORIZON IS? I THINK REPORTING ON IT IN THE FIRST QUARTER, IN THE FIRST QUARTER IS, I THINK, FAIR.

AND I THINK AT THAT POINT WE'D BE ABLE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE PACIFICATION STUDY.

WOULD YOU SAY WE HAVE 46 MILLION IN OFFSETS OVER, UH, TAKING OUT 46.4 MILLION? 46.4. OKAY.

MEMBERS YOU HAVE SOME MORE OFFSET MOTIONS YOU WANT TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU ALL GET TO THIS OR WE GET TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

NEXT ITEM IS A CHRISTMAS TREE.

AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT 29.5 IN THE GENERAL FUND, 45.4.

OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. THAT'S THE 46.4 IS THE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I MOVE TO.

THE OBLIGATE FUNDS FROM ACTIVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNDER THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNDER SPENDING PROJECT, AND THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION, WHATEVER.

IT'S IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES.

BUT THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE.

SPEND THEIR MONEY BY THE DIRECTOR.

MARTIN, CAN YOU JUST IF MIGHT HELP ME A LITTLE BIT, JUST GIVE ME A SENSE OF THAT.

YEAH. SO WHAT? JUST GIVE ME SOME IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO BE TALKING.

BUT BASED ON THE LATEST FORECASTS, THE ONES THAT HAVE THE LARGEST UNDERSPENDING OR THE LARGEST PROJECTED DIFFERENCE VERSUS THEIR THEIR OBLIGATION ARE ARE THE LEAD PROGRAMS AND HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

WHAT I WOULD ASK IS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH PROGRAM OWNERS TO COME UP WITH $3 MILLION IN OBLIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRING BACK TO YOU RATHER THAN CHOOSING SPECIFIC PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.

BUT I THINK 3 MILLION IS IS ACHIEVABLE.

COULD YOU, COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MOTION TO REFLECT THAT? SURE. HOW WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE WORDED? YEAH, YOU COULD SAY.

REQUEST THAT THE OBLIGATION OF $3 MILLION IN ACTIVE PROGRAMS BE PROPOSED BY.

WE COULD COME BACK OCTOBER 10TH AT THE OCTOBER 10TH COURT.

SO HE'S DIRECTING YOU TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO DUPLICATE $3 MILLION FOR THOSE AREAS FOR THE NEXT FOR OCTOBER THE 10TH.

FOURTH. DID YOU SAY OCTOBER 10TH? WE COULD DO THAT. 85% SUPPORT FOR.

BEATBOXING. BUT BACK TO THE ACID.

IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH? YOU WANT TO SAY IT AGAIN? YOU CAN SAY IT AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE.

SHORTEN IT A LITTLE BIT. SORRY.

YEAH. YEAH. MOTION.

MOTION TO THE OBLIGATE 3 MILLION AND UNDER SPENDING PROGRAMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014.

PERIOD. YOU GOT IT.

AND IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OPPOSED? FOUR YAYS? NO. NAYS. MOTION PASSES.

AND WE'VE ALREADY LIFTED IN THE POTENTIAL OFFSETS FOR JUST THE SAFETY.

WAS THE FTC CONTRACT.

THAT ONE'S BEEN DEALT WITH.

EXCEPT WE DO HAVE A QUESTION IN YOUR LIST.

IT SAYS 6 MILLION FOR THE CONTRACT.

AND WE VOTED ON 14 MILLION.

HOW DOES THAT RECONCILE? SO WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 6 MILLION LEFT AT THE END OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT.

SO THAT WOULD ROLL OVER AND THEN WE WOULD NEED TO TO TOP IT UP BY 12 TO 14 MILLION BASED ON WHATEVER RENEWAL IS IS ACHIEVED. SO I KNOW THAT PURCHASING IS AN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH MTC AND, AND THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WE'RE TAKING FROM IT AND GIVING BACK.

NO, NO, NO. SO THERE WAS THE TOTAL CONTRACT IS ROUGHLY 20 MILLION.

THERE WERE 6 MILLION LEFT OVER FROM THE INITIAL AWARD.

SO WE ONLY CAME AND ASKED FOR 14 MILLION FOR MTC.

GOT IT. OKAY.

THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. COMMISSIONER DANIEL.

I GUESS WE DON'T NEED. WE DON'T NEED THAT PARTICULAR MOTION.

NO. NO, WE DON'T. I JUST WANTED TO SPECIFY.

PRESS THE SPECIFY THAT THE $3 MILLION WAS RELATED TO ARPA FUNDS.

CORRECT. AND THAT TO THE END OF THE MOTION, YES.

OKAY. SO. WITH THE PREVIOUS MOTION.

[02:30:03]

SO MOVE TO THE OBLIGATED 3 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING TO FUND FISCAL YEAR 24 GENERAL FUND NEEDS.

HERE YOU. HERE.

THAT'LL WORK.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS GARCIA BRIONES FOR, UM.

AND THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER MOTION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'D LIKE TO ASK DIRECTOR COSTAS TO JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION.

DIRECTOR. ARE YOU AVAILABLE? LEAH, IF YOU CAN IF SOMEONE CAN REACH DIRECTOR AND LEAH, IF YOU COULD COME BACK ON ON YOUR LIST, YOU HAVE 12 MILLION THAT YOU HAVE.

LABELED AS RIGHT SIZE.

EXPLAIN YOUR CONCERNS IN THIS.

FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS.

I'M. WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE'VE ASKED OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TEAM.

THEY ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS ON SOME OF THE HOUSING SERVICES, LIKE LEGAL AID.

THEY'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS RESPONSES TO THEIR MULTIFAMILY ACQUISITION RFP.

I THINK WHERE WE'RE SEEING KIND OF SLOWER ACTIVITY IS ON SINGLE FAMILY REHAB AND RECONSTRUCTION, WHICH ARE JUST NOW GETTING STARTED AS WELL AS ON THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE.

SET OF FUNDS, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN PLANNED.

AND SO THINK THAT SPEND IS ABSOLUTELY ACCELERATING, BUT THINK THEY, YOU KNOW, MAY STRUGGLE TO USE IT ALL.

AND IF WE HAD TO TO PICK AN AREA FOR FURTHER THE OBLIGATION THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE.

ALL RIGHT. DIDN'T GET A VERY DEFINITIVE CONCERN THERE.

I'M GOING TO PASS ON THAT ONE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU ALSO HAVE EARLY CHILDHOOD LIFTED FOR 12 MINUTES.

AND AGAIN, THEY'RE ACTIVELY PLANNING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.

I THINK WHAT WE'VE ALSO SEEN FROM SOME RECENT STUDIES IS THAT THE WAITLIST FOR CHILD CARE SUBSIDY IS REMAINS VERY LARGE.

AND SO WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT EARLY REACH PROGRAM.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD TO MAKE SOME HARD CHOICES, THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN STILL MAKE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT WITH THE REMAINING FUNDS.

AND SO DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING? I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY.

BUT IF THERE'S A CHOICE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, WE'LL OF COURSE, FOLLOW THROUGH.

SHE BUILDS ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S QUESTION.

DIRECTOR BARTON.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT WE'RE MAKING ON THE REGION.

AND I'M AN OPTIMIST.

SO I ALWAYS THINK THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF AND HAVE WONDERFUL IMPACT AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO SUSTAIN THEM AND SCALE THEM.

THAT'S THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.

BUT IN THE REALITY THAT WE FIND OURSELVES, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW TIGHT THE BUDGET IS, COULD YOU JUST DRILL DOWN INTO THAT QUESTION? THERE MIGHT BE PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON, BUT HOW HIGH QUALITY ARE THEY? HOW RIGOROUS? YOU KNOW.

I COULD DRILL DOWN FURTHER IN MY QUESTION, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST DRILL DOWN IN YOUR ANSWER, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE BODY IN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD OR IN HOUSING.

EARLY CHILDHOOD FIRST AND THEN HOUSING SECOND PLACE.

YEAH. SO I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS EARLY CHILDHOOD IS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT BOTH THE PARENT AND THE CHILDREN AND REALLY PROVIDE LONG TERM BENEFITS ON THE HORIZON.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED ARE ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO.

WE DON'T YET HAVE ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED IN IN THOSE AREAS.

WE DO THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE CHILD CARE ECOSYSTEM AS WELL AS TO IMPACT EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND REALLY PROVIDE THAT LONG TERM BENEFIT.

UM, WE HAVE PLANNED PROJECTS FOR BENEFITS ENROLLMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO DO WITH OUR ARPA MONEY IS USE THE ARPA MONEY TO ACCESS MORE MONEY, SUCH AS THROUGH TAX ASSISTANCE AND OTHER PROJECTS WHICH HAVE HELPED PEOPLE ACCESS NECESSARY BENEFITS.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER PROJECT ON THE HORIZON.

AGAIN, I THINK THE LIST OF PROPOSED PROJECTS IS IS A BIT LONG.

I WOULD I WOULD PREFER TO DO FEWER LARGER PROGRAMS. AND SO THAT NEEDS TO BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FOCUS AREA TEAM AND THE ARPA STEERING COMMITTEE.

[02:35:02]

AND IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING, COULD YOU GIVE US THE MORE NUANCED, EXTREMELY CANDID THOUGHTS? I THINK THE THE THE CANDID THOUGHT IS THAT ON MULTIFAMILY ACQUISITION, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING REAL STRENGTH.

WE'RE SEEING 100 AND, YOU KNOW, OVER $140 MILLION IN RESPONSES TO THE MULTIFAMILY ACQUISITION RFP.

AND THOSE ARE LARGE DEALS THAT WILL COMMIT LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUNDS RELATIVELY QUICKLY AS LONG AS WE CAN GET THE ASSOCIATED CONTRACTS WORKED THROUGH.

SO WE ABSOLUTELY NEED, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO DO THAT.

BUT BUT THOSE ARE ONE AND DONE PROJECTS THAT CREATE LONG TERM AFFORDABILITY.

SO THOSE ARE VERY EXCITING.

ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, SINGLE FAMILY RECONSTRUCTION AND SINGLE FAMILY REHAB ARE VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S DIFFICULT WORKING WITH HOMEOWNERS.

IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, WORKING THROUGH ELIGIBILITY AND MANAGING THOSE CONTRACTORS.

BUT THAT IS A CRITICAL NEED.

AND SO I THINK THAT WHEREAS WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON SPENDING ABOUT $39 MILLION IN THAT AREA.

LATEST ESTIMATES ARE COMING IN CLOSER TO 20 MILLION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM IS ACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO TO REALLOCATE THE REST OF THOSE FUNDS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NEVER IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO SEND ANY OF THE MONEY BACK.

SO IF WE COULD JUST HAVE AN ONGOING I KNOW OUR TEAMS DO IN THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND I KNOW HOW RIGOROUSLY YOU RUN THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

BUT I JUST WE DESPERATELY NEED THE MONEY GENERALLY ON SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO.

HAVE TO SEND ANY BACK BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AS AGGRESSIVE ON THE TIMETABLE.

AND I WANT THE HIGHEST AND BEST INVESTMENT.

A TOWEL THERE TOO.

YEAH, WELL, WHILE WE'RE ON ON THIS ONE, YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION, SMITH, AND I'LL PRESENT IT.

SORRY. ON THE ON THE SOUTH.

NOT YET. OKAY.

CARL? YES.

SORRY, DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, 12 MILLION HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD BE BE OBLIGATED AT ARPA.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT TO BE OBLIGATED OUT OF ARPA? WELL, AS LEAH HAS JUST MENTIONED, WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE REQUESTS FOR THE MULTIFAMILY SIDE.

ABSOLUTELY. THE SINGLE FAMILY IS THE ON.

WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF HOW THAT CAN BE PUT TO BEST USE.

UM, AT THIS POINT, I THINK I WOULD ASK THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE RFPS AND TO SEE WHERE THE IMPACTS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO BE MADE.

UM, I HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF NOT PUTTING ANY MONEY BACK OR SENDING ANY MONEY BACK AND LOSING ANY OPPORTUNITY.

SO WE JUST BEGAN TO REALLY RAMP UP ON THE RFPS FOR THE MULTIFAMILY PIECE, FOR MULTIFAMILY RENOVATION.

I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLORE, UM, AND THE SINGLE FAMILY PIECE.

AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, MONTH OR SO TO REALLY DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF HOW MANY APPLICATIONS FOR MULTIFAMILY ACQUISITIONS WERE RECEIVED BY THE.

SO FAR, AS LEAH MENTIONED, I THINK IT'S LIKE $140 MILLION WORTH.

AND I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES, UH, WHETHER IT'S PROPERTY ACQUISITION OR EXISTING.

SO I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.

SO WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, DIRECTOR COSTAS, IF WE CAN NOT SPEND THE MONEY IN ONE AREA OF HOUSING, IF WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COULDN'T WE MOVE IT AROUND IN THAT PORTFOLIO FOR HOUSING? ABSOLUTELY. THINK THAT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, UM, WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING AND PLANNING FOR.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY COMPONENTS, UM, AS WELL AS EVEN HOME OWNERSHIP AND, AND, AND THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY WILL NEED THAT ARE MORE OF THE ONE TIME INFUSION WHICH I KNOW THAT THAT'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS FUNDING.

SO WE WILL TRY TO MAXIMIZE AND TEST ALL OF THESE TOOLS WHILE WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE HOUSING FINANCE CORP.

[02:40:07]

SO AT LEAST FOR ME, I WOULD YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK WE MADE SUCH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO HOUSING AND CHILD CARE BECAUSE THIS COUNTY HAD IGNORED THOSE AREAS FOR SO LONG.

SO WE SHOULDN'T LOSE ANY MONEY WE SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT.

IF WE IF WE MADE CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP, IF THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT, DO WE LET OUR CONSTITUENTS SUFFER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T QUITE HAVE IT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? WE SHOULDN'T LOSE ANY MONEY.

AND IF IT'S HAPPENING, I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO COME IN AND LET US KNOW.

WE OUGHT TO MOVE IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THINK OF A HOUSE.

I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE IN POVERTY, I MEAN, THAT'S THE STABILITY OF A HOUSE.

THAT'S THE LARGEST SINGLE THING THAT MOST PEOPLE PASS ON OR RECEIVE IN TERMS OF GENERATION OF WEALTH WILL BE THAT HOUSE.

RIGHT. SO I WOULD JUST HATE FOR US TO BACK AWAY FROM THIS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY, WE OUGHT TO DO IT.

AND THE MARKET.

YES. AND THE COSTS OF OF INSURANCE AND AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BURDENS ON OUR DEVELOPERS AND EVEN OUR NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, THEY ARE NEEDING THESE INVESTMENTS.

SO AND HISTORICALLY, THAT WAS A POLICY HERE.

IF A COMMISSIONER DIDN'T WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR PRECINCT, THEY WOULDN'T GO DO IT.

AND ALL OF IT, FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF US IN PRECINCT ONE, SECONDLY IN PRECINCT TWO.

SO I WOULD SAY AT SOME POINT, IF WE'RE GOING TO REPROGRAM THE MONEY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, DO SOMETHING FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALWAYS TOOK THE PEOPLE.

OUR PEOPLE HAD TO LIVE SOMEWHERE WITH.

CERTAIN FOLKS DIDN'T WANT THEM.

AND THEN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.

SO JUST BE REAL SENSITIVE ON THE CHILDCARE PIECE.

LOOK, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN GETTING RAVE REVIEWS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

I HOPE WE'RE LOOKING AT BEZOS MONEY, HOW TO MATCH SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IT WOULD BE SUCH A TRAGEDY TO GO PULL IT OUT.

A BIGGER TRAGEDY WOULD BE TO LOSE IT.

AND SO AM SAYING IF AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE MONEY, I'M ASSUMING YOU TELL US THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

SO WE GO REPROGRAM IT IN SOME OTHER AREA.

BUT ALL OF THESE THAT A LOT OF GREAT AMENDMENTS WE HAVE ON DOING THINGS.

BUT THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND CHILDCARE TO GET SOME SOME PEOPLE OUT OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

BUT AT LEAST I'M NOT PREPARED TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

MAYBE OTHER. THANK THANK YOU FOR FOR WEIGHING IN.

EXCUSE ME. I WAS HOPING TO HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THIS.

I NEED TO SEE MORE OF IT BEING DONE.

SO THANK YOU AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

COMMISSIONER BROWN. DIRECTOR COSTAS, THANK YOU.

WE ALL KNOW HOW COMPLEX OF A SPACE THIS IS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR LEADING US THROUGH THIS AND FOR THE PROGRESS YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE MADE.

I VERY MUCH SHARE A COMMITMENT TO HOUSING, AND I PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOU JUST TO CONTINUE TO KEEP US ABREAST ON CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

PERSONALLY, I WANT US, THE MULTIFAMILY UNITS TO BE REALLY MOVING ALONG AND IS HELPING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

SO THE WAY I ALWAYS SEE IT IS WHAT HAS THE HIGHEST ROI IN TERMS OF SOCIAL IMPACT, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

AND SO AS MUCH AS IT'S GREAT TO HELP 20 PEOPLE, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

BUT IF WE CAN HELP 200, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE PLAYING AND LEVERAGING EVERY DOLLAR IN A WAY TO MAXIMIZE THE JUSTICE AND THE OUTPUTS.

SO IF YOU COULD THINK THROUGH THAT AND THEN RELATEDLY, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO.

GO A SECOND TIME.

THE EVALUATION PIECE WITH BARTON IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS.

SO WHETHER IT'S ACCESS OR SOME OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE ASK FOR A THIRD PARTY EVALUATION, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHANCE AT CHASING OTHER GRANTS IN THE FUTURE OR MAKING THE CASE THAT IT'S A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY, THAT EVALUATION PIECE WHERE IT'S FITTING FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS, I THINK IS INSTRUMENTAL.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT JUST THE WAY WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE HIRED, WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS WE'RE FITTING ARE BEING DONE IN PARALLEL THESE BECAUSE THE DATA WILL BE CRITICAL IF WE HAVE A SHOT AT SUSTAINABILITY AND SCALABILITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HAVE SOME, COMMISSIONER, ANY MOTIONS IN THIS FAVOR? ANY ANY OTHER OFFSETS? MEMBERS WANT TO RECOMMEND. MR. RAMOS. ANY OTHERS YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME. SO WE'LL WE'LL CRUNCH THE NUMBERS.

WE'LL RECONCILE THE TWO LISTS BETWEEN THE OBLIGATION.

[02:45:03]

WELL, AS SOON AS WE HAVE A NUMBER, WE'LL SHARE IT WITH YOUR OFFICES.

AND THEN WE'LL START THE DOCK.

WHEN YOU GUYS GET BACK, THERE'LL BE A BINDER HERE WITH ALL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO OUR OFFICE UP TO DATE.

SO HERE'S MY SUGGESTION WAS WE CAN GO TO THE FOURTH ITEM BUDGET AMENDMENTS OR WE CAN GO TO LUNCH.

DO YOU WANT TO GET YOUR AMENDMENTS TOGETHER AND THEN COME BACK AND DO IT? IT'LL BE A LONG DAY. YOU WOULDN'T MIND AND GIVE ME TIME.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

SO IT IS NOW ONE FULL 30 MINUTES AN HOUR.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? CAN WE GET FOR 230 IT JUST BECAUSE I THINK WE 30.

OKAY, WE NEED SOME TIME. IT IS NOW 114 COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL TAKE A BREAK.

UNTIL 230.

RECESS UNTIL 2:30 P.M..

IT'S NOW 140. THAT'S OKAY.

COLLEAGUES, IT IS.

IT IS NOW. 2:50 P.M.

AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RETURNED FOR RECESS AND IS BACK IN SESSION.

BEFORE WE GO TO YOU, MR. RAMOS DID NEED TO MAKE ONE CLEAN UP MOTION IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE.

WE NEED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO CONSIDER MULTIPLE MOTIONS BEFORE VOTING ON ANY SINGLE MOTIONS FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

SO WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

IS THERE OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

WE'VE AGREED TO DO IT.

HOW ABOUT THAT? OKAY, NOW, DANIEL, IF YOU WANT TO.

DID YOU SAY THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS OR SOMETHING? SO REALLY QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THE THE BUDGET OFFSETS.

I SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL OF YOUR STAFFS.

AND THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS WE HAVE 36.5 MILLION, 100% AVAILABLE.

THERE'S 14 MILLION THAT IF YOU REMEMBER GOING BACK TO DIRECTOR BARTON'S INITIAL PRESENTATION, THERE'S 19 MILLION WHERE SHE CALLED IT THE GLIDE PATH.

THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE OVER OBLIGATED BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH CONCERN AROUND OUR ABILITY TO SPEND THE MONEY AND NOT GIVE ANY MONEY BACK. WE'VE OVER ALLOCATED AND AS WE GET CLOSER, WE NEED TO GET CLOSER TO WHAT OUR TOTAL AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE.

WE HAD ASSUMED 14 MILLION, BUT COURT COULD DECIDE NOT TO TAKE ANY OF THAT.

WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IN PRACTICE IS.

EITHER THE SCARECROW IS GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY 5 MILLION IN IN FURTHER OBLIGATIONS OR 19 MILLION IN FURTHER OBLIGATIONS.

SO IF WE TOOK THE 14 MILLION, YOU'D HAVE 36.5 MILLION TO MAKE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

IF YOU WERE TO TAKE ZERO ZERO OF THE ARPA, THE OBLIGATIONS WOULD APPLY IT ALL TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND.

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE 50.5 MILLION.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MEMBERS. AND SO WE CAN MAKE A CHOICE NOW OR WE CAN WAIT UNTIL WE GET INTO BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND THEN MAKE THAT DETERMINATION BASED ON HOW MANY HAVE HALF SECONDS, ETCETERA.

OR YOU CAN JUST DECIDE UP FRONT.

TO DIRECT ME AND LEAH TO GO BACK AND WORK WITH SENIOR FOLKS TO FURTHER NAVIGATE BY 19 MILLION AND PRESENT AT A FUTURE COURT.

THANK YOU, SIR. YEAH, UM, I WOULD.

I WOULD. DO YOU NEED A MOTION IN THAT REGARD? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.

I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE BOTH OF Y'ALL WORK ON THIS BECAUSE I HATE GOING TO HER FOR ONE SET OF PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS AND LEADS TO ANOTHER IF I'D LIKE TO JUST.

GET ONE UNITED VOICE.

AND SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING TO DIRECT THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETS TO WORK WITH LEAH BARTON AND TO IDENTIFY 14 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL ARPA SAVINGS.

SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? RIGHT NOW.

AND WHEN THEY COME UP WITH IT, IT COMES BACK TO US.

THAT'S CORRECT. ALL OF IT WILL COME.

SO STYRACO WILL WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL COME THROUGH THIS BODY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR ME? I WOULD DEFER TO DIRECTOR BARTON IF SHE'S ON.

I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF MOVING PIECES HERE.

LEAH I THINK YES, WE CAN DO THAT ON THAT SAME OCTOBER 10TH TIMEFRAME, UNLESS YOU NEED IT SOONER.

I WOULD SAY NO LATER THAN.

AND IF YOU CAN BRING IT SOONER, THE BETTER.

THAT'D BE GOOD IF WE CAN.

SO WE CAN DIGEST IT.

SO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GOT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THEN WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND. SO SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE 50.5 MILLION OF BUDGET OFFSETS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO BE REALLOCATED.

[02:50:08]

AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M IN FAVOR OF PREFERENCE.

OKAY. THE MOTION IS MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND.

IS THAT ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES FOUR YAYS.

NO NAMES, NO NAYS.

AND NOW LET'S GO TO THE MINUTES.

OH, I DO HAVE.

THREE. OH, SO THERE'S A HANDFUL OF CORRECTIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THAT WERE MISSED IN THE BASE BUDGET.

THEY'RE THEY'RE BUDGET NEUTRAL.

UM, BUT WE DO NEED TO I DO WANT COURT ACTION BEFORE I AMEND THE BUDGET BOOK TO REFLECT IT.

SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ME JUST WALKING THROUGH THEM VERY QUICKLY.

SURE. SO THE FIRST ONE IS TO ALLOCATE 285,000 TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO STAFF THE FIFTH PROBATE COURT.

THAT IS A LEGAL MANDATE.

WE HAVE TO DO IT. THAT WAS JUST MISSED BETWEEN OUR TWO OFFICES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THAT WILL BE OFFSET WITH PARTIALLY BY 198,000 IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

THAT IS WHAT I THINK.

I MIGHT HAVE EXPLAINED IT AT THE BUDGET HEARING AND NOT AT THIS BODY, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

THEIR BUDGET IS ON A SEPARATE TRACK.

IT'S SET BY THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

THE DISTRICT JUDGES HAVE THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO RAISE THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET UP TO 5% WITHOUT COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL.

UM, OUR INITIAL ESTIMATE, THEIR BUDGET WAS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THAT 5% ESTIMATE.

SO WE'RE TAKING THEM DOWN TO MATCH.

THE TAKING THEM DOWN TO MATCH THE COURT ORDER.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS TO INCREASE THE BUDGET AT THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE BY 1.37 MILLION, AND THAT IS FOR THE JUROR PAY.

WE WILL BE GETTING THAT REIMBURSED BACK FROM THE FROM THE STATE.

SO YOU'LL SEE IT ON BOTH SIDES ARE NON-TAX REVENUE WILL OFFSET AGAINST.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE ON TO THIS ITEM IS THAT IT.

THAT'S ALL OF. OH, THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.

THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THAT ARE HERE.

ALL OF THEM ARE HERE. ALL.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? BRIAN WITH REGARD TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS.

CORRECT, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE THINGS TALKED ABOUT LATER.

BUT THIS IS JUST WHAT IT IS.

ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS CORRECT.

YEAH. THIS IS JUST HOW MUCH WE EXPECT TO GET FROM THE STATE WHERE WE'RE PUTTING IT INTO THEIR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND COMMISSIONER.

AND SO AND THE THE ITEM RELATED TO OUR OFFICE IS FOR THE NEW POSITION, NEW PROBATE COURT THAT WAS CREATED.

AND AS A MEANS TO THAT THE NEXT COURT MEETING I'LL HAVE WE'LL HAVE NOT OUR OFFICE BUT ANOTHER OFFICE TO PLACE A CATCH ALL ITEM SO THAT THE COURT CAN DISCUSS THAT APPOINTMENT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. UM, MOVING ON TO THE TOLL ROAD, THE MOTION WILL READ MOVE TO INCREASE HECTOR FUND 502 BY 19,533,803 FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF 385,000,361 AND $3.

AND TO MOVE TO INCREASE HECTOR FUND 5310 FUNDING BY $549,279 FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF 12,354,979.

THIS ONE WE ARE ACTUALLY NOT ALLOWED TO ADJUST THEIR BUDGET IN YEAR PER STATE STATUTE, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FOR THEIR CARRY FORWARD.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE A FULL CARRY FORWARD PROCESS FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WE ALLOCATE TO YOU 75% OF YOUR CARRY FORWARD UPFRONT FRONT.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THIS AS PART OF THEIR ADOPTED OR THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FUNDING DURING THEIR DEBUT.

THESE ARE ALL THE DIRECTIONS FOR YOU.

ONE MORE. I HAVE ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS JUST THE SPLIT.

SO, UM, THE SO THE MOTION IS TO MOVE TO ALLOCATE 11,185,000IN NEW FISCAL YEAR 20 FOR MOBILITY FUNDING TO ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS 035 AND TO ALLOCATE 345,000,515IN NEW FISCAL YEAR 20 FOR MOBILITY FUNDING FOR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 208 TO STREAMLINE ENGINEERING OPERATIONS. THIS IS JUST TO SPLIT OUT THEIR 47.40 5.7 MILLION AND MOBILITY FUNDS.

THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.

SO WE GOT TO MAKE THOSE MOTION.

DID YOU GET THEM ALL? IF YOU COULD READ THEM OR SOMEONE COULD READ THEM.

THAT WAY IT'S CLEAR. WHAT'S WRONG? SURE. DO YOU WANT ALL THREE? WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE VOTED ON.

WHAT'S UP? ALL OF THEM.

WHATEVER. WHATEVER WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON.

HE HAS READ ABOUT THEIR IN THE BOOK.

THERE AT THE BEGINNING.

SO ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE READ? THEY'LL JUST BE IN THE BOOK OR.

I JUST WROTE ABOUT THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I MOVE ON ON THE ITEM AS AS READ.

IS THERE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? HI. HI. WHY IS NO ITEM PASSING? DON'T YOU FEEL INSECURE AS WE GO FORWARD ON ON WORKING THROUGH OUR AMENDMENTS BEFORE WE DO MAKE THE

[02:55:09]

BUT I WOULD MAYBE THEY DO.

BUT LET ME LET ME JUST READ THEM AND SEE IF WE ARE WILLING TO ACT ON THESE NOW BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR.

OKAY. IS THIS IMPACT THE POT? THIS IS YES.

THE OTHER 50.

THE 40 SOMETHING MILLION, 50.5.

THESE ARE THESE ARE ENHANCEMENTS.

THESE ARE ENHANCEMENTS NOT NOT TO THE POT, BUT JUST TO TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THESE WILL IMPACT THE POT TAX.

THE OTHER A COUPLE OF THESE WILL IMPACT POT.

AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT CAN YOU PASS IT OUT TO MAKE US A COPY OF THIS? OKAY. THEY'RE BEING SENT OUT RIGHT NOW.

SO IF I COULD READ. OKAY.

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS TO MOVE TO ALLOCATE A MILLION OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT TO FUND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT ARE HELD IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WHAT IF I LIKE? YEAH, SURE.

SO. SO THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY AT MY REQUEST.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAME TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, BASED ON OUR SPECIAL EVENT SCHEDULE, YOU NEED TO BUILD IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS OVER TIME.

AND IF FOLKS RECALL, WE DID PASS A POLICY RELATING TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, PARTICULARLY AT COUNTY OWNED FACILITIES LIKE THIS WAS WHAT I HAD RECOMMENDED IS NO, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO USE GENERAL FUNDS, MOSTLY BECAUSE THAT NUMBER IS VARIABLE YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL EVENTS.

THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY ONE BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BEING HELD HERE TO UTILIZE HOT TAX WHERE THERE IS A CASH BALANCE AND THIS SHOULD BE AN ALLOCATION THAT WILL GET THEM THROUGH THE NEXT TWO BUDGET CYCLES.

BUT WE ALL TAP INTO THAT HOT TAP SHOCK.

THAT'S NOT IMPACTED WHAT WE DO IN GENERAL FUND OR ANYTHING.

THIS IS AND THERE IS A BALANCE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COURT ANALYST'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON A MEMO TO DISTRIBUTE TO EVERYONE ON ON THE FULL SCOPE OF FULL SCOPE OF WAYS TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING.

THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS JUST IT'S DEFRAYING GENERAL FUND COSTS THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE INCUR.

WE WOULD SPEND IT ANYWAY.

WE WOULD HAVE SPENT IT.

AND THAT WAY IT DOESN'T IMPACT ANY OF OUR BUDGETED ITEMS. AND THIS IS ONLY IF THERE'S PARTICULAR EVENTS THERE, IF IT'S NOT A SPECIAL EVENT.

AND I GUESS WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO DEFINE SPECIAL EVENTS.

BUT THIS IS THE STATUTE ACTUALLY LIMITS SPECIFICALLY THE TYPES OF SPECIAL EVENT.

THERE YOU GO. OKAY. IT'S ALREADY DEFINED.

SO THAT IS THAT WAY.

THAT WAY WE KNOW THAT THERE'S MONEY TO USE, BUT IT'S NOT USED.

IT'S NOT USED. IT GOES UNSPENT.

STAY THERE. AND IT'S NOT A SLUSH FUND.

IT'S NOT A PLAY FUND.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR TO DEFINE SPECIAL EVENTS.

YES. THE SHERIFF WILL NEED TO CHECK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN ADVANCE WELL IN ADVANCE OF UTILIZING THIS FUNDING.

THAT'D BE MY FIRST MOTION.

ALSO RELATED TO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

I KNOW THAT, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC ART.

NO AM. I BELIEVE OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES ARE AS WELL.

AND SO AM PROPOSING THAT WE ALSO ALLOCATE 500,000 OF TAX TO EACH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MILLION OF TAX.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO VERY DEFINED, BUT I HAVE BEEN REALLY WANTING TO DO MORE. I JUST CAN'T FIND ENOUGH GRANTS TO DO MORE.

AND AND I WOULD JUST THINK THAT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO USE OUR POT.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE 2 MILLION FOR EACH, YOU KNOW, HALF A MILLION.

HALF A MILLION. I WOULD LOVE 2 MILLION.

YEAH, HALF A MILLION.

SO THERE'S 45 TOTAL MILLION, BUT WE SPEND BETWEEN 20 AND 25 MILLION ANNUALLY.

SO THERE'S ROUGHLY A BALANCE OF 20 MILLION THAT COULD BE ALLOCATED.

THE ONLY THING I WILL SAY THIS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT IS WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE FOR NRG UPGRADES, WHICH I KNOW I READING THE TEA LEAVES, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY MANDATED FIXES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE AN EVENT LIKE THE WORLD CUP OR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

[03:00:06]

A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THAT.

I KNOW. YOU KNOW. WELL, WE WOULD WE WOULD MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO ISSUE BONDS USING THAT MONEY SO WE CAN LEVERAGE, YOU KNOW, SOME AMOUNT OF THOSE DOLLARS AND ADD UP.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE NUMBERS I'VE HEARD THROW AROUND.

BUT I KNOW MR. WALSH IS HIGH ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO A GAME.

I'M SURE HE'LL BE TELLING ME EXACTLY THE NUMBER HE'S LOOKING FOR.

SO, YEAH, NO, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M LIKE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT A WAY TO MAKE IT HIGHER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S A GOOD START.

YEAH. TRUST ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO 2 MILLION TO START MY PRECINCT, BUT I THINK JUST A GOOD START TO KNOW WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE.

BUT I'D YOU KNOW, HARRIS COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY NOT FUNDED PUBLIC ART.

WELL. AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN TO SET A PROGRAM IN A IN A POLICY.

AND SO THAT'S MY SECOND ONE.

AND MY THIRD ONE IS TO WE NEED SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS OVER AT THE PANIC IN PRECINCT TWO SO THAT I MOVE TO ALLOCATE 145,000 FROM THE PRECINCT TWO BUDGET TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE THOSE SECURITY SERVICES AT THE PHELPS ANNEX.

WE CANNOT HAVE BOTH AREAS UNPROTECTED.

THAT'S WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED.

AND SO I COMMITTED TO THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE TO ADDRESS THIS, AND THIS WOULD BE MY MOTION TO DO SO.

THANKS. THANKS. SO IF YOU SKIP THE REPEAT, I DID THAT ONE RELATES TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE ITEM THAT HE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

I'M GOING TO PASS ON THIS ONE FOR THE TIME BEING JUST SO THAT WE CAN WORK.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS TO WORK ON.

YEAH, THE CONVERSATION FOR.

THEY WANT WHERE I HAD 44 POSITIONS IN MY PREVIOUS FUND.

WE ENCUMBERED MONEY.

SO I KNOW THIS REFERS TO UNFUNDED, BUT I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE, WHOLE LITANY OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THAT FUNDED UNFUNDED. EXACTLY.

EXACTLY. EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD ALREADY DISCUSSED IT IN THE 2020 AND OTHERS AND COMPANY.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE POLICY OF THE POST POLICY FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.

I THINK THIS WAS IF IT'S THE MOTION I'M THINKING OF, I THINK THIS WOULD TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER THAN THAT.

LIKE I'VE SAID, I THINK COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL THAN THEY CURRENTLY DO OR THAT YOU ALL CURRENTLY DO BECAUSE FOLKS CAN TAKE UNFUNDED PCNS AND SHIFT THEM IN AND OUT.

AND SO THIS WOULD TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER THAN WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS HAS THEIR THEIR SIMILAR BUT BUT DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE CAN TACKLE. I'D LIKE TO.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF YOU WILL, I'D LIKE TO TO WORK WITH MR. RAMOS, BECAUSE I THINK BETWEEN YOUR CONCEPT AND MY CONCEPT, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE JUST NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO BUT WHEN YOU WERE SAYING WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING EARLIER, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO TAKE THE MONEY AND HAVE BETTER CONTROL. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

MR.. WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATIONS OF.

AND ITS THIRD MOTION TO ALLOCATE 145 DAYS FROM CONSTABLE PRECINCT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WOULD IT OBLIGATE US TO HAVE TO FUND IT? I MEAN, DOES THIS FALL UNDER CAN WE TAKE IT OUT OR NOT? YEAH. SO THE THE THE LAW THE STATUTE REFERS TO FUNDED POSITIONS AND BUDGET.

SO WE HAVE MADE THE CHOICE TO RAISE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT BY THE BY THE EQUIVALENT COLA, BY THE HEALTH BENEFITS, BY OTHER OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.

THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT MANDATED BY THE BY THE LAW.

THE LAW JUST SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE LESS MONEY THAN YOU HAD THE YEAR BEFORE AND YOU CAN'T HAVE LESS POSITIONS THAN YOU HAD THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WE BELIEVE IS IS FAIR GAME HERE.

YEAH. NO, I THINK THE ISSUE IS, IS AS LONG AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS ISN'T BEING REDUCED AND AS LONG AS THE OVERALL BUDGET ISN'T BEING BREACHED AND I'M JUST I'M ASSUMING, BASED ON WHAT DANIEL IS SAYING, THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

YEAH. NO, THAT'S THE CASE.

THAT IS THE CASE. YEAH. THE MATH WOULD NOT BE USING.

[03:05:01]

BOOSTER IS ENHANCED BY NICKNAME.

IT WAS, BUT HE'S TAKEN THE POSITION OUT TO USE SOMETHING ELSE AND LEFT A BIT WITH THE POSITION OPERATIONS.

BASICALLY THAT'S IT.

COMMISSIONER ALSO, YEAH.

SO AND THEN ONE IN RELATING TO KIND OF THE NON NOT MESSING WITH THE POT ON THE TABLE BUT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND YOUR STAFF SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE POLICY EARLIER TODAY.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING PURSUANT TO THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN A SEPARATE MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER BRIONES, $5 MILLION IN COMMERCIAL PAPER FOR EACH PRECINCT TO DO FACILITY UPGRADES.

AND THE POLICY SPELLS OUT THAT ELIGIBLE USES.

WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING $2.5 MILLION IN COMMERCIAL PAPER FOR FLEET REPLACEMENT.

IF IT'S FIVE AND TWO, FIVE AND TWO AND A HALF.

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OF THE IN A SIMILAR POSITION TO THIS ONE IF THAT HAPPENING ANYWHERE ELSE WITHIN THE CASTLE? ALL OF THEM RECEIVE THEIR EQUIVALENT TO NO MAN IN LINE WITH AU IN TERMS OF STAFFING THERE THE PEACE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OR REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

COMMISSIONER, I RAISE IT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT WE DID, IF IT IS GOING ON, WE HAVE OTHERS.

WE HAVE THIS COMING BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS.

BE AWARE OF THAT. HOPE IT'S NOT PROPER.

ONE OTHER POINT ON THE THE HOT TAX I KNOW WE HAD.

IT GOT A GREAT MUSEUM OUT IN PRECINCT THREE AND WE PURSUED SOME HOT TAX MONEY TO DO SOME PLAINS ART RELATED.

AND WE WERE INITIALLY TURNED DOWN.

SO THERE THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE AROUND THAT.

I AGREE. I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT IT IS A COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONVERSATION WHEN YOU WANT TO USE THAT HOT.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE DID IT FOR ONE.

YOU WOULD HAVE THE OTHER AS LONG AS IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE IT'S ONE OF THESE KIND OF ONE OFFS, JUST A, YOU KNOW, SORRY I BRING THAT UP, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF ONE OFF.

YOU CAN ASK A LOT OF ONE OFF.

ASK ME WHILE I WAS HERE.

AND COMMISSIONER, WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IS THAT THAT REPORT, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO BE PUBLISHED EITHER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK.

WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE 19TH RELATED TO I.

I DO THINK THAT BOTH THE SPECIAL EVENT AND THE PUBLIC ART ARE ELIGIBLE BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN.

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE CAN ALSO COME AND HAVE A MORE HOLISTIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE BALANCE.

HOW MUCH IS PROJECTED TO BE SPENT ON NRG AND OTHER POTENTIAL USES.

BUT I WOULD SAY I'M FOR ALL OF THEM, BY THE WAY.

I WOULD SAY ON THE SECOND ONE, ON THE HOT TAX, YOU KNOW THAT FIVE OF US HERE.

SO WHEN THE JUDGE COMES BACK, WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR SOME WAY.

OBVIOUSLY, EVEN IF SHE DID IT IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS.

BUT BUT I WANT TO BE FAIR, FORGOTTEN SO SHE CAN DO SOMETHING AND DIVVY IT UP, EVEN IF WE HAD TO DO IT WITHIN EACH PRECINCT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE GOAL HERE AS WELL, WHERE SHE COULD GO IN AND AND HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT IN IT.

YEAH. OKAY.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE THIRD? YOU HAVE ALL OF THEM. WE'LL NEED A LITTLE CLARIFICATION ON TWO BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ON TWO ON THE SECOND ONE.

OKAY. I MOVE TO ALLOCATE 500,000 OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO EACH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOR PUBLIC ART FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MILLION.

GOT IT. YOU WANT A COPY? I HAVE A COPY HERE.

I'M TAKING ONE, TWO AND FOUR OFF OF THIS EMAIL.

YEAH. SO THIS WILL BE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER VRIONIS TO APPROVE MOTION ONE, TWO AND FOUR.

ARE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? WIRES AND NO NAY MOTION PASSES.

GOOD. GOOD. THANK YOU. AND.

AND JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME TO TRY TO GIVE DANIEL THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US HOW BIG OUR APPETITES ARE IN TERMS OF FREAKING PRIORITIES, I WOULD MOVE THAT.

WE MAKE OUR INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER OFFICES, BUDGET AMENDMENTS, AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'LL HAVE A TOTALITY OF ITEMS. DANIEL WILL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, TELL US COLLECTIVELY HOW MUCH WE'RE OVER, HOW MUCH WE'RE UNDER AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDER.

AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND FIRM UP THE LIST, MOVE PRIORITIES, DECIDE WHICH ONES ARE REAL PRIORITIES VERSUS NOT SO REAL. AND AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE FASTER.

SO GET IT OUT HERE IN REASONABLE HOURS.

SO BUT WHAT I WAS THINKING WAS I THINK THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT WITH WHAT WAS IF THERE'S NOT A SECOND ANYBODY TO TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT.

[03:10:07]

SOMETIMES THERE COULD. SOMEBODY COULD SECOND, AND THAT COULD MEAN I'VE SEEN PEOPLE SECOND STUFF AND THEN NOT VOTE FOR IT.

YEAH. WELL YOU KNOW AND SO WE WERE GOING TO GO ONE.

YEAH WE'RE GOING TO GO. YEAH.

WELL BUT, BUT HE'S SAYING THAT EVEN.

OH I'M SORRY YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE LAID OUT PROCESS WAS OKAY.

YEAH. EVEN IF YOU GO AROUND IT'S NOT SET NAME OF COMMISSIONER ITEMS. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO WE'LL END UP TALKING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT AND WHY WE NEED THE SECOND.

SO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT.

YEAH. YEAH. AND THEN THAT WAY YOU CAN SAY THAT PRETTY EASILY.

WE WANT TO SAY IT WHILE WE'RE HERE.

SAY IT AND THEN YOU KNOW, AND GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM ALL THE SECOND.

I THINK GOING AROUND IT SIMPLY MEANS WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.

NOT THAT IT'S DONE.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. RIGHT.

BUT GIVEN THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE TOTAL.

YEAH. PARTY VALUE THAT WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY, DANIEL COMES BACK AND SAYS YOUR TOTAL VALUE IS 10 BILLION AND YOU ONLY GOT 50 MILLION TO WORK THIS AND YOU GOT TO TRIM THE DEBT.

I DON'T THINK THAT DIFFERS FROM OUR PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S WHAT WE THINK.

OKAY. PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

AND DANIEL, AS WE GO TO THEM, CAN YOU TELL US BEFORE WE EVEN START, BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT EVERYBODY ELSE'S AMENDMENTS AND ADDED THEM UP, HOW MUCH HOW MUCH IN AMENDMENTS IS LAYING ON THE TABLE? A LOT MORE THAN OKAY.

AND THEN HERE'S THE SECOND QUESTION.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE THE BIG ONES THAT SHE THINKS LIKE SOME OF US MIGHT HAVE TURNED IN THE SAME MOTION.

SO WHAT ARE THE BIG ONES? WHAT YOU THINK THAT'S CONSENSUS.

SO SOMEBODY BETTER LAY THOSE OUT.

I'D RATHER LET'S GET THEM ON THE TABLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER BROWN HELP TO YOU ALL.

OKAY. SO THE FIRST ONE I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORTH IS THE COLA FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO TAKE EVERYBODY UP TO 7% SECOND. OH, SORRY.

SO STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE WE NEED THE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONCENTRATING FAIRLY.

AND WE ALL HAVE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT HOW WE ARE NOT PAYING PARITY AND HOW WE HAVE SUCH A CHALLENGE RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT IN THIS SENSE.

RIGHT. JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOUR YOUR MOTION IS TO BRING EVERYONE TO 7%.

BRING EVERYONE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A CERTAIN GROUP THAT GOT A PERCENTAGE LAST TIME BUT DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY IT WAS FRAMED.

I'D RATHER SAY EVERYONE'S GETTING UP TO SEVEN, SO I KNOW IT'S JUST A VARIANCE DETENTION OFFICERS AND THE PAROLE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.

OKAY. I ALSO WANT TO BRING THE DETENTION OFFICERS UP AS WELL BUT DON'T WANT TO DO IT FOR ONCE.

OKAY, UNDERSTOOD. BUT JUST WHAT'S GOING TO GO IN THE BUDGET IS 7% FOR CIVILIANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION OFFICERS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST.

OR IT'S ACTUALLY THERE'S A IT'S A IT'S THE PAYROLL DATE.

IT WOULDN'T BE OCTOBER 1ST AND THEN IT WOULD BE 4% FOR THE.

OR THE DEPUTIES AND INVESTIGATORS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY.

OKAY. OKAY. YEAH.

BUT SOME DECISIONS EARLIER.

WHAT'S A BUDGET IMPACT OF THAT? 21 POINT. 21.4 MILLION.

SO, COMMISSIONER, I'M LOOKING AT THE SPEECH IN THE BOOK AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND.

WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

IT MIGHT BE EASIEST. IT'S ACTUALLY THE ONE, THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMMISSIONER ELLIS ALSO PUT IT UP.

OKAY. BUT ESSENTIALLY IT IS IT IS TAKING THE CURRENT RECOMMENDED COLA AND HAVING IT ALL PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2ND.

SO IT'D BE AGAINST 7% FOR ALL CIVILIANS, DETENTION OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISORS AND 4% AFFECTED THE FIRST PAY PERIOD ON FOR INVESTIGATORS, DETECTIVES AND WHO HAD RECEIVED IT IN IN A PRIOR YEAR.

IT'S PROCEDURE.

ONE SECOND AND WE NEED TO THE NEXT.

CORRECT? OH, COMMISSIONER.

2 IN 1, COMMISSIONER.

UH, WE'RE GOING TO EAT THIS UP PRETTY QUICK.

I COULD SEE. I THINK MY MOTION WOULD BE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PRECINCTS.

CURRENTLY, THE PRECINCT FUNDING AND AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR BUDGETS TO DO OUR ROAD MAINTENANCE, OUR PARKS, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS TO INCREASE THAT FROM 39 MILLION PER PRECINCT UP TO 50 MILLION.

THAT'S A TOTAL IMPACT OF OF OF OVER 40.9.

[03:15:03]

SO AGAIN, THE TO ME, THE REASONING BEHIND THAT WHEN I TALK TO CONSTITUENTS.

UH, THEIR CONSTANT INPUT TO OUR GROUP IS NEED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CENTER'S NEED, WITHIN OUR ROAD MAINTENANCE NEEDS, WITHIN, UH, DIRECT CONSTITUENT SERVICES.

SO WE FUND ALL OF THAT OUT OF OUR INDIVIDUAL BUDGET.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A $2.4 BILLION BUDGET.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT EACH PRECINCT'S BUDGET IS FOR THOSE CONSTITUENT SERVICES THAT MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE US FOR, IT'S LESS THAN 2%.

COMMISSIONER, I'M JUST WATCHING THE BODY.

IS THERE A SECOND? IN FACT, THERE'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

OKAY. YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS THAT WE COULD DO THE MATH TO GET IT UP TO 42 PER PRECINCT.

THAT'S NOT 42 PER PRECINCT AND 42 MILLION PER PRECINCT.

42. 42 MILLION PER PERSON.

SO THAT THE TOTAL BUDGET WOULD BE 42 MILLION PER PRECINCT, WHICH IS A COST OF 800.

IT'S 8.9 MILLION.

YOU'D ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? I WILL. SECOND. WELL, I HAD I HAD HOPED WE WOULD DO MORE THAN THAT.

AND THAT THAT WAS WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GET US GET US UP TO 42.

BUT THERE'S THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE IN THE WORK.

OKAY, WELL, MAYBE WE NEED TO.

MAYBE WE NEED TO HEAR MORE. OKAY, SECOND.

I'LL SECOND IT. I'LL SECOND IT BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING ON ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE UP.

AND WE'RE REALLY STRETCHED THIN AND HAVE ALL THESE IDEAS OF NEW THINGS I WANT TO DO, IN ADDITION TO TAKING CARE OF WHAT I ALREADY HAVE AT MY PRECINCT.

SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I'M GOING TO NEED IT.

MY BAD, MY BAD.

I'M. I WAS READING THE WRONG COLOR, SO I'M CHECKING YOUR.

OF YOUR MOTION. YES.

OKAY. SO WE WANT TO REFLECT THE FACT I THINK THE SECOND THING I LIKE TO SAY IS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

WITH THAT, MY TURN.

ALL RIGHT. BESIDES ALL WELL, SINCE WE GOT TO THE.

I AM MOVING TO INCREASE THE COUNTY LIBRARY BUDGETS BY 1.1 FOR THE GRAND CAFE EXPANSION COUNTYWIDE.

SO IF I MIGHT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT'S UNDERSTAND IT.

UM. BECAUSE WOULD IT BE TO GO TO THAT ENTITY OR WOULD IT BE TO DO IT HOWEVER THEY WANT TO DO IT? IT WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE.

OKAY. TAKE IT HOUSE. OKAY.

THEY'LL BE AN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FOUNDER OF THE PROGRAM, BUT BUT THEY'LL DO IT IN HOUSE BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT ALL IN HOUSE COUNTY STAFF AND IT'S AT ALL COUNTY LIBRARY. PERFECT.

OKAY. SUPER DUPER.

APPRECIATE THE SLAKOTH AND NO, UNFORTUNATELY IN REDISTRICTING I LOST SOME LIBRARIES, BUT I WOULD HATE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS TO MOVE OUT.

GO TO ONE FOURTH 1.1 THAT WOULD FUND.

THE GRAND CAFE GRAND CAFE AND THINK IT'S 1130.

YEAH, IT WOULD BE TOO.

IT WOULD BE TWO LIBRARIES PER PRECINCT, COUNTY WIDE, AND IT WOULD ALLOW THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO SERVICES AND AM LOOKING FOR THE THE NUMBER OF STAFF.

SO TOTAL A TOTAL OF 12 FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS 1.1.

AND EACH SIDE WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR 20 HOURS PER WEEK.

AND THE THE DO WE HAVE IT HERE THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL SITE IN EACH PRECINCT.

THE THE COMMUNITY CENTER OF OUR CHOOSING.

IT COULD BE A COMMUNITY CENTER.

YES. YES.

BIRTH OF A LIBRARY AND HOLD.

YEAH. OKAY. THERE WE GO. SLEIGHT OF HAND.

TWO LIBRARIES, PLUS A LOCATION OF THE CHOOSING OF THE COMMISSION.

[03:20:03]

IT'S A NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOING TO COLLEGE.

TO THE COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOOSING.

THIS PROVIDES COUNSELORS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND.

NUMBER ONE, THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING TO THE UNIVERSITY HELPS THEM GUIDE THEM ON THEIR DECISION MAKING.

ACTUALLY, WHETHER IT'S THEIR CHOOSING, THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE THE FAFSA SYSTEM, KNOWING HOW TO ACQUIRE FINANCIAL AID AND GET THOSE REPORTS THAT THEY NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR TUITIONS.

THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE DONE IN 32 ALREADY HAS IDENTIFIED.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBERS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THREE FOLD OF THE AMOUNT THAT I'M SPENDING.

FOR THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF PELL GRANTS THAT THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS.

BUT PROVIDING INCREDIBLE ACCESS TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THAT KIDS ARE HAVING ACCESS.

TO. AND IT'S A AND IT'S ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR LEARNING ADULTS.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO TO DC OR LONE STAR, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THE SAME FACTOR.

GIANT-MAN. IS THERE A SECOND? ALMOST SECOND. AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUR MONEY PRETTY SWIFT BACK.

THIS ONE I'LL BE ON THE LIST, BUT WE'LL SEE WHETHER THEY DEAL.

THANK YOU. MOVE TO FUND PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO EXPAND THE HOLISTIC RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM TO BEGIN THE EXPANSION IN AT LEAST ONE DISTRICT BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 24.

AND THE FUND AND EVALUATION OF THE HEART PROGRAM AT A COST OF $2.2 MILLION.

GREAT. OKAY.

AND COMMISSIONER BROWN IS MY NEXT ONE IS WITH REGARD TO DETENTION OFFICERS, BECAUSE I FEEL A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF URGENCY WITH REGARD TO OUR JAIL AND FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED.

RECOMMENDATIONS BASICALLY THAT WE GOT FROM THE CONSULTANT TO RAISE DETENTION OFFICERS PAY TO 12%.

AND FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, THAT'S 7% OF THE COLA PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 5% BECAUSE WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR DETENTION SAFETY OF THE JAIL. THAT'S A COST OF 6.4 MILLION WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED HERE.

THANK YOU. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT BOOK, THEY'RE NOT QUITE IN ORDER.

OBVIOUSLY, WE PUT THEM IN THE ORDER THAT WE GOT THEM.

SO I APOLOGIZE IF THEY'RE NOT GOING IN THE ORDER THAT WE WERE DOING THIS QUICK.

NEXT TIME WE MIGHT WE MIGHT NUMBER THE PAGES.

YEAH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I MOVED TO INCREASE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET BY 1.5 MILLION, AND SHE MADE A COMPELLING CASE IN HER BUDGET MEETING TO FUND OVERTIME FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS FOR THE WEEKENDS.

IF SHE DOESN'T GET THIS FUNDING, WE'RE AT RISK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO OPERATE ON THE WEEKENDS.

IS THERE A SECOND? IF.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER, BACK ONE MORE THROUGH THE DETENTION OFFICERS.

MR.. BROWN TO SECOND TO THAT PRIVATE.

DID YOU GET COMMISSIONER RAMSAY'S? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY.

YEAH. I MOVE TO INCREASE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT SIX PLACE ONE BUDGET BY 155,450 $50 FOR ADDITIONAL PARK SUPPORT. MOVE TO INCREASE THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BUDGET BY 340,000 TO CREATE AN INTERPRETING, LICENSING AND STIPEND PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO ONE IS SPECIFIC TO THE IN PRECINCT SIXTH PLACE ONCE AND FOR $155,450.

AND THE SECOND ITEM IS RELATED TO THE GENERAL FUND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION TO 340,000 TO CREATE AN INTERPRETING AND LICENSING AND STIPEND PROGRAMS FOR THE COUNTY.

UM, WE I'VE HEARD SO MUCH FROM THE JP'S THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WALK INTO THEIR COURTROOMS THAT NEED INTERPRETERS.

THE DELAYS, THE COURT PROCESS, IN SPITE OF THEM BEING THE COMMUNITY, BEING NOTIFIED THAT THEY COULD ACCESS AND REQUEST AN INTERPRETER IN

[03:25:08]

AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW A JUDGE WHO'S TRAINED IN HOUSE THEFT SO THAT THOSE INTERPRETERS WOULD, NUMBER ONE, BE TRAINED, CERTIFIED, RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE STIPEND FOR THAT EXTRA WORK.

BUT WE BE READILY AVAILABLE IN THEIR COURTROOM IN THE EVENT THAT THEY'RE NEEDED.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD BREAK IT UP? AND THAT'S IT FOR MY KNOWLEDGE.

IF YOU WANT TO STICK THEM IN SEPARATE MOTION, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

WHICH ONE IS THE FIRST ONE? THE LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR ALL.

ALL THE. ALL. SO NOT JUST SIX ONE.

SO, COMMISSIONER, JUST SO JUST SO I'M SO WE UNDERSTAND.

SO LET'S MOVE TO INCREASE JP6 ONE'S BUDGET BY 155,454 ADDITIONAL CLERK SUPPORT THAT ONE MOTION.

SECOND MOTION IS MOVED TO INCREASE THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BUDGET BY 340,000 TO CREATE AN INTERPRETING, LICENSING AND STIPEND PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY.

UNDERSTAND? JUDGE BRIAN MRS SECONDED THE SECOND ONE.

I WOULD SAY, MISTER GARCIA, JUST TO BE FAIR, ARE WE ALL WE'RE ALL STUFF LUMPING THEM IN.

SO IF YOU WOULD WOULD SAY JUST DO ONE OF THEM NOW.

I'LL DO THE I'LL DO THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER BRIAN SAYS SECOND IT SHOULD.

UH, THIS ONE WE, WE DID OUR BEST TO ESTIMATE BASED ON OTHER PROGRAMS. NEW YORK HAS A CERTIFICATION AND STIPEND PROGRAM.

LA COUNTY HAS ONE.

THIS IS OUR BEST ESTIMATE, BUT IT WOULD TAKE US SOME LEAD UP TIME TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE WOULD.

AND THAT'S A 340,000.

THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. AND IN FACT, ON THE OTHER ONE WE CAME UP WITH ON DETENTION OFFICERS, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT? BECAUSE WE HAD A DIFFERENT AMOUNT FROM THE AMOUNT THAT WAS RAISED.

IT'S 6.4 MILLION, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE OVERTIME COSTS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 5.3.

THE NEXT ONE IS MINE.

UH, THIS RELATES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY MOVE TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY AND ADDITIONAL $673,791 TO IMPROVE PROGRAMING AND POLICIES FOR WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. OKAY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

MY NEXT ONE TAKES US BACK TO THE JAIL.

THEN I FEEL A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF URGENCY.

MAGISTRATE HEARING OFFICERS WOULD BE IN MOTION TO ADD THREE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AND AROUND 658 757 VENUE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE ONE 24 HOUR HEARING SOURCE, ONE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND THIS IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE TREMENDOUSLY.

SO WE NEED TO GET THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE JAIL EITHER TO BE DIVERTED AND OR BROUGHT.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT.

YOU SAID THAT THE SIX, FIVE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, SEVEN SECOND IT ANYWAY, THIS WOULD TAKE US TO GETTING A SECOND ONE AND THEN WE CAN PROCESS FOLKS MORE QUICKLY AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL HELP WITH THE OVERCROWDING AND THEN THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MOVED TO INCREASE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET BY $1,481,397 UPON 17 VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR POSITION.

IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YEAH, WE JUST A QUESTION FOR, UH, FOR THIS ITEM CONCERNING ARE THESE PROVISIONS.

EXISTENCE OR THERE WOULD BE NO.

IT WOULD BE RAINING. THESE ARE THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE POSITIONS.

YES. YEAH, SHE'S GOT THE CANCER, BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH.

THIS WOULD BE THE STAFF. EVERY COURT, EVERY CRIMINAL COURT, EVERY.

SO HOW MUCH IS IT? 1,481,397. OKAY.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I MOVE TO INCREASE THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BUDGET BY 2 MILLION FOR THE CHAPTER 381 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, WITH 500,000 BEING AWARDED AT THE DISCRETION OF EACH COMMISSIONER.

SHE SAID HOW MUCH UNTIL IT IS 2 MILLION.

SO EACH PRECINCT WOULD GET 500,000 FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO DECIDE WHO THEY WOULD WANT TO AWARD THE FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[03:30:05]

MY STAFF MOVES, MOVING ME TO THE FRONT.

POLLUTION CONTROL AN ADDITIONAL $326,116 FOR ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND AIR MONITORS.

MR. BRIONES. BUT THEN MY NEXT ONE WOULD BE FOR OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, FOR WE HAVE A SKELETON CREW.

AND SO FOR I WOULD JUST TO BE FAIR, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE 43, NOT THE ADDITIONAL RESERVE PIECE.

I'D RATHER SEE THEM SCALE UP A BIT.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I WANT TO ACTUALLY MENTION ONE THAT I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT, PRECINCT FOUR.

TO. AND.

UH, IN CASTLE PRECINCT FOR 208,342 THREE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS.

AND THAT'S DISPATCHER LATER.

YEAH, I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BRING THAT ONE.

THEY'RE DISPATCHED AND THEY ACTUALLY ANSWER ABOUT 150 TO 200 CALLS TO THE SHERIFF EVERY DAY, AND THE DARKNESS COMES TO ABOUT ANY CENTURY.

SO I WAS GOING TO BRING THAT. SO, YES.

OKAY. WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR? I HAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE NUMBERS HAVE GOTTEN TWEAKED A BIT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MINE WAS 197 ONE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I HAVE 195 ONE 2736.

OKAY. LUIS GARCIA.

YEAH, THAT WAS PERFECT.

SO LET'S SEE HERE.

UM. IMPORTANT POWER HAS BEEN A ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE DID EXPAND IT COUNTYWIDE.

BUT IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO DO ITS INCREDIBLE WORK TAKING PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

NUMBER ONE, PROVIDING THEM A LIVABLE WAGE.

SECONDLY, PROVIDING THEM SKILLS AND TRADES TO CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AS WELL AS PROVIDING THEM THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO FIND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS WELL AS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH IS JUST ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.

I WANT TO THANK CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES FOR THEIR PHENOMENAL WORK.

I WANT TO THANK NICHOLAS.

AND SO THIS ITEM IS TO CONTINUE TO FUND EMPLOYS EMPOWER AS WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING A COUNTY WIDE MOVE TO ALLOCATE 2.1 MILLION TO CFD TO FUND THE COUNTY FOR TO EMPOWER PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? EXACTLY THE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

IS THIS STILL BEING FUNDED? MS. BARTON THROUGH ARPA.

SO IT WOULD BE TRANSITIONED.

BRIDGE ALREADY? IT'S ALREADY BRIDGE.

IT'S ALREADY IN OUR POCKET.

IT'S CONTINUING WITH ARPA MONEY OR.

GENERAL NO, IT'S ARPA MONEY, CORRECT.

IT'S CURRENTLY IN ARPA.

I BELIEVE YOUR MOTION IS TO BRING IT IN, KEEP IT IN ARPA PERSONALLY AND THEN I CAN'T WAIT TO BRIDGE IT ONE DAY.

YEAH, LET ME LET US WORK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO MUCH OUT HOW MUCH ARPA MONEY LEFT, BUT I WOULD SUPPORT IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

YEAH. WELL, I'LL KEEP THAT ONE ON.

YEAH. OKAY.

I'LL MOVE TO FUND PUBLIC HEALTH TO EXPAND THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM, TO EXPAND TO TWO ADDITIONAL ZIP CODES BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 24, AT A COST OF $1,518,600.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

A COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

MY NEXT ONE IS WITH REGARD TO SUSTAINABILITY.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE FULL ASK THAT THEY HAD, BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORTH 750,000.

THERE'S SO MUCH FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY AND WE NEED TO BE WE ONLY HAVE TO FOLKS FOR HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS SHOCKING TO ME AS THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY, AND IT'S THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. SO THIS 750 AT LEAST WOULD LET THEM HIRE A FEW ADDITIONAL FOLKS TO HELP WITH THE GRANT AND FINANCE.

PLUS, YOU KNOW, THE CLIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AND THE CLIMATE ACTION THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AND MR. RAMOS, DID WE? DID YOU DISCUSS THE ALLOCATION OF FISCAL YEAR 24 MOBILITY FUNDING TO PRECINCTS? THANK. 63 MILLION.

[03:35:03]

SO WE WE SENT OUT A WORD THAT SENT OUT A REVISE THE OPINION OF HOW THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPLIT.

AND SO THAT'S ALL SET.

THAT WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED TO CHANGE.

NO, ACTUALLY, I DON'T.

YEAH. YES. IF.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO CHANGE IT, YOU WOULD NEED TO AMEND IT.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT, THERE'S NOTHING.

WHAT YOU ALL DESCRIBE IS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OH, IS THERE A SECOND? NO.

OKAY. NO MOTION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

HEAR. I WANT TO THANK SHERIFF GONZALEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN SO MANY REGARDS.

HOWEVER, ONE THAT I'M VERY PROUD THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

I STARTED TO WORK ON THIS BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THIS TABLE.

AND BUT I'M GLAD THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IT AND IS WORKING HARD AT IT, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR HIS STAFF.

THIS IS SO CRITICAL.

AND WE JUST HEARD WHAT HE SHARED WITH US THE OTHER DAY THAT HE IS MAKING HIS PRESENTATION.

SO I MOVED TO ALLOCATE 750,000 TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET FOR PURPOSE OF CONTINUING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION'S PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM GRANT, WHICH HE NO LONGER HAS.

THAT'S WHY THIS MONEY IS 35 SECONDS AFTER THE CLARIFICATION QUESTION.

I HAD 245.

THAT'S A SEPARATE ITEM.

THAT IS THE GRANT THAT THEY LOST FOR THEIR IN-HOUSE PSYCHIATRISTS.

THIS THIS IS A GRANT THAT THEY WERE THEY HAD OR IT WAS A GRANT MATCH THAT WE HAD PUT UP AS A COUNTY TO PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICES AT HARRIS HEALTH AND WHICH WENT AWAY.

AND DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES, THEY THEY PULLED BACK ON THAT SECURITY.

SO RIGHT NOW. HARRIS HEALTH OR SORRY HARRIS HEALTH THE HARRIS CENTER IS UTILIZING PRIVATE SECURITY WHICH MEANS AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO PARENT WEIGH IN BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE TURNING FOLKS AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT.

OKAY. SO IT'S BOTH TOTALLY SEPARATE.

IT IS FOR MINE IS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

BUT MY STAFF HAS MOTIONED ME TO MAKE CORRECTIONS AND IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY 550.

IS THAT CORRECT? LET ME DOUBLE CHECK WHAT NUMBER I HAVE TO FOUR.

NO, NO, NO. THESE ARE SEPARATE, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SO THERE'S THERE THERE IS.

THIS IS FOR SECURITY AT THE HARRIS CENTER.

THE SECOND ONE IS FOR SECURITY AT THE HAIR CENTER.

THE ONE I'M MAKING IS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, FOR THE IN-HOUSE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO I'LL PEEL THAT BACK.

SO THE FIVE 60 INCLUDES OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN LOSING THE GRANT.

YEAH, THAT INCLUDES BRINGING ONE OF THE VENDORS.

ONE OF THE PSYCHIATRISTS IN HOUSE WAS CURRENTLY A PRIVATE VENDOR.

AS WELL AS GETTING AHEAD, THE ACTUAL GRANT LOSS IS $240,000.

SO YEAH, SO HERE'S HERE'S THE THE BREAKDOWN.

THE ORIGINAL GRANT WAS FOR 598,000.

THEY LOST THE MAJORITY OF THE GRANT.

THEY WERE LEFT WITH ONLY 160,000.

THEY LOST ABOUT 420,000.

AND THE DIFFERENCE THEY'RE REQUESTING IS 550, WHICH WOULD COVER THE ADDITIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO KEEP CURRENT STAFF LEVELS, PLUS AN ADJACENT PSYCHOLOGIST, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE, A LICENSED COUNSELOR, AND THAT'S EQUIPMENT WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

SO 550,000 IS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER THAT SHOULD GO ACCORDING TO THEIR THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING TO REPLACE.

THE GRANT IS 240,000.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE VETTED AND WHAT WE SUPPORT GENERALLY ANYTHING.

I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF DURING THE YEAR TO TO ON A PLAN TO TRANSITION TO GET THEM TO GOAL.

I THINK MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THE DIRECTOR IS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THE 240 TO STAUNCH THE BLEEDING, MAKE SURE THEY CAN MAINTAIN THE SERVICES AND THEN WORK TOWARDS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.

SO SO THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM STAYS.

YES. THE 240 WILL KEEP THEM WHOLE.

FORGET THE TWO. FORGET THE 240.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE DO APPROVE THE 240, IF HE'S SAYING HE NEEDS 550, YOUR COMMITMENT, WE WILL COME BACK WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO.

OKAY. THEN I WILL I WILL MOVE TO CORRECT TO TO GET THIS FOR 240,000 TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

[03:40:02]

THAT'S RIGHT. SECOND, AND WE'LL WE'LL COME BACK IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL NEEDS THERE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT SERVICE IS INVALUABLE.

BUT I THINK WE NEED WE NEED TO STAUNCH THE BLEEDING FIRST, WHICH IS THE GRANT LOSS, MAKE SURE THE PROGRAM IS WHOLE.

EVERYTHING ABOVE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE BETTER PACKAGED AND THAT MATURES.

:44.. THANK YOU.

WELL, SO TO BE CLEAR, IT'S REPORTED MOVE TO INCREASE THE HARRIS CENTER'S BUDGET BY.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

CHANGE IT ON HERE. YEAH. CHAIR THERE'S A SEPARATE ITEM RELATED TO THE HAIR CENTER, BUT THIS IS SPECIFIC TO HAIRDRESSER, SO.

YOU GOT IT, JAMES. GOOD.

THAT'S OKAY.

I KNOW IT'S 96 DEGREES OUT.

BUT BUT EVERYBODY'S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF A DECENT BUDGET BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BROUGHT IN SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SETTLEMENT.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'LL MOVE TO FUND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ADDITIONAL $800,000 FOR POSITIONS RELATED TO LITIGATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CHILDREN AND ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS.

SO. POLICE NAVIDAD.

NOT A LOT BEING SCREENED OUT AT THIS POINT.

HOW ARE WE DOING, DANIEL? WHEN YOU RUN THE TAB.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT BREAK EVEN WHEN 84 MILLION, I BELIEVE.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON. 85.

THAT'S A BACKUP PLAN.

THIS NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT SAW.

THIS RELATES TO ALY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH $263,064.

IT WILL FUND THREE COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES WORKERS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ISD STUDENTS AND HER COMPANY ONLY ISD, SUBJECT TO THOSE CONDITIONS.

AND SO OUR FUNDING, COUPLED WITH THE COST SHARE WITH CITY OF HOUSTON, WOULD ALLOW THREE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN CITY WHICH WE ALL KNOW ARE BEING THREATENED TO MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUTH. THE HARRIS, SPENCER AND HARRIS SPENCER PROVIDE THE SERVICES WITHOUT IT COMING FROM THE VINE.

LAST TIME I WAS AT THE HARRIS CENTER, THIS IS WHERE THEY FLAGGED THAT ISSUE FOR ME.

SO I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ON TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

UH, NO. WE'LL GET TO IT.

COMMISSIONER, WANT TO SAY NO? HAVE SHELDON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WHICH IS A POOR DISTRICT, WHICH YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM, THEY'RE NOT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A MATCH FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO IF I WERE TO SECOND IT, I'D HAVE TO AMEND IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU FIGURE OUT HOW MEAN SOMEONE HAS TO ACTUALLY HOW CAN I GO DO IT? WHEN I GOT SHELDON OUT THERE, I THINK I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK MAYBE MAYBE LOWER INCOME THAN DO VARIOUS ISDS THAT THE IS I DON'T.

AND ACTUALLY, I'M GETTING A NOTICE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS NO LONGER MATCHING IT.

LOVELY. BUT ANYWAY, TO 60 FOR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THE FULL LIST OF IDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO DO SECOND IT FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT SO THAT I HAVE IT ALL BEEN A CHANNELVIEW CY-FAIR GOOSE CREEK JUVENILE JUSTICE JJAEP JUVENILE PROBATION EDUCATION TRANSITION CENTER.

KLEIN REPORT.

PASADENA. PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SHELDON SPRING.

SPRING BRANCH.

YEAH, BUT WE HAVE TO.

IF WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, JUST GO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE DISCUSS SECOND IT AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT, BUT WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME KIND OF EQUITY DEAL BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT MAYBE ANOTHER FOLKS PRECINCTS AS WELL THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, PRECINCT 14, BUT THEY'RE JUST SO ON THE MONEY ALL THE TIME.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

UH, COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE'VE GOT PLENTY ON THE TABLE.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. BLOOD PRESSURE JUST WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY.

ALL HAVE TO BE THE GRINCH WHEN THEY COME BACK.

SEE THIS NUMBER? OBVIOUSLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER, THOUGH, AFTER THE BREAK.

WE'RE GOING TO BE THE TEACHER'S PET.

SO. NOW IT IS TO MOVE TO ALLOCATE 814,000 TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE HAIR CENTER. THIS IS THE ONE WHERE THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY DOING IT WITH EXISTING SERVICES.

THE SHERIFF'S TRAP AND PATROL AND ALL OTHER PLACES.

SO HE DOES NOT HAVE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE SECURITY OF THE HAIR CENTER AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE THAT FOR HIS OFFICE.

[03:45:05]

YEAH, A SECOND. WELL, SO I HAVE ONE MORE LOOK, I WANT TO SAY THAT.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF US HAVE INVESTED IN RESEARCH.

UH, THINGS AND OFFICES NOW, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER FOOTS IN THE PAST DID NOT DO, BUT MOST OF US PUT TOGETHER POLICY TO.

BUT THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY THAT WE GO TO.

IT HAS A LITTLE MORE CREDIBILITY THAN WHEN ONE OF THE FIVE OF US SAYS IT, IN MY JUDGMENT.

WHICH IS WHY I CREATED THAT THAT THAT SHOP AND THAT OFFICE OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY.

SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX INSTEAD OF US JUST DOING WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THE COUNTY WAS CREATED IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT IF THAT'S WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP DOING THE TRADITIONAL STUFF.

THINK WE HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM BY THEN, BUT WE HAVE NOT.

AND THAT'S WHY THAT OFFICE WAS CREATED.

AND I'D HATE FOR US TO LOSE THAT.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, KNOWING THAT WE WANT TO CUT SOME OF THIS, I MOVED TO FUND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT THE OFFICE'S NEW STRUCTURE AND MAINTAIN ALL TRANSFERRED RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY DEDICATED TO THE RESEARCH BASED DEPARTMENT AT A COST OF $1,360,000.

I SECOND THAT. AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY NEXT.

I'M NOT GOING TO OFFER ANY MORE.

I'M GOING TO GIVE MY NEXT ROUND TO YOU, MR. BROWN. THIS IS WHY I'M GOING BACK TO THE JUROR PAY AND THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTY.

TO ME, IT'S FUNDAMENTAL A RIGHT FOR TRIAL BY JURY.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A JURY THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE YOUR PEERS, I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S NOT FAIR JUSTICE.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE.

SEPTEMBER 1ST TRIGGERED SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND THE DISTRICT PRESENTED VARIOUS OPTIONS.

I KNOW MONEY IS TIGHT, BUT I WOULD BE A PROPONENT FOR WHAT'S OUR OPTION WOULD BE, WHICH IS THE MOST LIMITED ONE.

BUT WE COULD GET SOME DATA ON HOW THAT IMPACTS YOUR DIVERSITY.

SO, MR. RAMOS, I BELIEVE THAT WAS 1.19.

I'M. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT 1.1 WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.

YES. SO BASICALLY, IT'S THE MOST CONSERVATIVE OF THE OPTIONS FEATURE CODES.

AND WHILE I WISH WE COULD GO TO THE MOST LIBERAL ONE BECAUSE I STILL THINK THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY LIBERAL WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

THAT BEING SAID, IT JUST NEEDS TO STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THEN WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL DATA TO SEE IF THAT REALLY DOES IMPACT OUR DIVERSITY.

I BELIEVE THAT'S JUST REPLACING THE FIRST DAY OF PARKING WITH CASH THAT THEY WERE LOST.

ARE YOU TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMEONE BY ADVOCATING FOR ANYTHING AT THIS POINT? RIGHT. I'M JUST A DESPERATE MAN.

MUCH, MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN, COMMISSIONER.

I'LL SECOND IT KNOWING WE GOTTA MAKE SOME CUTS WHEN WE COME BACK.

Y'ALL COME BACK. MEAN WE.

YOU KNOW WE DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE A COUPLE OF BILLION OR 4 BILLION THAT WE COULD HAVE HAD.

BUT THAT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE NOW.

BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS CUTS TO Y'ALL.

COME BACK AND I WANT Y'ALL TO PUT BACK, THEN COME IN AND TELL US.

OKAY. UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? YEAH. MY FINAL ONE IS THE ONE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

IT IS TO ALLOCATE 154,450 TO THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR PRECINCT 61 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL CLERK.

THE JUDGE HAS INDICATED HOW VITAL THE ROLE OF THE CLERK PLAY, THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN PROVIDING AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THE JUSTICE OF THE COURT.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING A MULTITUDE OF ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS WITHIN THE OFFICE.

BY EFFICIENTLY MANAGING THESE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, CLERKS ENABLE THE JUDGE TO FOCUS ON THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADJUDICATING CASES AND UPHOLDING THE LAW.

THE CLERKS ARE INDISPENSABLE TO THE JUSTICE OF THE SYSTEM AS THEY PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT IN BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS.

AND THEY WORK TO UPHOLD ALL THE PRINCIPLES THAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO HAVE BEING JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN OUR LEGAL SYSTEMS. AND LET ME ALSO JUST SAY THAT LIKE MANY OF US, WHEN WE STEP INTO A ROLE LIKE YOUR, WE FIND THINGS THAT WERE DEFICIENT, NOT ADDRESSED OR HAD BEEN RE PURPOSED FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

HE HAS WORKED HARD TO RIGHT SIZE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, HIS OFFICE.

BUT THIS IS STILL AN AREA THAT IS DEFICIENT IN HIS OPERATIONS AND THAT'S WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR HIM TO SEE THESE THESE TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

[03:50:08]

ALL RIGHT. I THINK.

ONE MORE. YES, ONE MORE.

JUST SMALL AND FIX.

WITH REGARD TO OUR VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THERE, WITH THE RECENT PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXINS ACT THAT CREATED A SURGE IN VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS SEEKING DISABILITY COMPENSATION CLAIMS. AND SO OUR VETERANS DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN A DOUBLING IN THE AMOUNT OF REQUESTS.

BUT IT'S CREATING LONGER RESPONSE TIMES FOR OUR VETERANS TO ACCESS THESE BENEFITS.

AND ACCORDING TO OUR VETERANS DEPARTMENT, EACH CLAIMS OFFICER GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION IN RECURRING BENEFIT ANNUALLY.

SO IT WOULD BE 240,000 FOR THESE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS OFFICERS TO HELP OUR VETERANS PROCESS.

YES. YES.

RATHER ALL THE AMENDMENTS ARE ON THE ON THE TABLE.

WE'LL GO BACK AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.

THE THREE THAT I MIGHT SUGGEST, COMMISSIONER, TAKING UP NOW IN DISCUSSION, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS SOME CONSENSUS AROUND THEM AND THEY DO DRIVE KIND OF THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION WOULD BE THE COLA, THE 21.4, THE PRECINCT BUDGETS AS WELL AND THE PAY.

I THINK IF WE DO THAT, THE 21.4, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHERE WE SETTLE.

AND I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING THERE THERE WAS A $42 MILLION NUMBER THAT WAS ON THE TABLE.

IT'S NOW BEEN MOVED TO 50 IF IF THAT.

IF WE DO JUST THOSE TWO THINGS, WE'RE OVER BUDGET ALREADY.

SO I THINK GETTING I THINK IT WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION NOW BEFORE WE BREAK.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT'S THE CASE THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IS PROBABLY OFF.

YOU MENTIONED A THIRD AND THE DETENTION OFFICER PAY.

AND HOW MUCH OF THAT CAN GET US? JUST A SNAPSHOT.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF US.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE BACK WORKING ON THIS.

SO, TEAM, IF YOU GUYS COULD SEND OUT THE THE DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A DOCUMENT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S READY TO SHARE.

IT IS IF WE JUST TAKE THESE THREE ITEMS. WE'RE OVER BUDGET. THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IF WE DON'T GET.

WE GOTTA DECIDE IF WE NEED TO TAKE THEM OFF THE TABLE OR WE DO SOME OR SOMETHING.

THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T IT AND I'VE SPOKEN TO EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

I'VE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR STAFF.

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE AREA WHERE THERE'S THE MOST CONSENSUS.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO TAKE THAT CONVERSATION UP.

AND THEN BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE SMALLER ITEMS. THAT'S A SUGGESTION WE CAN'T BREAK NOW AND THEN COME BACK WITH THE WHOLE THING.

I JUST THINK IF WE IF WE DO GO TO 50 MILLION ON THE PRECINCT BUDGET PLUS THE COLA, PLUS THE DETENTION OFFICERS THAT LET'S LET'S CALL IT IF I CAN.

I'M JUST GONNA MAKE ONE SUGGESTION.

UH, I THINK THE STRONGEST CONSENSUS JUST FROM WATCHING BODY LANGUAGE WAS ON THE FIRST.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE WOULD REDUCE TO OTHERS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE A MOTION ON THE, UH, COLA ITEM FIRST.

I AGREE. OKAY.

SO WAS THAT OKAY WITH YOU ALL? I THINK THAT'S CONSENSUS MOTION.

IT WOULD BE A MOTION.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE COLA SO THAT EVERYONE IS BROUGHT UP TO 7% COLA.

EFFECTIVE ONE TRANCHE.

OCTOBER 20TH 1.4 MILLION 41.4.

AND AGAIN, THAT REDUCES IT DOWN TO WHAT THE POT THE POT WOULD GO TO.

28.6 20 I'M SORRY, 2020 9.3.

SO WITH THAT, WE GO DOWN TO 29.

BUT AT SOME POINT, REAL QUICKLY, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE THIS, DOES IT THE ADDITIONAL FIVE? YEAH. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING TAKING THIS ON PERSON, THEN I'LL GO TO THAT ONE NEXT.

SO CAN WE VOTE ON THIS ONE.

WE'LL MOVE SECOND. OKAY.

OH, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, MAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

21.4 MILLION IS OFF THE TABLE.

AND IT'S AT IN THE BOOK.

YEAH. THAT MOTION. WELL, THAT'S.

I STILL THINK WE NEED TO TALK NEXT ON THE MONEY FOR EACH PERSON.

I JUST DON'T GO TO THE PENSION OFF.

I'D LIKE TO GO TO THIS OFFICE.

WELL, WE'RE FIXING TO EAT IT ALL UP.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT. BUT THAT'S RIGHT.

FOR 6.4.

THAT'S CORRECT. 6.4.

YEAH. SO BECAUSE COMMISSIONER, YOU MAKE A MOTION A SECOND.

SORRY, I WAS COMMISSIONER. OH.

COMMISSIONER BROWN MADE THE MOTION SO THAT WOULD TAKE DETENTION OFFICERS UP TO 12% OF HOW THEY MADE THAT.

LET ME SEE HERE.

IT'S TO MOVE TO INCREASE THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION OFFICER PAY BY 5% IN ADDITION TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.

[03:55:06]

PERFECT. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.

I. I'LL ALSO NO.

THREE. AS IF ONE NAY.

THE MOTION PASSES. AND I THINK WITH THOSE TWO OFF, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY COME BACK WITH A PRECINCT TO VOTE ON THE THE WHAT THE PRECINCTS ARE GOING TO DO.

HOW MUCH ARE WE WHAT'S LEFT? WE STARTED WITH THE 42.

YEAH, YOU ATE IT ALL UP AND.

YEAH. JUST TELL ME WHAT THE NUMBER IS.

YOU GOT IT RIGHT. 50. IT'S FUNNY.

SOMETHING. THERE'S 22.7 MILLION AVAILABLE LEFT.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO THIS IS THIS IS MY SUGGESTION.

AND I HAD.

SO JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GET THE ORIENTED REORIENTATED IT IS, I HAVE MADE A MOTION FOR TO MOVE IT FROM 39 TO 43, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY EIGHT POINT 9,000,000.9 MILLION.

MR. RAMSEY MAKES A MOTION TO TAKE IT FOR 39 TO 50.

IT COULD EFFECTIVELY BE 44 MINUTES FOR IT.

CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. FOR 40 MILLION, I BELIEVE.

SO WHAT WHAT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST 42.96 4041.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, IF I MIGHT, I'D LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT OTHERS DID HERE.

YOU JUST GO THROUGH, LOOK, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY IF WE IF WE'RE GOING TO GO DO IT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD GO IN AND SAY FOR ALL OF OTHER WORTHY THINGS, WE JUST WENT THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, LOOK, I HAPPEN TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE HEAT FOR THE 4 BILLION.

I'D HAVE TAKEN THE HEAT, BUT THAT'S HISTORY HAPPENED.

BUT YOU ALREADY WE ALREADY GIVEN OURSELVES HOW MUCH GOING TO THE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WE MOVING IT OVER TO OUR RECOMMENDATION, IF IT WERE TO BE ACCEPTED, BE 5 BILLION AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND 2.5 MILLION IN FLEET REPLACEMENT.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S A LOOK.

OBVIOUSLY WE COULD USE MORE, BUT WE ARE HAVING THAT.

BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE ON THE, THE HEALTH YOU KNOW ALTERNATIVE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GO.

I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING FOR IT NOW.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY IF Y'ALL WANT TO FORCE A VOTE NOW.

BUT I'M SAYING WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT IT WHEN WE COME BACK.

IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD SEE THE LIST TOGETHER SO WE CAN TAKE THIS BACK? I JUST WANTED IF WE DON'T VOTE NOW, I'LL JUST SAY WE CAN VOTE ON THIS LATER.

YES. WHAT I'M SAYING I'D LIKE TO VOTE ON IT.

YEAH. FOR THE TAX RATES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR.

AND FOR US TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE WE'LL BE FINE.

I DON'T I DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING.

WELL, LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU, COMMISSIONER.

IF FAST, WHAT IT WILL TAKE.

FOR YOU TO SHOW UP THE NEXT FOUR ROUNDS.

I'LL WALK AWAY FROM SUFFERING.

I'M JUST SAYING FROM MY STANDPOINT, BECAUSE I JUST THINK IT'S AN ABOMINATION FOR US.

WELL, YOU WEREN'T HERE.

BOSTON WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM $4 BILLION.

WELL, AND THEN. AND THEN ALL.

NO, NO. BUT I'M JUST SAYING, IF IT WILL IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD TAKE, YOU'LL BE HERE.

I'LL. I'LL. I'LL SECOND.

YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT.

OKAY? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. BUT I'M GETTING OLD.

I'M SAYING I HAD TEN TEAM TEAM.

CAN WE PLEASE. I REALLY ACTUALLY DO HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

AND. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. I'M TRYING.

IT IS. IT IS. 402 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS.

FOR HOW LONG DO YOU NEED, DANIEL? HOW LONG YOU NEED 30 MINUTES.

HOUR? I GET 30 MINUTES.

WE RECESS UNTIL 430.

IT'S NOW 402. THANK YOU.

TICKET. REICHSUNIVERSITAT.

ALL RIGHT, MR. RAMOS.

OH, IT IS.

443 COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RETURNED FROM RECESS, AND WE'RE BACK IN SESSION.

SO EACH OF YOU THINK EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE A DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT GOES OVER ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED, INCLUDING THE TWO THAT THAT WERE JUST PASSED? ALL IN ALL, WE RECEIVED 89 MILLION IN IN BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

AND AS A REMINDER, WE HAD 50.5 MILLION AVAILABLE.

THE WITH THE SUBTRACTING OUT THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED WHICH AGAIN ARE THE 7% FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISORS, CIVILIANS AND DETENTION OFFICERS, AND 4% FOR DEPUTIES AND INVESTIGATORS.

ALL TO BE EFFECTIVE THE FIRST PAY PERIOD OF OCTOBER.

THAT BROUGHT US DOWN TO 2922 .685.

MILLION AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

[04:00:01]

COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM IN ORDER.

I JUST WANTED US TO LOOK AT IT.

SO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

CERTAINLY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR MOTION.

YEAH, I WOULD. I WOULD SAY THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONSENSUS CONSENSUS TO GET SOMETHING.

I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, I WOULD MAKE THE POINT THE ANYTHING THAT WOULD GO TO OUR COMMISSIONER PRECINCT BUDGET YOU CAN USE FOR ANYTHING ON THIS LIST OF ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AT.

SO IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO LAY TODAY AND THEN GET FUNDING FOR IT TO THE EXTENT WE WANT IT TO, THAT'S WHEN OUR CONTRACT.

SO AT ONE I GUESS MY POINT, IT PROVIDES MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR PRECINCT THREE BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF 6700 MILES OF ROAD AND OTHER THINGS RELATED TO THE RECENT CHANGES.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY I'M PUSHING FOR IT.

AND I KNOW I PUT TEN OUT THERE AND JUST TO GET THINGS STARTED, I'LL GO FROM 10 TO 5, WHICH WOULD BE 20 ME.

I THANK YOU. MR. GARCIA HAD ROUGHLY 8.9 MILLION.

BUT. SO THAT'S.

I'M PUTTING THAT NUMBER OUT.

OKAY. YOUR FIGURE IS 25 MILLION FOR FIVE MINUTES.

WE TAKE IT IN HALF.

THAT WOULD BE 5 MILLION FOR PRECINCTS.

THAT WOULD BE 20 MILLION TOTAL.

IT'S THAT SECOND. I WOULD.

I WOULD MAKE A PROMISE.

I WOULD JUST MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

I WANT TO I WANT TO FORGET THE CAN I JUST BEING MINDFUL OF WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND OTHER COMPETING PRIORITIES THAT I HAVE AND THAT I SUPPORT. ACROSS THE TABLE.

I WILL.

THAT WE CAN'T END UP AT THE AT THE 18.9.

AND THAT DOES INCREASE US.

IT'S IT GETS ME COMFORTABLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO MORE, BUT I'M HUNGRY FOR A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT I HAVE ON MY AGENDA AND I JUST CAN'T MAKE THE MATH WORK IF I GO FURTHER OUT. SO I WON'T MIND THE SEASON, BUT.

I'M IN FAVOR OF IT PHILOSOPHICALLY.

THAT I WANT TO SEE. THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE RIGHT NUMBER IS THAT WE CAN GET TO.

MAYBE IT'S BETWEEN TO 20 OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE SUPPOSE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE OTHER.

LIKE WHAT WOULD YOU SORT OF IN THAT FOR TYPE THINGS FOR EACH OF US.

SO I KNOW WHAT MINE IS.

OTHER THAN THAT, THINGS ARE GOOD.

SO I AM.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I WOULD MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR A SECOND WOULD BE THAT WE ADJUST PRECINCT BUDGETS TO HAVE AN INCREASE OF 8.9.

THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE TENTATIVE.

OH, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO BREAK IT OUT.

HOW MUCH? PER PRECINCT IN ADDITION.

AND THEN HOW MUCH FOR THE COUNTY? JUDGE I THINK WOULD BE TO WORK OUT THE MATH BACKWARDS.

IT WOULD TAKE IF WE WERE TO TAKE OUT 514 FOR THE JUDGE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE COLA THAT WE JUST APPROVED.

PROBABLY 514 FOR THE JUDGE.

AND THEN WHAT THE YOU DO THE MATH.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER POINT.

BUT I CAN GO BACK IF.

AND IN A SECOND AND WORKED OUT THE MOTION LANGUAGE AND THE COST.

SO WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS, THE AVERAGE COST FOR YOUR COLA IS 430,000.

SO WHATEVER NUMBER YOU ADJUST BY JUST MAKING CLEAR WHETHER THAT INCLUDES THE COLA OR IN ADDITION TO THE COLA, THAT CHANGES THE MATH.

THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE COLA BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT WHEN WE VOTED ON THE GOAL.

I THINK WE WILL FIND THAT ACROSS THE COUNTY.

BUT, BUT, BUT THIS IS, THIS DOES MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE COLA ITSELF.

SO THIS WOULD BE 8.9, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE JUDGE AT 514,000.

THERE. AND SO.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. BUT THIS THIS GIVES US A PLACE TO GO FROM, UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING WE SET A GOOD BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND GET THERE AT SOME POINT.

BUT I AM I AM JUST TRYING TO BE.

MINDFUL OF THE BOOK I READ A LONG TIME AGO CALLED THE PATH OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IT'S THE IDEA THAT OUR RESPECTIVE PARTIES, WITH THE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM ALL ON A LINE.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD, RESPONSIBLE WAY FOR US TO GET THERE.

[04:05:05]

MR.. MINUS THE 514 FOR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE.

THAT WOULD LEAVE US $2,096,500 PER PERSON.

WELL, ALMOST. ALMOST 3 MILLION UP.

SORRY. TWO POINT.

SORRY. 2.1 MILLION.

2.1 EACH FREQUENCY AT 42 MILLION, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT EXCESS OF 42 MILLION.

OKAY. SO I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, ALTHOUGH I WANT MORE.

THANK YOU. BUT AT THIS POINT.

IT'S A IT'S A RESPONSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

IT HELPS ME DEAL WITH SOME INFLATION WITH MY STAFF AND AND.

IT'LL HELP ME GET TO THE OTHER PARTY.

DOESN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PRIORITY NOW.

I'LL BE DONE. THE OTHER PRIORITY IN TERMS OF WHAT'S LEFT IS THE FUNDING OF THE VA'S INTAKE.

I KNOW THE VA PUT INTO TUBES, THE FUNDING WITH THE VA'S M-PHASE OF ROUGHLY 1.5 MILLION, SO I'M JUST PUTTING MY PRIORITIES ON. YEAH. GOOD.

GOOD. SO I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR.

ON THE ON ON THE.

BUT COMMISSIONER MIGHT BE EASIEST.

I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE.

TO TO MOVE TO INCREASE PRECINCT BUDGETS TO 42,285,500.

42 285 535, WHICH INCLUDES THE FISCAL YEAR 24 FOR.

IT'S PROGRESS AND THEN PHLEPS TO REITERATE THE AMOUNT TO DO THAT.

AND THEN IT'LL BE 514,000 IN ADDITION TO THE COLA.

OR TWO. 285,500.

SORRY. 42,285,500 WOULD BE YOUR FINAL ADOPTED BUDGET NUMBER.

THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU'RE TAKING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION ON FAITH BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE ON YOUR FIRST.

IF YOU TAKE IT AS AN AMENDMENT, WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE.

GET GOING DOWN THE ROAD I WANT.

GOT ON. OKAY.

CAN WE GO AHEAD AND READ IT OUT LOUD SO IT'S CLEAR SHE CAN READ IT OUT ONE MORE TIME? SURE. THE MOTION IS TO.

LET'S SEE, WHERE IS MY MOTION? IT IS. I MOVED TO ALLOCATE TWO POINT.

ONE. SORRY, IT WOULD WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT IS MOVE TO INCREASE COMMISSIONER PRECINCT BUDGETS TO 42,285,542 MILLION. 2,285,500.

ARE EVERYTHING AN INCLUSIVE OF 514 FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

AND THAT WAS REALLY YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION.

IT WAS WITH A SLIGHT VARIATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THE MATH FOR THE.

AND SO REALLY THAT WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT HE ACCEPT IT AND THAT WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION. SO THE MOTION WAS MADE BY RAMSEY AND SECOND BY GARCIA WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED EYES HAVE IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT LEADS US TO 13.5 MINUTES.

13 POINT.

13.8 MILLION.

NO COMMISSIONER AT THIS POINT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU I GUESS WHAT WE'LL DO ON THESE AMENDMENTS IS TO GO IN THE SAME ORDER.

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO FIND CONSENSUS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU BETTER LET US KNOW AS WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY.

OH, YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO SAY THEIR PRIORITIES? WE'RE PROBABLY YEAH, AT LEAST SAY THE PRIORITY.

WHAT WE THINK. HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT? 13.8 MILLION.

13.8. AND IF FOLKS WANT TO, THE DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU IS IN ORDER OF DOLLAR AMOUNT JUST FOR FOR EASE OF EASE OF READ. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO TAKE THOSE UP FIRST OR I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE FOR EVERYONE TO BE ON THE TABLE WHAT THEIR ABSOLUTE TOP PRIORITIES ARE TO PUT IT ON THE TABLE.

THE THREE ITEMS THAT I WOULD PRESENT WOULD BE THE MAGISTRATE HEARING OFFICERS 658,767 BECAUSE I THINK THAT TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTS THE JAIL POPULATION, THE COURT BACKLOG, QUALITY OF JUSTICE.

HOW MUCH OF THAT EIGHT, SIX, FIVE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, SEVEN AND THEN THE BUDGET FOR RUNNING A SKELETON CREW AND THINK THAT HIGH ROI, IF WE

[04:10:06]

SO I WOULD ASK COMMISSIONER IF WE DO THEM ONE AT A TIME.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT WHAT YEAH.

THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND I'LL GO IN THAT SAME ORDER.

SO AT LEAST YOU GAUGE AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU GO OVER THE $13.8 MILLION, YOU BETTER TELL US THAT WOULD BE 1.8916.

OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF YOU WANT TO WALK THROUGH YOUR ONE MORE TIME, MAKE IT EASY.

I WOULD SAY MY PARTY OF THOSE LEFT.

IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER RYAN HAS PUT OUT THERE THE DAY MUCH OF THAT, AGAIN, THAT WAS FOR THE INTAKE AND OVERTIME AND INTAKE 1.5 MILLION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, AGAIN, TO SUPPORT US BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

CLOSING THE INTAKE ON THE WEEKEND.

NOT A GOOD THING. THAT IMPACTS THE JAIL.

THAT IMPACTS THE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

THAT'S A THAT'S A KEY ELEMENT.

THAT WOULD BE MY MY PRIORITY.

YES. MR. RAMSEY, DO YOU KNOW IF THESE WILL BE.

ACTUAL BODIES IN THE INTAKES OR THERE ARE OTHER MECHANISMS THAT IS PROPOSED.

THANK, COMMISSIONER, IS TO FIND THE OVERTIME COSTS FOR POLICE AND TAKE SOME WORK ON MAKING ESSENTIAL SENSITIVE.

MR.. WELL, THIS IS NOT ONE THEY WORK WITH US ON.

YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING.

SO. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THIS FITS IN, BUT GENERALLY WHEN YOU HAVE VACANCIES, YOU KNOW THE WAY IT WORKS.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THEY HAVE A FIXED LABOR BUDGET.

IF THEY HAVE STAFF, THEY STAFF APPROPRIATELY FOR THE INTAKE.

AND REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WE DID DO AN ADJUSTMENT TO FUND POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE PIC FOR INTAKE, MOVED THEM INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT IF THEY'RE UTILIZING OVERTIME, I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE OFFSET WITH THEIR CURRENT VACANCIES.

BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS THIS IS NOT ONE THAT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS WORKED WITH ME ON TO TO VET THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY INTAKE IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHICH CASES WE TAKE VERSUS DIVERSION VERSUS DISMISSAL OUT OF THE GATE.

THAT BEING SAID, I WAS CURIOUS HOW MANY I REMEMBER US VOTING FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

THERE WAS 22 POSITIONS.

THAT TWO POSITIONS. WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE FILLED VERSUS OVERFLOWING THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE ASSIGNED TO TWO INTAKE.

I KNOW THAT THEY THEY STAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 200 AND 28 DAYS AND 268 DAYS, AND THEY'RE FUNDED FOR 290.

SO THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED, IF THEY DON'T GET THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTAKE, IS NOT GOING TO BE OPEN ON THE WEEKEND.

THAT THAT MAY BE WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FITS INTO THEIR STAFFING MODEL.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. THEY THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT THEIR OPERATION.

THEY DIDN'T. WHEN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION HELD UP TONIGHT, HERE WAS THEIR.

OKAY. YOU WERE THERE, MR. RONALD. I WAS. SO WOULD YOU UNDERSTAND THIS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE A CHANGE.

LIKE, CURRENTLY THEY SNAP INTAKE WITH A MIX OF FULL TIME FOLKS AND OVERTIME.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THAT.

BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THAT POINT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM REQUIRE 1.5 BILLION GENERALLY.

AGAIN, THEY EITHER STAFF IT WITH FULL TIME FTES OR IF THERE ARE VACANCIES, THEY USE THAT VACANCY SAVINGS TO PAY FOR OVERTIME.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE JAIL OR SHERIFF PATROL OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO THAT'S WHERE I THEY'RE SAYING IF THEY DON'T HAVE 1.5 MILLION, THE INTAKE MIGHT NOT BE OPEN ON WEEKDAY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. SO LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION, MR. RAMOS, YOU YOU WORKED WITH ME WHEN WE PROVIDED OVERTIME FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING.

IS THIS.

THIS AMOUNT WILL GO.

I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY SIMILAR.

THIS IS ABOUT A SIMILAR NUMBER THAT YOU CAN RECALL WHEN WE WORKED OUT THE THE OVERTIME PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY.

AND SO WHAT I CAN REMEMBER IS WE BUDGETED 22 POSITIONS AND WE CAME BACK AND DID A SUPPLEMENTAL THIS PAST JANUARY FOR THOSE 22 POSITIONS.

AND THE ADDITIONAL RAISES THAT THEY GAVE TO GET THEM FULL ON THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY BUDGETED FOR 290 DAYS.

AND FROM THAT POINT THEY LIKE INCLUDED IN THEIR BUDGET IS SOME ALLOCATION FOR INTAKE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO THEY'RE STAFFING IT CURRENTLY WITH EXISTING RESOURCES.

[04:15:01]

MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I'M MISSING, THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S NOT HERE.

YOU QUESTION THAT AND SHE MIGHT HAVE, BUT I SAY I ASKED HER IF SHE BROUGHT THIS TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND SAID I WAS GOING TO SUPPORT IT. BUT THEN.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON.

I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN AT WORKED AT A DEPARTMENT, I'VE BEEN ON THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE, LIKE IF ANYBODY ASKED ME FOR IF I WANTED MORE MONEY, I WOULD SAY YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND HERE'S MY WISH LIST.

I AM JUST SAYING THAT WHAT I HAD TO WHAT I KNOW UNDER WHAT I'M JUST SAYING IS THAT THERE THERE SOMEHOW STAFFING INTAKE TODAY.

NO YOU'RE YOU'RE THROWING DOUBT ON WHETHER THEY REALLY NEED IT AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY REALLY NEED IT.

OKAY. AND I HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS LONG TIME AND MY AND JUST TO MUDDY THE WATERS A LITTLE BIT MORE I THOUGHT I REMEMBER PUTTING. SOME MONEY FOR CREATING THE INTAKE.

THERE WAS FIVE POSITIONS, SO WE DID A SUPPLEMENTAL FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF 30 POSITIONS.

RIGHT. FIVE OF THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO STAND.

WE DID IT AS A WHOLE PACKAGE, NOT INDIVIDUAL.

FIVE OF THOSE WERE TO STAFF THE JTWC AND THEN THEY CAME BACK AND MADE A REQUEST TO TO THE BOTH OF US THAT THEY STAFF IT WITH WITH OVERTIME BY CHIEFS AS OPPOSED TO ENTRY LEVEL PROSECUTORS, TO WHICH I SAID YOU'RE ALLOCATED X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, YOU CAN UTILIZE IT HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH A PRIORITY.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK THROUGH MY MY PRIORITIES WILL INCLUDE.

THE. GRAND CAFE.

THE ADAMANT ABOUT GRAND CAFE.

THINK IT'S BRINGING VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I STARTED, WE HEARD FROM IGA.

THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO FIND THIS MONEY.

THIS. THIS PROGRAM THAT'S FINDING MONEY FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED IT AND AND WILL HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR LIFE.

AND I THINK IT CREATES SO MUCH OF A POSITIVE CHANGE.

BUT GRAND CAFE FOR 1.1.

IT IS THE INTERPRETER.

AND SIPHON PROGRAM FOR 340,000.

AND THEN IT WOULD BE EMPLOYED IN POWER FOR 2.1.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT IN ARPA BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BECAUSE WE HAVE LONGED FOR REAL RESPONSE FOR HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN TO INSTITUTIONALIZE IT.

BUT I WOULD ADVOCATE THAT WE BEGIN THE PROCESS TO ACTUALLY BUDGET FOR IT AND AND SUPPORT IT FOR THE WORK THAT IT'S DOING.

THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

POWER AT 2.1.

AND THEN. LASTLY, IT WOULD BE OR GET TWO MORE AND IT WOULD BE THE 154 450,000 FOR THE CLERKS IN THE OFFICE.

AND THEN LASTLY, IT WOULD BE THE 240,000 FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT.

DON'T BE IN MY PARTY AND 23 CLEAR THE LANGUAGE.

ACCESS WOULD BE FOR ALL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

YES, THAT 340 INCLUDES ALL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ESTIMATES AROUND HOW MANY PEOPLE WE THOUGHT WOULD GO FOR THE CERTIFICATION, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO GET A STIPEND.

BUT WE THINK ROUGHLY ACROSS THE 16, THAT'S WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THE EMPLOYED EMPOWERED US COUNTY, THE COUNTY WIDE ALREADY.

AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS NOW WHEN DOES IT RUN OUT? WHAT ARE WE DOING ON ARPA NOW? WELL, IT'S BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT? THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OUT OF ARPA.

THE PROBLEM WITH ARPA IS THAT THERE IS NO BUCKET FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW.

AND SO MY FEAR IS THAT AS WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO CANNIBALIZE ARPA, THIS PROGRAM WILL BECOME A VICTIM OF IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'D RATHER SEE IT GET INTO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY PROVIDING AN INCREDIBLE OUTPUT FOR THE COUNTY.

WELL, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD BE CANNIBALIZE SO QUICKLY, BUT FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, IT IS WORKING.

AND AND THE AND THE.

AND THEY SPEND IT AND THEY'RE SPENDING IT.

IT'S ALL IT'S ALL WORKING.

WELL, THERE'S SOME ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BECOME A VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

[04:20:02]

BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S SORT OF A NO MAN'S LAND.

IT'S KIND OF IN THE HOUSING, BUT THEY'RE NOT A TRUE LINE ITEM FOR FOR EMPLOYMENT POWER IN THE HOMELESSNESS CATEGORY.

SO THAT IS MY THAT IS MY WORRY THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY KILL A GOOD PROGRAM.

AND AND SO I I'M PUTTING A STAKE IN IT SAYING THAT IT'S WORKING, IT'S WORKING WELL, PROVIDING OUTPUT.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT INSTITUTIONALIZED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SO I WASN'T SURE IF I MIGHT JUST.

JUST SO HAVE.

SO I THINK AFTER NOW THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE PRIORITY, I THINK AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ANOTHER BREAK AND I CAN GO ADD UP THE TOTALS AND THEN COME BACK. BUT JUST TO CONFIRM, GRAND CAFE.

THE CSO GRANT, THE 240 FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES.

THE LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THE JP IS EMPLOYED TO EMPOWER.

AND DID I HEAR THE JP SIX ON THAT LIST? OKAY. DID I MISS ANY? THAT'S. THOSE ARE THE FIVE SINCE WE ALREADY PASSED THE PRECINCT BUDGET.

OKAY. AND GRAND CAFE AND GREG CAFE.

UNDERSTOOD, SAID COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

I'VE GOT. I'VE GOT ONE MISSED.

LET ME PUT IT OUT THERE.

UH, THE RE COMMUNICATION OFFICER DISPATCH POSITIONS IN PRECINCT FOUR.

UH, THAT'S 195,001.7.

SAME HERE. I'M SORRY.

I WAS TRYING TO PULL MY LIST TOGETHER.

THERE'S THREE POSITIONS.

THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY DISPATCH POSITIONS WITHIN COUNCIL PRECINCT FOUR.

AND AS COMMISSIONER SAID EARLIER, IT'S IT'S A LARGE, LARGE GROUP.

THEY'VE TAKEN ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY JUST THEIR NEEDS HAVE GROWN.

AND. AND HOW MUCH WAS IT AGAIN? 195,000. 127.

OKAY. MAKE SURE I HAVE MINE HERE.

UH, MINE WOULD BE HEART PROGRAM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

THAT'S FOR 2.2 MILLION.

THE OFFICE.

I'M GOING TO REDUCE IT A BIT TO 383.

UH. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

500. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHICH HAS BROUGHT US INTO MONEY THAT WE'VE SPREAD AROUND.

WE'RE TRYING TO SPLIT THEM NOW. FIVE MORE, REDUCE IT A BIT.

500,000. AND THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM AND WILL REDUCE THAT TO $1 MILLION.

BETTER IF I MIGHT.

NOW THAT WE'RE ALL ON, THE FOLKS ARE ON THE RECORD FOR THEIR NEXT BIG.

POLLUTION CONTROL.

IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT, BUT WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT.

THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND AIR MONITORS FOR $326,116.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE I HAVE A BALL.

DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK? SURE. AND I'LL.

WE'LL. WE'LL WAIT 30 MINUTES AND TAKE 15.

COME IN HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AGAIN. THAT'S 15.

30, 30, 30.

THAT'S FINE. BUT WE'LL COME BACK WITH A MORE PARED DOWN VERSION OF THIS LIST WITH YOUR WITH YOUR ALL PRIORITIES.

SO IT IS NOW 508.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS UNTIL 538.

SO, DANIEL, TELL US WHERE WE ARE.

I SAW YOUR HAND, COMMISSIONER.

OH, WE'RE BACK. IT IS NOW 539.

COMMISSIONERS COURT IS RECONVENED.

SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO GIVE EVERYONE UP TO UP TO SPEED.

WE EARLIER TODAY WE TOOK ACTION ON 15.5 MILLION IN OFFSETS.

WE HAVE THUS FAR APPROVED 36.7 MILLION IN NEW SPENDING.

THAT LEAVES US WITH 13.8 MILLION AVAILABLE.

WHEN WE ADDED UP YOUR PRIORITY LIST, WHICH YOU HAVE AN UPDATED SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE ARE AT 11.99 MILLION.

MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT IS TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS LIST AND HOPEFULLY CALL IT AN EARLY DAY.

COMMISSIONER BROWN, CAN I MAKE A POINT? YES. SO, YOU KNOW, REFLECTING ON ALL OF THIS, THERE ARE SOME INVESTMENTS THAT HELP THE ENTIRE COUNTY, WHICH I THINK IS A WIN FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND THEN THERE'S SOME INVESTMENTS THAT ARE MORE SPECIFIC.

[04:25:03]

I KNOW THAT THE CLERK POSITION IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT TAKING A STEP BACK, GIVEN HOW MUCH LIMITED FUNDS WE HAVE, I WONDERED IF LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE OTHER ONES, LIKE THE 381 AGREEMENTS, COMMISSIONER, THAT EACH PRECINCT WOULD GET 500 AND THEN THAT 500 COULD BE USED FOR GRAD CAFE OR OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE FLEXIBILITY BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY THAT I'VE PERSONALLY HAVE SOME ANGST AND MAYBE THIS IS THE FORMER JUDGE IN ME NOT PASSING THE JURY PAY ONE.

GIVEN HOW AWFUL THOSE NUMBERS ARE ON DIVERSITY AND WHICH I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE, TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S FAR MORE NARROW AND AFFECTS A LIMITED NUMBER.

SO I JUST AS I WENT BACK INTO MY OFFICE, I JUST KIND OF TOOK A STEP BACK AND LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DA, I VERY MUCH WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR OFFICE.

MY TEAM TOLD ME THE GREAT NEWS.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE 1.75 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS THAT THEY HAVEN'T USED THAT I THINK THE STEERING CO COULD THEN USE FOR THE VICTIM SERVICES AND THOSE INTAKE POSITIONS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FILLED LIKE I'M ALL IN AND WORKING WITH THEM.

AND SO IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND I THANK MY TEAM FOR THEM ALWAYS HAVING SO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT ALL TO SAY THAT AS MUCH AS I WANT MY CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR POSITIONS AND WANT TO HELP WITH THE VA, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE CAN USE ARPA, I LOVE EMPLOYED TO EMPOWER COMMISSIONER, BUT I THINK FOR NOW WE CAN RIDE TO ARPA TRAIN ON THAT AND I TOO WILL GO TO THE MAT TO PROTECT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT.

I HOPE. I HOPE YOU WILL BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SUBJECT TO THE CUTTING.

THE CUTTING BOARD. YEAH, WE'RE USING THAT IN OUR PARKS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION AND I THINK IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

BUT ALL TO SAY THAT I WOULD IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, I WOULD STRONGLY PREFER COUNTY WIDE, WHETHER THAT'S THE 381 AGREEMENTS AND OR JURY PAY A PORTION MAYBE FOR THE OCA THINGS THAT WILL REALLY HAVE MORE OF A MACRO EFFECT.

SO LET ME TRY THIS, IF I MIGHT.

NOW, WILL IT GET SOME ON SINGAPORE TIME? I'M EXHAUSTED, BUT AT LEAST IT KIND OF CUT TO THE CHASE ON WHAT I THINK YOU HEARD AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD POINT.

THERE ARE CONSTABLES AND JP'S WHO CALLED ME AS WELL AND JUST SHIED AWAY FROM DOING SOMETHING FOR ONE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD SAY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW YOUR CASE.

I HAD MORE THAN ONE FROM MY PRECINCT CALLS HOW I WOULD SAY I WAS FOR THIS ONE, BUT NOT THAT ONE.

SO I'D LIKE TO SAY WE CAN STILL ARGUE THAT ANOTHER DAY.

AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING I MET, I'M TIRED AND I GOT UP AT 2 A.M.

SO I MAY BE EXHAUSTED WITH IT.

WHY? WHY COULDN'T YOU FIGURE OUT HOW AS LONG AS WE'RE GIVING IT TO SOME ENTITY, WHETHER IT IS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SOME OTHER GROUP, NOT YOUR PRECINCT, SOME OTHER GROUP IN YOUR PRECINCT THAT GIVES US THE LATITUDE, WHETHER IT IS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, GRAND CAFE, IN MY CASE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT LIKE YOU DIDN'T BRING THAT ONE UP, BUT THERE MAY BE SOMETHING I WANT TO LET SOME SCHOOL DISTRICT DO WITH THAT MONEY.

SO I'M JUST I'M TRYING TO FIND A CONSENSUS TO CUT THIS SHORT.

AND AT LEAST FOR ME, IF THE DA'S OFFICE HAS 1.9 MILLION, USE THAT AND THEN WE COULD CROSS THIS BRIDGE.

IT'S ONLY 2 MILLION LEFT.

THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE LEFT, CROSS THAT BRIDGE LATER.

AND RESPECTFULLY, I REALLY MEAN THIS RESPECTFULLY.

EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAS SAID WE FALL OFF THE CLIFF IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE ITEM.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THEM DON'T COME AND SAY IT PUBLICLY, BUT MOST OF THEM WILL SAY THIS IS A MUST DO.

AND IF THAT'S BEEN BEING SAID, EVERY TIME WE GO THROUGH A BUDGET CYCLE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, SO THOSE WOULD BE MY SUGGESTIONS.

AND IF I GO BACK AND KIND OF FILL THEM OUT AND THEN THAT WAY, IF IT LEAVES A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THERE'S 2 MILLION.

UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL SOME MONEY, AND WE COULD CALL THIS A DAY.

I JUST THINK WE HAD I THINK WE WE ALL WORKED WELL TOGETHER.

COMMISSIONER, I THINK YOU'VE GOT A VERY GOOD JOB OF PRIME MINISTER.

THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR.

I GIVE YOU MUCH CREDIT FOR THAT.

WHAT WE DID HAVE, WE DID SAY, WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND YOUR PRIORITIES.

AND WE DID.

WE GO BACK NOW AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE YOUR PRIORITY.

I THINK THERE'S BETTER PRIORITIES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT WE'RE THERE.

WE HAVE A SOLUTION.

WE'VE EACH LISTED OUR PRIORITIES IN A FAIR AND HONEST WAY, AND WE GOT IT FUNDED AND WE'RE GOOD.

[04:30:05]

NOW WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

IF WE REALLY WANTED TO BE FAIR, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SAID, HERE'S HERE'S THE POT OF MONEY, DIVIDE IT BY FOUR.

AND THEN BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO TAKE A SMALLER BITE OF THE APPLE, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE JUST PROPORTIONED.

RIGHT. AND SO TO ME, FAIRNESS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET.

RIGHT. SO TAKING A STEP BACK, WHAT WILL HELP THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND WHERE ELSE DO WE HAVE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE CAN DRAW FROM FIRST? BECAUSE TO ME, MY KIDS IN LEAGUE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, I CARE ABOUT THEM LIKE I CARE ABOUT THE CONSTABLE, LIKE I CARE ABOUT VICTIMS. AND IT'S REALLY HARD.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T VOTED.

AND SO MY INTENT IS HOW DO WE HELP THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND ADVANCE JUSTICE? AND THEN WE GO BACK TO WE GO BACK AND VOTE ON IT.

YEAH. NO, I THINK YOU HAVE THE MOST YEAH, THAT'D BE MY OPINION THAT YOU HELP THE MOST.

THEN COULD YOU SPEND IT ON ANY PROGRAM, ANY ISSUE YOU'VE LISTED? IF YOU PUT THAT MONEY IN THE PRECINCT, YOU GO HELP ANYBODY YOU WANT TO HELP.

SO AGAIN, WE WHAT WE SAID, HERE'S THE KEY COMMISSION.

THE KEY IS IF WE CAME OUT HERE AND SAID.

EACH PERSON LIST YOUR PRIORITY.

AND WHEN YOU LIST YOUR PRIORITIES, THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO FUND THAT AND THAT'S IT.

WE DID NOT DO THAT. SO IF THE RULES ARE CLEAR AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE RULES ARE.

AND YOU GOT THE SAME SET OF RULES THAT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY.

YOU COULD DO THAT, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SAY WHAT ARE YOUR WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT GET OUT VOTES ON? SOME STUFF I DIDN'T LIST BECAUSE I KIND OF WATCHED THE BODY LANGUAGE EVEN WHEN I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 2 A.M.

I'M WATCHING THE BODY LANGUAGE AND I'M KIND OF I WAS DOING THE SAME THING.

I DIDN'T LIST THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE I DID.

BUT I AND I THINK WHEN I WENT THROUGH I THINK YOU I THINK YOU AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD THE LOWEST AMOUNT.

I'M JUST GUESSING ROUGH NUMBERS.

I THINK YOU HAD THE LOWEST AMOUNT.

SO I'M JUST SAYING, IF WE HAD SAID, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE AGREED IF WE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE ARE FOUR OF US HERE WE NEED GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE THIS BOARD.

YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE, BUT IN THERE, A MILLION, 1.5 MILLION LEFT.

WELL, POINT EIGHT AND I'M FINE.

I DON'T. I'M NOT ASKING THAT FOR PRECINCT THREE.

PRECINCT 411.8.

PICK. PICK A DEAL.

GO. I'M FINE WITH THAT.

YEAH. SPIKED TO 1.8.

PICK IT. MUSIC TO MY EARS.

SO THINK WHAT WE CAN SAY.

LOOK, I SIMILARLY APPRECIATE THE PROCESS.

WE STILL HAVE SOME DAYLIGHT TO SEE OUTSIDE, NOT LIKE OTHER MEETINGS.

UM, AND THE I TRIED TO FOLLOW THE, THE PROCESS THAT'S LAID OUT AND, AND WE'RE THERE.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND I, I COULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DIDN'T WANT TO FUND ALL OF, ALL AT ONCE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

PART OF THE PICTURE. BUT I WENT WITH BOTH PARTIES AND I THINK THAT I SPENT.

SO I THINK WE'RE HERE.

THERE'S 1.8 THAT'S LEFT ON THE TABLE.

I CAN COME UP WITH ANOTHER PRIORITY.

I WON'T. BUT IF YOU HAVE A 1.8 PRIORITY THAT SUPPORTS YOU, I SECOND IT.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL TAKE IF WE CAN CARVE OUT THE 1.8.

SO ARE WE GOING TO VOTE? IF Y'ALL WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE THAT.

YOU GIVE A HALF OF THE 1.8.

GIVE ME THE OTHER HALF AND WE'LL GET THE HELL ON OUT OF HERE.

YEAH, WE'LL GET ON THAT.

I'LL DO GET OUT. LET'S CARVE UP THE 1.8 FOR WASTE AND CALL IT A DAY.

NO, NO, NO.

I'LL FIND SOMETHING THAT IS FAIR, THAT HELPS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

THAT BEING SAID, ARE WE GOING TO VOTE IN THE TOTALITY OF WHAT WE'RE STATED INITIALLY AS THE PRECINCT PRIORITIES? ARE WE GOING TO DO LINE BY LINE FOR ROSENBERG'S COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL? YEAH, I MEAN, WE REALLY SHOULD GO LINE BY LINE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S START WITH.

WELL, LET'S JUST GO WITH WHATEVER.

KEEP. KEEP UP WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS.

AT LEAST WE KNOW IF WE GO BY THE ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE, WE STILL WILL HAVE 2 MILLION ON THE TABLE.

AND IF ALL OF THEM DON'T PASS, WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE TABLE.

SO LET'S JUST START WITH, UH, TELL ME ON YOUR SHEET HERE WHICH ONE? YEAH, LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST.

COMMISSIONER, EVERY ITEM ON HERE HAS BEEN A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED, SO IT'S REALLY JUST A VOTE ON APPROVAL.

SO IF YOU JUST CALL THE ITEM AND THEN I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SURE.

GOT THEM WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THEM IN ORDER.

IF WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THE ROUND ROBIN, I THINK JUST USING THE USING THE LIST WOULD BE HELPFUL.

OH I GOT THE WRONG ONE. AND IN MY SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS, SO THE 1.8, THESE HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY? TO BE TO BE FAIR, THE 1.8 MILLION.

TO BE FAIR, I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE DIVIDED FOUR WAYS AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHAT ECONOMIC JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, EDUCATIONAL

[04:35:08]

JUST TO BE FAIR, SAY THAT AGAIN.

SO AS MUCH AS I'D LOVE ALL THE 1.8 FOR WHAT I THINK IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST OUT OF THE SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS AND CAMARADERIE TO HELP EVERYONE ACROSS THE ENTIRE PRECINCT, I WOULD LIKE I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DIVIDE THE DELTA OF 1.8 MILLION BY FOUR FOR EACH PRECINCT.

SURE. IF I IF I MIGHT, I THINK WHAT MAKES WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE IS JUST LET'S GO THROUGH THE LIST, FIGURE OUT, SEE WHAT'S LEFT.

SEE? SEE WHAT? I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST IS GOING TO PASS.

YEAH, IT MAY BE MORE.

THERE WILL BE A NUMBER.

AND WHETHER WE NEED TO BREAK OR FOLKS WANT TO PUT THEIR TOP, WE DON'T WANT BREAKFAST.

YEAH. YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT I SAW THROUGH THE FIRST ONE THAT I SEE WAS THE PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE EXPANSION OF HEART.

NOT BECAUSE HIS MIND, IT WAS JUST THE FIRST ONE ON THE LIST.

SO THE ONES THAT ARE IN WHITE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE NOT VOTED ON? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. SO. RIGHT.

JUST. YEAH. SO COLORED BY COLOR.

YES, I'M GOING BY THIS COLOR CODE RED.

OKAY. AND CAN IT BE READ IN THE COURT RECORD? THAT WAY IT'S CLEAR. OKAY.

THIS ONE IS, UH, THE MOTION WAS EARLIER, SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE VOTE ON WOULD BE TO APPROVE FUNDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO EXPAND THE HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM TO BEGIN EXPANSION IN AT LEAST ONE DISTRICT BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2024.

AND THE FUND AN EVALUATION OF THE HEART PROGRAM FOR 2.2 MILLION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.

OH, AND I'LL SECOND IT IF YOU WANT TO.

SECOND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIAN SECONDS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. NO.

THREE EYES AND ONE NAY.

THE MOTION PASSES.

THE NEXT ONE WE HAVE ON THE PRIORITY IS MOVE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY 2.1 MILLION FROM ABOUT 2.1 MILLION FROM 740,000 BEING SUBCONTRACTED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOY TO EMPOWER PROGRAM CIRCUIT.

SO MOVE FURTHER. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M SAYING, IS THIS THE ONE WAY IT WOULD GO TO, UH, IT WOULD IT WOULD STAY IN THE GENERAL FUND.

IT WOULD BE IT WOULD MOVE FROM ARPA TO THE GENERAL FUND.

YEAH. AND WHEN THEY DO IT, IT'S IN EACH PRECINCT.

THERE'S AN IT'S COUNTYWIDE.

COUNTYWIDE. UH, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THE REASON BEFORE WE VOTE, I WON'T VOTE AGAINST IT.

BUT HERE'S WHY I WOULD VOTE FOR IT IF WE WERE GOING TO SAY, YOU COULD DO THAT, OR YOU COULD DO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ROUTINE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TAKE IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

WELL, THIS IS EMPLOYMENT POWER.

THIS IS THE HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM.

YEAH. SO YOU GOT TO FUND THE PROGRAM FOR NOT.

UH, SO IT'S, IT'S CURRENTLY COUNTYWIDE AND I'M JUST SAYING MOVE IT FROM ARPA TO GENERAL FUND AND CONTINUE.

IF YOU'RE HIRING, YOU'RE WORKING WITH CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES AND YOU GOT THE HAIR FOR PROFIT YOU GOT.

I GUESS I WOULD JUST PREFER I KNOW WHEN ARPA RUNS OUT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME EVALUATION AND THERE MAY BE THINGS WE WANT TO DO OR DON'T WANT TO DO.

I JUST DEFER TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT UP FOR ME.

A MARKER DOWN NOW FOR ONE ARPA PROGRAM WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROGRAM TO, UH, TO, TO HELP FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? VOTE NO. OKAY.

THE NEXT ONE IS FUN.

PUBLIC HEALTH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO TWO ADDITIONAL ZIP CODES BY THE END OF 2024 FOR $1 MILLION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION. IS THAT SECOND? OKAY, BUT THAT WOULD FAIL.

THE NEXT ONE IS MOVE TO INCREASE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET BY 1.5 MILLION TO FUND OVERTIME COSTS FOR THE POLICE INTAKE DEPARTMENT FOR WEEKEND POSITIONS FOR 1.5 MILLION. IS THAT MOTION? MIGHTY MOUSE IS THAT SECOND.

THANKS. THAT ONE DOES NOT PASS.

THE NEXT ONE IS MOVED TO INCREASE THE COUNTY'S LIBRARY BUDGET BY 1.1 MILLION FOR THE GRAND CAFE EXPANSION.

COUNTYWIDE, TWO LIBRARIES PER PRECINCT PLUS ONE LOCATION DECIDED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR 1.1 MILLION.

PERFECT FOR BOTH.

IS THAT SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

I DON'T. NO. AT THIS TIME. UH, MOTION THREE ONE, THREE, ONE.

IT PASSES. THREE, ONE.

A MOTION TO FUND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 IN LITIGATION EXPENSES.

[04:40:04]

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND.

SECOND, THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS $750,000 TO INCREASE OF $750,000 INCREASE FOR THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

MOVE. SECOND.

IT'S BEEN A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. THREE EYES AND ONE NAY.

THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT IS FUND.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE PROGRAMING AND POLICIES FOR WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.

I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION IS TO MAKE THE PRIORITIES OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT SAID THEIR PRIORITY BUT OPPORTUNITY OFF? YEAH, OPPORTUNITY.

BUT I'LL SAY PRIORITIES. IF IT GETS A VOTE.

THE DISCUSSION IS THAT I'M JUST.

THIS IS WHAT THE OFFICE WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY IT'S AT THE MAIN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN IT.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY.

UH. WHAT'S THE STRUGGLE THERE? FOR ME, JUST FOR WHY THEY ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE ON ON ONLINE AND THEY DID HAVE THEIR, UM, THE REQUEST THAT THEY HAD FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING. AND I THINK PART OF IT IS JUST BEING ABLE TO EXPAND TO DO THE MENTOR PROGRAM IS ONE THEIR BUSIEST FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEARS IS WHAT I KNOW WHY SHE'S COMING ON THE OFFICE STAFFING PLAN HAS NEVER BEEN REACHED.

ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS THE 53 FTE AND YOU KNOW, YOU AND BY THE WAY, EXPANDED THAT MISSION A BIT BECAUSE WE CAME UP WITH THE FUND TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO PROGRAMS. SO, LOOK, I'M COMMITTED TO IT BECAUSE I WANT IT TO I WANT IT TO WORK.

NO, NO, NO. I SUPPORT IT.

ARE YOU THERE? WHY? IT'S NOT ACHIEVING ITS MISSION.

AND ALSO, TO BE CLEAR, ARE WE USING THE 383? FRIENDS WHEN WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHORT LIST OF PRIORITIES VERSUS THE LONGER LIST.

THREE FIELDS. THE LAST TIME THAT I CUT IT DOWN.

YEAH, I'D LIKE TO GO WITH THE HIGHER NUMBER IF I HAD TO VOTE.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH MYSELF.

YEAH, I'LL PICK A HIGHER NUMBER, THEN I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

WHAT WAS THE HIGHER NUMBER? THIS? WE ALREADY SAID YES TO ALL THIS.

WE COULD SAY WE COULD SAY NO TO 383383.

OKAY. AND THEN IF THERE'S MONEY LEFT, WE'LL COME BACK IN THE DEPARTMENT HEAD ON.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH IT? WE MOVE ON.

OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO REREAD IT JUST IN CASE, I'LL MAKE MIND REREADING IT JUST IN CASE.

OKAY. TO INCREASE IT.

ARE THERE WAYS THAT I. UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE PROGRAMING FOR AND POLICIES FOR WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $383,000.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO.

THREE EYES AND ONE NAY MOTION PASSES.

NEXT ONE IS MOVE TO INCREASE OFFICE OF COUNTY MANAGEMENT BUDGET BY 658,000.

$767,000 FOR THREE MAGISTRATE HEARING OFFICERS.

NO, I'LL I'LL THAT.

OKAY. OKAY.

I'M SORRY. MOVE TO INCREASE.

OFFICE OF COUNTY COURT MANAGEMENT.

OK BUDGET BY $658,767 FOR THREE MAGISTRATE HEARINGS.

SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE PROPERLY.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE OPPOSED FOR AS.

AND NO NAYS. MOTION PASSES.

NEXT ONE IS MOVE TO INCREASE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS BUDGET BY $483,369 TO COVER ADDITIONAL LABOR AND NON-LABOR COSTS AS REQUESTED BY THE SECOND MOTION IS MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL RIGHT. WHY IS IT NO NAYS? ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS MOVE TO INCREASE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BUDGET BY $340,000 TO CREATE AN INTERPRETING, LICENSING AND STAFFING STIPEND AND STIPEND PROGRAMS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

MOVE. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND PROPERLY SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT IS FUN POLLUTION CONTROL FOR ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND AIR MONITORS AND SURVEILLANCE FOR MOVING INTO

[04:45:02]

VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

VOTE NO. FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS.

ITEM PASSED. NEXT ONE THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION TO MAINTAIN POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS FOR $240,000. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND PROPERLY.

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

FOUR EYES AND NO NAYS. ITEM PASSES.

NEXT IS 7% CIVILIAN AND NON DEPUTY SWORN COLA.

SORRY ON YOU CAN SKIP THROUGH THAT.

THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE OH THAT IS POSSIBLE.

PRECINCT FOUR AND ONE.

YEAH. MOVE TO PROVIDE $195,127 FOR CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR FOR THREE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS.

DISPATCH PAVILION MOTION.

MOTION HAVE BEEN MADE THAT SECOND AND PROBABLY SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NO VOTE? NO. THREE EYES AND ONE ITEM PASS IT NEXT IS MOVED TO INCREASE.

SIX. IS THAT RIGHT? SIX PLACE, ONE PLACE ONE BUDGET BY $155,450 FOR ADDITIONAL CLERK SUPPORT.

I'LL MOVE THAT SECOND.

SECOND MOTION IS MADE AND PROPER SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

VOTE NO. VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES 3 TO 1.

SO, COMMISSIONER, THAT LEAVES US.

$4.3 MILLION.

THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT. THAT'S CORRECT.

0.1. SO.

THE. WE HAVE 4.3 LEFT.

MR. BRIONES, YOU HAD A PARTICULAR PARTY THAT YOU WERE.

UH, YOU WERE AFTER.

UH, YOU WANT TO PROPOSE THAT? I WOULD PROPOSE.

THE 1.191 FOR JURY PAY.

THAT'S THE MOST CONSERVATIVE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THIS STATE CHANGES WHICH TOOK EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST.

WITH THAT NUMBER, IT'S 1.191980.

SO WHAT'S THE MOTION? BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT. I SO MOVE DIVERSION HERE.

IT WOULD BE MOVED TO INCREASE THE DISTRICT CLERK'S BUDGET BY 1.2 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT INCREASED PAY.

IF YOU GIVE THEM. AS PRESENTED BY MR. MS. I SO MOVE.

YOU GOT IT. SHE'S BEEN MADE PROPER SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? VOTE AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

FOUR EYES. NO ITEM PASSES.

WHO WAS THE SECOND? ME.

THANK YOU. HOW MUCH? THAT DIFFERENT.

HUH? THE 3.1.

IF WE WANT TO DIVIDE THAT BY FOUR.

WELL, I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT ACTUALLY WON'T IMPACT THE THIS PARTICULAR NUMBER, BUT JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE IS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE 381 AGREEMENT, AS WE DISCUSSED IT DURING THE BREAK.

IT ACTUALLY MAKES A GOOD PLACE FOR IT TO COME OUT OF THE HOT CAP.

AND THEY EXTENDED GREAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT.

COMMISSIONER. YEAH, COMMISSIONER, JUST PROBLEM IS THE HOT TAXES ARE RESTRICTED FOR CERTAIN USES ONLY AND THERE ANYONE AGREEMENTS ARE REALLY ARE DESIGNED FOR BROADER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION.

I JUST WANT TO, IF I MAY HAVE A MOTION ON.

I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PODS THAT WE DO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER CARTER SAID IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

HE CAME UP WITH IT.

AND WHEN IT CAME UP INITIALLY, YOU WERE PAYING FOR THEM.

AND I WAS TOLD AND NOW THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR BY THE BY THE COUNTIES.

I WOULD DEFER TO THE DOCTOR.

ROBERT DR. ROBERT.

AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IS, I MEAN, I WOULD I WOULD NEED THEM IN MY PRECINCT AS WELL OR SOMETHING IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY CENTERS.

I WOULD LIKE THAT. MAYBE THIS MONEY WOULD DO IT IN PRECINCTS BECAUSE IF WE'RE MAKING THAT A CONTINUOUS ITEM IN THE BUDGET, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN IT CAME UP, BUT KUDOS FOR GETTING IT DONE. I WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, MAKE SURE WHEN THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, WE DON'T DO THESE ONE OFFS.

I USED TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM BEFORE WHEN I WAS HERE.

OH, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GO DO IT FOR EVERYONE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER.

OKAY. YES.

ARE YOU THERE? GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

COLLINS, CHIEF OF STAFF DIRECTOR ROBINSON IS OUT TODAY.

WE DO HAVE THE PODS THAT ARE FUNDED BY GENERAL FUNDS THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND OUR BUDGET FOR THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION ANNUALLY.

SO 1.2. AND THESE PODS ARE THEY ONLY I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GREAT, BUT THEY'RE ONLY IN IN PRECINCT TWO, IS THAT CORRECT?

[04:50:04]

I KNOW YOU HAVE IN PRECINCT ONE.

IS THAT A FAIR COMMENT? YES. SO JUST SOME CONTEXT, COMMISSIONER.

THESE PODS WERE STARTED PRIOR TO THE TENURE OF BOTH DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND MYSELF.

THEY ARE LOCATED IN A HEALTH DESERT, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO THE COURT AS A POLICY DECISION AS TO HOW WE WOULD DO OTHER PODS AND FOR FUNDING FOR THIS.

AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE HEALTH DESERTS THERE ACROSS THE COUNTY, SIR? DON'T HAVE THEM ON TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT EVEN IN PRECINCT THREE.

SO SO WHAT I'M WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS IF IT PREDATED YOU.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL ABOUT A FEW DAYS AGO.

BUT IF IT'S BAKED INTO THE BUDGET, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY DISTRICT, MY PRECINCT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE DISADVANTAGED. AND IT'S INTERESTING, JUST KIND OF STUMBLED ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST IT GIVES ME A LITTLE HEARTBURN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, GOING FORWARD, HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN. IF THERE'S SOMETHING I'M PUSHING OR ANYBODY ELSE IS PUSHING, WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.

AND I KNOW GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, MY STAFF DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO FIND IT, BUT AT LEAST THEY'VE HAD THE OPTION OF IT.

BUT THAT'S A BROADER ISSUE.

MR. RAMOS, I THINK I'LL ASK YOU TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA OR THE COUNTY MANAGER TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DO THAT FOR ANY OF US.

IT JUST CREATES A CERTAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT COULD WE COULD YOU TAKE THIS MONEY THAT'S LEFT SO THAT WHERE THERE ARE HEALTH DESERTS IN OTHER PLACES, WHETHER IT'S A POD OR COMMUNITY CENTER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE YOU'LL HAVE SOME CRITERIA ON HOW YOU DO IT.

SO JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

PRECINCTS DO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE POD BUDGETS.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS JUST STAFFING THEM.

SO IF THE STRUCTURE.

YEAH. PAID FOR, WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT A MILLION, RIGHT.

YEAH. AND WAS IT YOU THINK IT CAME UP YOU COULD USE MOBILITY MONEY.

IS THAT CORRECT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I PAID FOR IT, BUT IT CAME OUT ABOUT THAT.

YEAH. SO JUST THE STAFFING OF IT IS THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO IF I HAD KNOWN AND I WAS TOLD, I THINK YOU DID IT WITH MOBILITY MONEY, I'M NOT SURE I DO REMEMBER.

I KNOW I'VE LOOKED INTO IT TO SEE IF I COULD DO IT WITH MOBILITY MONEY.

I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THEM.

BUT I WAS TOLD BY DOCTOR SHAW, I WAS TOLD BY DOCTOR SHAW, SEEMS LIKE IT WAS UT OR BAYLOR OR SOMEBODY THAT APPROACHED ME ABOUT DOING IT.

NO, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DESIGNED THEM WAS ORIGINALLY BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

OKAY. AND AND DR.

SHAW WASN'T HERE WHEN I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THEM FOR THEM.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I MIGHT, I THINK IF THE INTENTION IS TO EXPAND THE HEALTH PODS COUNTYWIDE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK TO GET TO A NUMBER.

I WOULD RECOMMEND PUTTING A $2 MILLION PLACEHOLDER.

I THINK THAT WOULD GIVEN THE LEAD UP TIME, I'M A MILLION AND A HALF TO 2 MILLION WITH THE DIRECTION TO EXPAND COUNTYWIDE.

SO THIS WOULD BE WHEREVER.

SO IN OTHER WORDS IS IT IN THE BUDGET NOW TO GO SPEND 2 MILLION OPERATE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S.

THEY'RE I BELIEVE THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT OUT OF ESSENTIALLY THEIR VACANCY SAVINGS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PAY IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PAY FOR IT.

BUT MY POINT IS THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT.

SO. OUR MAYBE MY MOTION OUGHT TO BE.

GIVE ME 2 MILLION OUT OF THE VACANCY RATE.

I THINK IF THE INTENTION IS TO EXPAND THE COUNTY WIDE, 1.5 MILLION TO 2 MILLION WOULD BE A SAFE.

CONSERVATIVE NUMBER GIVEN THE LEAD UP TIME TO PURCHASE THE PODS.

AND IT MAY NOT BE PODS THAT YOU NEED BECAUSE MAYBE AT LEAST I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD PREFER TO GO DO IT OUT OF A COMMUNITY CENTER INSTEAD OF A POD.

IF THEY WANT TO DO IT OUT OF A SCHOOL OR CHURCH, OTHER THINGS IF IT'S LEGAL, YOU KNOW.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IF THE INTENTION IS TO EXPAND PUBLIC HEALTH, I THINK ONE AND A HALF TO $2 MILLION IS A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO COME BACK WITH A PLAN.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE THIS MONEY IS GONE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE I'M NOT A BIG ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE FOR SAYING SPLIT EVERYTHING FOUR WAYS. I WOULD SAY WHEREVER THE NEED IS AND IF THE NEED IS IN THERE STATION, IF IT'S IN ALDINE, IF IT'S IN SUNNYSIDE OR IF IT'S ON THE EAST END.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T END UP IN A POSITION BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW.

HOW IT ENDED UP BEING FUNDED, BY THE WAY.

AND NOBODY WHEN ASKED AND SOMEBODY SAID THIS DIDN'T COME OUT OF THIS CAME OUT OF A VACANT POSITION.

RIGHT. I SAID, WELL, GIVE ME SOMETHING.

THAT WAS MY REACTION.

I THINK COMMISSIONER OF THE MOTION WOULD BE TO INCREASE PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET BY $2 MILLION AND AN EQUITABLE WAY AND AN EQUITABLE EXPAND AND EXPAND AND BRING

[04:55:01]

AND MY PRECINCT IN PARTICULAR SAID, WELL BUT MINE AND I'M ASSUMING WE'RE ABOUT ON PAR IN TERMS OF HEALTH DISPARITY.

COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD JUST ADJUST TO WHAT DANIEL SAID, AN EQUITABLE WAY IS FINE, BUT IF WE COULD JUST DIRECT THE OMB TO COME BACK WITH A WITH A FUNDING FORMULA OR SOMETHING JUST SO WE CAN AVOID ANY, ANY CONFUSION IN TERMS OF WHAT EQUITABLE MEANS.

AND I'LL SECOND IT. SO, SO AND THAT'S AND I'M ALSO PUTTING A HOLD ON THIS THREE POINT.

ONE IS LEFT? NO.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. TAKE TWO OF IT AND PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH TWO TO EXPAND.

THAT'S THE PLACEHOLDER. I THINK THAT THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE.

GIVE ME THE WHOLE 2 MILLION NOW SO I CAN MATCH YOU.

WE DISSENT.

WELL, THEN I WANT MY MONEY BACK FOR PAYING FOR PAYING FOR THE POD THAT YOU GET A BIG IDEA ABOUT.

OH, THERE WE GO. IF IF THEY WERE PAID FOR WITH THAT MOBILITY MONEY.

I DID NOTICE IN THERE.

COMMISSIONER, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THEY WEREN'T.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WERE PAID OUT OF COMMISSIONER BUDGET.

THEY WERE NOT MOBILITY FUND.

BUT HERE'S THE POINT I'M MAKING SERIOUS FOR ALL OF US, EVEN WHEN IT'S LATE IN THE DAY, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT WHEN THAT KIND OF HAPPENS.

IF I HAD BEEN TOLD YOU BY THEM.

AND THEN THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND WILL PAY OPERATING.

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW THAT.

SO AT LEAST ONE FAULT WITH ALL OF US.

WE OUGHT TO DO. YOU WILL TAKE THAT.

YEAH. OKAY.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. WE SHOULD BE FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND CONSISTENT.

SO THE LAST THING THE OCA DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LARGER POINT OF ORDER.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

DID YOU GET IT? SO? SO THE. I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTION THAT THAT IS A COMPROMISE HERE WOULD BE MOVE TO INCREASE PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET BY $2 MILLION TO EXPAND COMMUNITY HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, SLASH HEALTH PODS EQUITABLY, EQUITABLY.

YOU GET THAT WITH THE SPECIFIC FUNDING FORMULA TO TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO COMMISSIONER FOR BRING IT BACK TO COURT.

SO HOW ABOUT MAKE IT SIMPLE TO SAY WE WILL DIRECT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S MOTION TO ON TABLE MOTION TO TABLE YOU SECOND IT? YEAH. I'LL MAKE YOU HEAR IT.

DID YOU HEAR IT? I THINK TABLE.

SHOW ME THE BODY LANGUAGE. YEAH, I'LL TRY TO READ IT.

OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE FINE.

WE'LL WORK TOGETHER. YEAH, WE GOT IT.

OKAY, SO THAT THAT WOULD MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES BACK, I'M GOING TO SAY FIND SOME MORE UNFUNDED POSITIONS, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THAT, TOO.

IF MY HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE ABOUT THE SAME.

OKAY. MOTIONS ARE MADE AND I'LL SECOND IT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.

SO THAT WOULD LEAVE US 1.1 MILLION.

EXACTLY. I THINK THIS IS 1.1 MILLION.

THAT'S CORRECT. 3131.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTED NO AND ITEM PASSES 3 TO 1.

SO WE'RE DOWN TO 1.1 MILLION.

AREN'T YOU ALL TIRED? YEAH, GO AHEAD.

SO THE LAST THING I WANTED TO RAISE IS OSHA'S BUDGET.

THERE ARE SOME EXISTING POSITIONS THAT.

ARE EITHER UNFUNDED OR PARTIALLY FUNDED THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.

AND WHEN THE FUNDING MOVE.

DID YOU, MISS RAMIREZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEFLY BRIEF US? BECAUSE I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE FULL 1.36, BUT I THINK THERE'S CRITICAL POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED TO MOVE THE COUNTY FORWARD, AND WE CANNOT DELAY ANY FURTHER.

IS THAT A MOTION? WELL, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT AND NEEDED.

AND IT'S THE THERE ARE THREE POSITIONS THAT ARE UNFUNDED RIGHT NOW.

AND SO HAVING THOSE POSITIONS BE FUNDED WOULD WOULD HELP US IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE RESEARCH FUNCTION HOLES AS WE GOT IT TRANSFERRED IN FOR MONGOLIA.

AND THEN THIS WOULD GIVE US THE GIVE ME THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE REST OF THE YEAR.

OTHERWISE, I DON'T HAVE THE I HAVE THE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

IS IT THE GRANT IN PARTNERSHIP ANALYSTS AND THE TWO PROJECT MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE ARE THOSE THREE POSITIONS WHICH I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. RESTRUCTURING.

THEY HAD ASKED FOR 1.36 AND THEN I THINK WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 750.

IS IT ON THE ITEMS THAT WE KNOW THIS ISN'T ON THE PRIORITY LIST? THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A PRIOR.

OH. BUT I'M THINKING OF THINGS THAT WOULD HELP THE ENTIRE COUNTY MOVE FORWARD AND THAT MIGHT HAVE AN ROI MULTIPLIER EFFECT PHENOMENON.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT ONE HAS BEEN IGNORED.

AND AND THE ACTUAL POSITION TITLED RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE THE ONES THAT WERE UNFUNDED WERE A COUPLE OF THE THE THE OLD DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER THE THE DIFFERENT UH, GOAL AREAS FOR TWO OF THOSE.

[05:00:01]

SO THREE POSITIONS THAT THREE DIFFERENT TITLES THAT WERE UNFUNDED.

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T BRING BRING THE INFORMATION WITH ME TODAY.

UM, SO IT IS JUST THOSE, THOSE THREE POSITIONS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A RESEARCH OFFICE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A RESEARCH OFFICE.

RIGHT HERE. ACTUALLY, I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF IT.

SO THE THREE NEW POSITIONS, WHICH IS 431 K, TWO PROJECT MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE, ONE ANALYST AND GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

BUT 878 K IS FOR EXISTING POSITIONS.

DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGER.

SO I KNOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS AND IN THE FINAL STAGES OF HIRING THE PERMANENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

BUT I WOULD I WOULD HATE FOR HER OR HIM TO TAKE OFFICE.

AND THEN THESE FOUR KEY POSITIONS DON'T EVEN HAVE FUNDING.

SO THAT WOULD BE AN 878 PRICE TAG IF WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON THE FOUR CURRENT ONES THAT ARE JUST NOT FUNDED.

AND IF WE WANTED TO ADD THOSE THREE ADDITIONAL ONES, THAT'S ANOTHER 431 SO.

I WOULD AMOUNT OF ANY OF THAT WOULD BE SO WOULD MAKE THE MOST I WOULD MAKE THE EMOTION FOR THE 870 $878,000 FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

I MENTIONED THAT I WAS FOR THE WHOLE 1.3.

I WANT TO TAKE THAT AS A THING AND I WOULD TAKE THIS PICTURE AND DON'T GET STARTED.

WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES AND IT EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE 90% THERE, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ONCE WE GET THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HIRED BEFORE AT LEAST IF WE HAD THE MONEY SET UP, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT BEFORE WE HIRED.

SO AND NOW AND I'LL JUST OFFER THAT LOOK UP.

I IN PRINCIPLE SUPPORT THE ITEM.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A REORG.

I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DEAD WEIGHT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING CHANGE IN THAT REGARD AND SO I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO PUT FUNDING WHERE WE HAVEN'T REALLY DECIDED IT WELL AND THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES YET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE PERSON THAT CAME IN AND JUST LIKE AXED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK IN THE OFFICE.

I THINK THAT THE STRUCTURE WAS WAS TOO TOP HEAVY AND WHAT WHAT THE REORG THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED A FEW WEEKS AGO WAS TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BRING BRING THAT WORK DOWN TO THE ACTUAL MANAGING DIRECTOR.

PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY MANAGING STAFF, BRINGING DOWN SOME ONE ONE OFF POSITIONS ARE GOING TO GET REPLACED.

BUT IT'S SORT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG THING RIGHT NOW.

I'M TRYING TO WAIT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO GET ANY MORE FUNDING OR ARE WE NOT? AND THAT'LL THAT'LL DETERMINE WHAT WHICH POSITIONS I GET TO MOVE AROUND.

AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, DISRUPTION WITH THE STAFF BY MAKING A BUNCH OF CHANGES WHEN I'M NOT SURE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FUNDING FOR.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THROUGH THIS.

I UNDERSTOOD WHETHER I'M GOING TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND FROM CEO THAT CAME OVER.

AND THERE'S SOME SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE HAVE SOME SOME VACANCIES IN OCA AS WELL.

AND SO I'M IT'S IT'S BEEN A SLOWER PROCESS AND HAD SO SO COMMISSIONER IF I WOULD OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT I KNOW THERE'S 1.3 STILL AVAILABLE.

HOWEVER I THINK YOU MADE YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION WITH FOR 383 878 878.

UM, I WOULD ASK US TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU STILL HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THEIR REORG.

UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LET'S SUPPORT THE 383 GET STARTED WITH SOME STEPS AND THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR IGA AND THEIR REORG COMMISSIONER VOTE FOR THAT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE. THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WAS 483,000.

IT WAS FOR THE CURRENT, UM, MAINTENANCE OF THEIR CURRENT EFFORT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO FAR BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

SO THAT'S 483 WAS, WAS JUST TO GET THEM TO STOP KIND OF THE BLEEDING JUST AND JUST MAKE THEM REORG TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH EVERY OFFICE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE DO.

AND SO THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME CONVERSATION ALREADY.

UM, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR OFFICES.

[05:05:01]

YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT THAT OFFICE TO DO, BECAUSE THAT WAY THAT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOTAL ASK IS GOING TO BE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRUCTURE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNCTIONS.

SO THAT TO MAKE EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, UM, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM, RIGHT? SO IF I'M, IF MY NUMBERS ARE RIGHT, IF WE HAVE 1.16 MILLION LEFT, IS THAT CORRECT? IF SO, I WOULD I WOULD MOVE TO KEEP THAT 1.16 IN RESERVES FOR FUTURE RESTRUCTURING OF IGA AND OCA TO BE DETERMINED AT A FUTURE DATE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.

PROBABLY SECOND IS OUR OBJECTION.

HEARING NONE IS PASSED.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE 202 BUDGET AND WE'LL ADD A LINE IN THE BUDGET BOOK TO REFLECT THAT CHANGE.

I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT JUST FOR CLARITY? YES. SO? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO CHECK MY MATH, IT'S 1.16 MILLION.

THAT REMAINS 1.154.

SO LET'S JUST SAY 1.5 TO, OR 1.15 JUST TO MAKE IT A NICE ROUND EVEN NUMBER. OKAY, SO THE MOTION IS TO KEEP THE $1.154 MILLION IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE OCA AND IGA RESTRUCTURING.

WE VOTED FOR IT ALREADY.

A SECOND IT WAS FOR.

WE VOTED ALREADY FOR ZERO.

THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A PRODUCTIVE DAY.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH. COMMISSIONER, IF I MIGHT JUST REALLY QUICKLY, IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL THE DECISIONS THAT MADE TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE BOTH VOLUME ONE AND VOLUME TWO BUDGET BOOKS AND GET THEM OUT TO YOU AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

THAT THOSE WILL BE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE NOTICE THAT GOES INTO THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.

AND THEN ON TUESDAY, WE WILL HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, ONE FOR THE BUDGET, ONE FOR THE TAX RATE.

OPEN PUBLIC HEARING, TAKE ALL THE SPEAKERS, TAKE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE ON THE ACTION ITEM.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE WILL HAVE FOCUSED PROCESS.

AND THEN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH THE SCENARIO AGAIN SO WE KNOW ALL OF US HAVE TO BE PRESENT.

THREE OF US HAVE TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT FORCED PRESENT.

SORRY, WE NEED FOUR PRESENT FOR IS THE TAX RATE VOTE.

THE PUBLIC, BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS CAN CAN HAVE A QUORUM OF THREE.

THE VOTE ON THE BUDGET CAN HAVE A QUORUM OF THREE.

THE TAX RATE VOTE NEEDS A QUORUM FOR ALL.

MUST HAVE TO BE IN A ROOM IN THE ROOM WHEN WE VOTE ON THAT.

CORRECT. MR. CHAIR, THAT IS NEXT TUESDAY.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY IT? NO. OKAY.

DON'T NEED A MOTION. DON'T WANT A MOTION.

THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THERE YOU GO.

GOOD JOB.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.