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[Tax Assessor-Collector ]
>> THIS YEAR. THE 25 HUNDRED SALARY INCREASE AND LIVING WAGE POLICY HAD MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR NEARLY 75% OF THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WORKING IN THE TAX OFFICE. THANKS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FROM OUR OFFICE THAT COURT APPROVED IN MARCH WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE HAVE BUILT STAFF CAPACITY TO BETTER CARRY OUT OUR STATUTORY DUTIES. WHILE WORKING TO REDUCE OUR OVERRELIANCE ON TEMPORARY STAFF. WE ARE MAKING TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES AS PART OF THE EFFORT TO MODERNIZE SERVICES, DECREASE WAIT TIMES AND IMPLEMENT DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR OUR OPERATIONAL CHANGES. WE ARE DEVELOPING STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO OPTIMIZE REVENUE, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER HOMEOWNERS, INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER REGISTRATION AND DELIVER BEST IN CLASS SERVICES. ONE INITIAL AT THIS . IS MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX WHICH LAUNCHES LATER THIS YEAR. THIS PROGRAM WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO MANAGE THEIR TAX ACCOUNTS, PAY ONLINE, AND INTER INTO PAYMENT PLANS. STARTING EARLY NEXT YEAR, HOME OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO PREPAYMENT PLANS TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES IN ADVANCE WITH MONTHLY PAYMENTS. WE KNOW THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES BASED ON THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS.
COMPARED TO 2024, FROM FEBRUARY 1, TO JULY 31, OUR BRANCHES SAW AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 4,000 VISITORS SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH PURELY PROPERTY TAXES. DURING THE SAME TIME, THERE HAS BEEN A 721% INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT PLANS, FOR ACCOUNTS THAT ARE ALREADY DELINQUENT. WE ATTRIBUTE TO TO THE INCREASED OUTREACH BUT INCREASED DEMAND. GIVEN OUR OFFICE'S CRITICAL ROLE IN COLLECTING REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON BRINGING OUR OFFICE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. OUR OFFICE IS CONDUCTING A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND UPDATE OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS, FEE STRUCTURES, AND UNCLAIMED FUNDS TO ADJUST FOR THE UNDERRECOVERY OF FEES PURSUE REVENUE INITIATIVES AND RECOVER OUTSTANDING FUNDS OWED TO THE COUNTY. THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED NEARLY 700,000 IN REF FEW OFF SETS FOR THE TAX OFFICE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE REVENUE AND FISCAL YEAR '26 IF WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. IN OUR SEARCH FOR REVENUE, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED REVEILLE 600,000 HELD BY COMPTROLLER OFFICER THE COUNTY MAY BE ABLE TO CLAIM FOR OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE FOUND ADDITIONAL 400,000 FOR HECHT ARE A HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH AND FLOOD CONTROL COMBINED AND PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION TO OMB FOR REVIEW. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIGGING UP EVERY PENNY WE CAN FIND TO HELP THE COUNTY BALANCE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FACE MANY CHALLENGES, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON OUR PROGRESS, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO COLLECT THE REVENUE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY'S PRIORITIES ARE MET AND OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVE BEST IN CLASS SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIEONES.
>> GOOD MORNING TO YOU. AND SAM AND TEEM, I AM ENTER JAYED BY THE PROGRESS THAT YOU HAVE MADE SINCE TAKING OFFICE. IN PARTICULAR, THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH TAXPAYERS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN THAT HELPS THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY PAY THEIR TAXES. SO THAT'S HUGE BEING ABLE TO PAY ELECTRONICALLY ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WANTED NOW UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP ARE HAPPENING, AND I AM DEEPLY DEEPLY GRATEFUL. AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO HELP LEAD MAKING THAT INVESTMENT IN YOUR OFFICE WHICH IS CLEARLY PAYING DIVIDENDS AND HELPING MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO WAIT TIMES WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I TALKED A LOT ABOUT. TAX ASSESSOR RAMIREZ CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WAIT TIMES IMPROVED AND WHAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN SO WE ARE OFFERING
BEST IN CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ARE WORKING PRIMARILY ON TECHNOLOGY. TO HELP US NAVIGATE THE WAIT TIMES. WE HAVE INSTITUTE AND WE ARE UPDATING CURRENTLY ALL OUR
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BRANCHES, I THINK WE HAVE TWO BRANCHES LEFT TO UPDATE THE CUEING SYSTEM SO THE APPOINTMENT -- SO WE CAN MANAGE APPOINTMENTS BETTER AND MANAGE THE LINE BETTER, AND WE ARE ALSO ADDING A MOBILE CHECK IN OPTION SO PARTICULARLY AT THOSE BRANCHES SPRING BRANCH, BERNADETT BALEIN WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS WAITING IN LINE, IT LAY LOU THEM TO MOBILELY CHECK IN BUT MAYBE WAIT IN THE CAR INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT OUT IN LINE WHETHER IT'S JANUARY OR THE HOT MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH WE KNOW IS AN ISSUE. WE HAVE ALSO -- WE RANSOM IN AUGUST, WE DID SOME CROSS TRAINING AND WE CLOSED SOME OF THE BRANCHES TO DO THAT. BUT WE ALSO REDEPLOYED SOME EMPLOYEES TO THE SPRING BRANCH AND TO BURNETT BALEIN AND TO SEE WHAT THE STAFFING MODEL WOULD DO, AND WE WERE ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY STAFF OUR BRANCH, MANY OF THE BRANCHES ARE STAFFED AT 60% OR LESS. AND SO WE FULLY STAFFED THE SPRING BRANCH AND WE SAW THAT THE WAIT TIMES DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. I WILL SAY THAT WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO MARCH, THE WAIT TIME WAS AN AVERAGE OF 105 MINUTES AND IT DECREASED IN AUGUST TO 40. BUT THAT'S ALSO LOW SEASON. RIGHT. SO, WE NEED TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AGAIN IN PEAK SEASON. BUT WE DID SEE THAT ONCE WE STAFF OUR BRANCHES, AT LEAST AT 75%, OR HIGHER, WE SAW A DECREASE IN THOSE WAIT TIMES. WE ARE HOPING THAT TECHNOLOGY HELPS THAT, BUT ALSO, REDUCING THE USE OF TEMPORARY STAFF AND BEEN ABLE TO HAVE PERMANENT POSITIONS. SO WE HAVE MORE OF A CONSISTENT WORK FORCE AND WE STABILIZE THAT AND WE DON'T HAVE SO MUCH TURNOVER.WE HAVE BEEN MORE EFFICIENT AT THE WINDOW AS WELL.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND YOU LED INTO MY NEXT QUESTION, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE HAD SO MUCH TEMP STAFF, AND HOW IT IS A BETTER USE OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES TO HAVE OUR PERMANENT TEAM MEMORIALS TO IMPROVE MORALE, RETENTION AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND TRAINING. SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MEASURES YOU'VE TAKEN AND PLAN ON TAKING IN THE COMING MONTHS.
>> SO WHEN WE CAME TO COURT IN MARCH, WE HAD ASKED FOR A CONVERSION OF AT LEAST 20 OF OTHER TEMPORARY POSITIONS TO PERMANENT. SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO, WE HAVE -- WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TEMPORARY STAFF. THERE HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AN OVERRELIANCE OF TEMPORARY STAFF IN OUR OFFICE. WE CAPPED TEMPORARY WORKERS AT 60. PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD UP TO TO 157 TEMPORARY STAFF. WE CAPPED THAT AT 60, AND WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN FOLKS LEAVING OUR OFFICE. WE INCREASED RETENTION. AND WE THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH CONVERTING THOSE TEMPS TO PERMS AND PERMANENTS THAT ARE WITH US SEE THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. AND THAT WE HAVE HOMES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONVERT THE BALANCE OF OUR TEMPORARY POSITIONS INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS SO WE CAN STABILIZE THE WORK FORCE. I HAVE A GOAL OF MAKING SURE WHEN FOLKS COME TO OUR OFFICE, AND THEY ARE WORKING IN THE TAX OFFICE AND PART OF OUR FAMILY THEY SEE A CAREER PATH FOR THEMSELVES IN
OUR OFFICE. >> EXCELLENT. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE AND IT'S TESTAMENT TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND VISION. MY LAST QUESTION VERY QUICKLY, SENATE BILL 850, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR PLANS AND HOW YOU WILL OPERATIONALIZE OUR COMPLIANCE WITH SB850. THANK
YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO IRON OUT A PROCESS, BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 850 PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 1 AND 850 NOW IS WHEN WE PROCESSED ABOUT 11,000 REFUNDS A MONTH. 1100 OF THOSE ARE FROM LITIGATION. ON AVERAGE. PRIOR TO SB850, WE ONLY HAD 1 DEADLINE A MONTH. WE HAVE TO PROCESS REFUNDS WITHIN 60 DAYS. OTHERWISE, THE COUNTY AND ALL THE TAX SEASON ARE ON HOOKS FOR INTEREST AND IT'S 12% A YEAR. WE NOW WITH THE PASSAGE OF SB850, THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ONCE PER MONTH BUT BASED ON THE DAY WHEN THE JUDGMENT WAS SIGNED. SO WE WILL HAVE HAVE 1100 DIFFERENT JUDGMENTS PER MONTH UP TO 18,000 DIFFERENT DEADLINES WE HAVE TO TRACK PER MONTH. WE ANTICIPATE NEEDING TO INCREASE STAFF IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE REFUND REQUEST WITHOUT RISKING THE COUNTY HAVING TO PAY OUT INTEREST. WHICH COULD BE AS HIGH IF YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR REFUND IT COULD BE AS HIGH AS $440,000 FOR ONE REFUND, WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST US TO ADD THE
STAFF. >> WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD AND THE STATE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT ALLOCATE FUNDING TO HELP
IMPLEMENT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. AND I WILL SAY WE ARE WORKING WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE DATA MORE FREQUENTLY. AND THAT WHEN THEY ARE PROVIDING US THE DATA THEY ARE ADDING FIELDS WE NEED IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF THE REFUNDS. BUT WE STILL HAVE A MANUAL PROCESS IN THE REFUNDS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE AUDITING THEM AND WE
DON'T SEND INCORRECT REFUNDS. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HOW CLOSELY YOU ARE WORKING WITH TAXPAYERS, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COUNT ON MY SUPPORT.
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>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU.
>> COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR
QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING. I KNOW YOU WALKED US THROUGH SOME OF THE REVENUES SAVINGS T■HE REVENUE GENERATION THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE AND HOPE TO ACHIEVE. BUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR YOUR OFFICE INCLUDES 1.2 MILLION IN LABOR OFF SETS. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT
MIGHT LOOK LIKE? >> SO, THE 1.2 MILLION IN OFF SETS WHAT THE TAX OFFICE IS PROPOSING WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED OFF SETS OF 1.2 MILLION IN REVENUE, RIGHT. SO, BETWEEN UPDATING OUR -- WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. WE WORK WITH TITLE SERVICE COMPANIES, THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE I BELIEVE, IT WAS 1999. SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT UPDATING THAT.
THAT SHOULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF ABOUT $308,000. WE ARE LOOKING AT UPDATING FEE STRUCTURES WITH TAX AND THOSE WE COLLECT TAXES FOR AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2007, I BELIEVE. SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT -- UNCLAIMED PROPERTY THAT FOR THE TAX OFFICE IS ABOUT 200,000 BUT FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY IT'S 1.1 MILLION. AND SO THOSE JUST THOSE FEW ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WOULD OFFSET THE 1.2 BILLION OMB SUGGESTED FOR OUR OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU. DO YOU EXPECT EFFECTS FROM THE HIRING FREEZE.
>> CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE PLANS TO ELIMINATE PERMANENT FILLED POSITIONS. SO, IF THE 1.2 MILLION OFFSET WAS DONE TO OUR TAX OFFICE BUDGET, WE WOULD DECREASE THE USE OF TEMPORARY
STAFF. >> OKAY. AND WOULD THAT HAVE AFFECT ON SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS?
>> IT WOULD. WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TEMPORARY STAFF THAT STAFFS OUR AUTO DIVISION. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM, BUT WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 47, I BELIEVE, AND SO IT WOULD IMPACT SERVICES TO SOME DEGREE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO -- WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT WE CAN TO WORK AROUND THAT
IF WE HAVE. >> PERFECT THANK YOU. THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION AND I WILL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL
HAVE FIVE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING ASSESSOR ARE A MARIA OUR OFFICE ENJOYS WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE EFFORTS TO WHEN HE DELINQUENT TAX PLAYERS.
CAN YOU TELL US YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL ON YOUR PROGRAM OR INITIATIVES?
>> ABSOLUTELY. AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU ARE AWARE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS MOVED TO IN-HOUSE TAX COLLECTION AND WE MEET WITH THEM EVERY TWO WEEKS WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH OUR ACT SOFTWARE.
WE -- THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY A COMMITTEE, THERE'S NOT A FORMAL COMMITTEE IN MORE. MYSELF, OUR PROPERTY TAX AND OPERATIONS AND CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS MEET 37 WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY, I AM SUPPORTING THEM AND WHATEVER THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR SYSTEMS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE INCREASING COLLECTIONS. SO WE DO MEET WITH THEM REGULARLY TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND HOW TO ASSIST THEY WILL 37 WE MEET ONCE A MONTH IN REGARDS TO LITIGATION AND WHEN ARE WE ARE IN LITIGATION AND HOW WE CAN MOVING ALONG THOSE COLLECTIONS AS WELL.
WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
>> OKAY. THANKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE UPDATED DATA. YOU MENTIONED THE TEMPS AND THAT'S A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IT WOULD TAKE OR WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN ON
THE REMAINING 60 OVER TIME? >> SO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, WAY.
TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT. SO LET ME FIND THEM. SO, WE HAVE AND I MIGHT BE OFF A A COUPLE. WE HAVE 36 TEMPS IN AUTO. WE HAVE 15 IN VOTER REGISTRATION, AND FOUR IN PROPERTY TAX. SO IN VOTER REGISTRATION, WE ALWAYS ANTICIPATE HAVING TEMPORARY WORKERS. IT IS SEASONAL. AND WE DO GET CHAPTER 19 FUNDS UNDER THE ELECTION CODE FOR THOSE TEMPORARY WORKERS. HOWEVER, IN THE PROPERTY TAX PORTION AND IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE, WE WOULD PREFER TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT THOSE TO PERMANENT EVERY LIKE EVENLY SPLIT OVER EVERY QUARTER IN FISCAL YEAR '26 SO WE CAN MOVE AWAY COMPLETELY FROM TEMPORARY WORKERS IN THOSE TWO DIVISIONS. AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS PAR OF THE MARCH SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUEST WHEN WE ASKED FOR 20 INITIALLY IN '25 TO DO THE REST IN 2026.
>> THANK YOU. AND WITH THE STATE CHANGES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SOFTWARE CHALLENGES AND, OF COURSE, JUST MANY ELECTIONS UPCOMING, DO YOU SEE ANY POTENTIAL COST ISSUES OR
CHALLENGES THAT YOU WILL FACE? >> SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH SEVERAL NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I WILL SAY THAT THE COUNTY CLERK AND I CLERK
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HUDSPETH ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER. OUR TEAMS HAVE ALMOST DAILY MEETINGS AND I PEEK SPEAK TO HER ALMOST ON A DALEY BASIS.WE ARE DEALING WITH THE CURRENT VENDOR WE HAVE, VOTEK WHO MANAGES VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS. THEY HAVE BECOME INSOLVENT. AND SO, SEPARATELY, WE HAVE -- WE ARE ARE WORKING WITH A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT SOFTWARE VO-TECH IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN IT CONSULTANT WE HAVE ON STAFF THE PLAN IS TO CONTINUE TO USE THAT TO GET US THROUGH THE NEXT WE HAVE EIGHT ELECTIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR, FROM NOVEMBER TO NOVEMBER. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL NEED TO EXPEDITE THE PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW UPDATED SOFTWARE. ONE OF THE LARGEST HURDLES WE HAVE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HURDLE FOR OUR OFFICE FOR WITH REDISTRICTING, IS THAT OUR CURRENT SOFTWARE DOESN'T HAVE GIS MAPPING FUNCTION. WHEN YOU LOOK AT REPRECINCTING, AND HAVING TO GO DOWN TO STREET LEVEL REPRECINCTING AND REMAPPING THAT'S A MANUAL METHOD RIGHT NOW FOR OUR OFFICE AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT LABOR. WE DO HAVE A HOPE THAT WE CAN CONVERT THOSE SOME OF THOSE PERMIT TEMPORARY POSITIONS IN VOTERS TO PERMANENT SO WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT A LEAD MANAGER LEVEL SO THAT WHEN WE NEED TO UPSCALE ON TEMPORARY STAFF WE HAVE ENOUGH MANAGERS TO UPSCALE PAST 15 TEMPS. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO IMAGINE MORE THAN 15 TEMPORARY WORKERS. AND UNFORTUNATE L BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE, MAINTAINING THE ROLE IS NO LONGER SEASONAL. IT'S A YEAR-ROUND FUNCTION.
>> MY REMAINING TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2 YOU WILL HAVE FIVE
MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING. CARLA VENEZUELA FOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. GOOD MORNING TAX ASSESSOR RAMIREZ AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN PROVIDING INFORMATION AS WE HAVE GONE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
ACTUALLY, SEVERAL OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED. I AM JUST GOING TO GO IN TO ONE -- I GUESS YOU DID MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW MOBILE CHECK IN AT ANNEXS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER POTENTIAL EFFICIENCIES OR TOOLS THAT WILL HELP MAINTAIN THE SERVICE AT CURRENT LEVELS THAT YOU GUYS ARE
WORKING ON? >> SO, YES, THANK YOU. SO, WE HAVE UPDATED TECHNOLOGY GENERALLY IN OUR OFFICE. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED WHEN WE CAME IN IS WHEN WE DO VEHICLE REGISTRATION, THOSE SYSTEMS BELONG TO THE STATE. AND SO, IF FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR OFFICES HAD TEN WINDOWS, WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT TEN -- EIGHT WINDOWS HAD STATE COMPUTERS, NO COUNTY COMPUTER AND ONLY TWO HAD COUNTY COMPUTERS. WHICH MEN WHEN SOMEONE CAME IN ON PROPERTY TAX QUESTIONS THERE WERE ONLY TWO WINDOWS AVAILABLE TO HELP. WE HAVE WORKED TO DEPLOY NEW -- OR NEW CPUS TO EVERY WINKEDO AT ALL THE BRANCH SO THAT EACH WINDOW CAN ACCOMMODATE PROPERTY AUTO CUSTOMERS ABOUT. WE HAVE UPDATED ON DROPPED LINES. OUR OFFICERS DID NOT HAVE NETWORK LINES AT EACH WINDOW. WE ARE WORKING TO DROP LINES AT ALL THOSE WINDOWS AS WELL AS IMPROVING ALL THE WI-FI CONNECTIVITY IN OUR BRANCHES. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMBINED SHOULD MAKE OUR EMPLOYEES MORE EFFICIENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE, A LOT OF INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE. AND SO WE ARE HOPING THAT WILL IMPROVE THAT. IN ADDITION TO OUR TAXPAYERS PREVIOUSLY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SET UP HCH AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL WHEN THEY WERE ON A PAYMENT SCHEDULE. A LOT OF TRAFFIC IS PEOPLE COMING IN TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. WE ARE HOPING TO DRIVE A LOT OF ENROLLMENT IN THE NEW HIGH HARRIS COUNTY TAX SO THE PAYMENTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY WITHDRAWN FROM THEIR CHECKING ACCOUNT. THEY HAVE THAT OPTION. SO THEY DON'T NEED TO COME INTO
THE BRANCHES TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. AND REALLY, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK ONE MORE SORT OF GENERAL QUESTION. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTING YOUR OFFICE AND SERVICES, SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T COVERED
ALREADY. >> , WHAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IS DESPITE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BUDGET, MY OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BEST IN CLASS SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. AND SO I AM COMMITTED TO FINDING EFFICIENCIES IN OUR OFFICE. WE HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY IN THIS TIME AS WE HAVE RETEE EMPLOYED EMPLOYEES FROM ONE DIVISION TO ANOTHER TO FOR EXAMPLE FULLY STAFF OUR CALL CENTER AND DROP CALL TIME -- CALL -- THERE'S BEEN A 41% TEE CREASE IN DROPPED
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CALLS OR DECREASE IN DROPPED CALLS IN THE OFFICE BECAUSE WE REDEPLOYED FOLKS TO THE CALL CENTER. OUR WAIT TIMES DECREASED TO 4 MINUTES AND PROPERTY TAX DIVISION. AND SO, I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE -- THEY SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE SERVICE AS WELL AS CREATING A TRUST THAT I AM USING THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WISELY AND RUNNING MY OFFICE AS EFFICIENTLY AS I CAN WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.>> THANK YOU. I WILL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> PRECINCT 3 YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING. LEONARD ROSE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S OFFICE. I WANT TO ASK FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 YOU MENTIONED PLANSES TO OPTIMIZE REVENUE IF YOU HAVE RESOURCES. SO COULD YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES WOULD BE AND IN REGARDS TO THE RESOURCES IS THAT A PEOPLE THING, TECHNOLOGY, BUDGET, JUST GIVE ME INSIGHT ON THAT, PLEASE.
>> SO, IT IS A FUNCTION OF PEOPLE. THE -- THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE IN MARCH IN THIS OFFICE PROVIDED ME WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DIG INTO THE DATA. AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR OUR DIVISIONS. AND SO WHEN I CAME INTO THE OFFICE, THE -- WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT THEY ARE SO OVERWORKED, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO ANYTHING EXTRA. THEY HAVE TIME TO BE -- TO DO WHAT'S PUT IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DIG INTO THE DATA TO SEE WHERE WE CAN FIND EFFICIENCIES. WHEN I TALK ABOUT REVENUE GENERATION FOR FISCAL YEAR '26, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RENEGOTIATING ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THAT WE HAVE WITH TITLE SERVICES TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE THERE. AND WORK WITH THE COMPTROLLER ON OVER$1 MILLION IN UP CLAIMED PROPERTY FOR CARE HARRIS COUNTY. WORKING ON RENEGOTIATING THE CONTRACTS FOR TAX COLLECTION FOR THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES. AND A FEW OTHERS THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO. ANY AGREEMENTS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE OFFICE HAVE NOT BEEN RENEGOTIATED OR LOOKED AT AS FAR BACK AS 1999. SO THOSE ARE THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE. BUT WHEN YOU ALSO LOOK AT IMPROVEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND MINUTE HARRIS COUNTY TAX, I HOPE TO INCREASE THE REVENUE COLLECTION AND DECREASE DELINQUENCIES SO THE COUNTY IS GETTING THEIR MONEY EARLIER. AND TAXPAYERS DON'T HAVE A LARGE PAYMENT IN JANUARY OF '27. AND WE DECREASE THEIR RISK OF DELINQUENCIES. THERE ARE MOST INITIATIVES THERE ARE THINGS ON DMV SIDE. MAJORITY OF THE TRAFFIC WE DO 3 MILLION TRACTION AS A YEAR FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION. WE ARE LOOKING WITH THE VENDOR THAT'S HANDLE THE MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX INITIATIVE, AT ALSO POSSIBLY FAST PASSING VEHICLE REGISTRATION SO OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AND CONSTITUENTS CAN DO THE THINGS IN ADVANCE PRIOR PRIOR TO COMING TO THE OFFICE AND THEY CAN PICK UP REGISTRATION STICKER AND WALK OUT THE DOOR. WE ARE HOPING THAT ONCE WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND STABILIZING WORK FORCE WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND ARE ABLE TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE. RIGHT.
IF I AM CONSTANTLY TRAINING NEW EMPLOYEES WHICH TAKES A COUPLE OF MONTH TO DO ON AUTO SIDE, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED WHEN WE HAVE TOO MANY TEMPS. WE TAKE TWO MONTHS TO TRAIN THEM AND THEY ARE STOLEN AWAY BY CAR DEALERSHIPS. SO WE INVEST IN THEM AND THEY LEAVE. AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRAINING NEW PEOPLE, AND WE CAN'T PROVIDE GOOD EFFICIENT SERVICE THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU. I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER
BRIONES. >> WE WILL CYCLE BACK FOR REMAINING TIME AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES
AND 47 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR SHARING YOUR TIME. MY NEXT QUESTION IS REGARD TO VOTER REGISTRATION. YOU'VE TOUCHED ON IT ALREADY TO SOME EXTENT BUT CAN YOU PLEASE DELVE IN FURTHER AS TO HOW YOU ARE TRYING A OPTIMIZE VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE BE SURE TO TOUCH ON LANGUAGE ACCESS AS WELL.
>> YES, MA'AM. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE DID BRING ON A GREAT CHIEF IN OUR OVER OUR VOTER REGISTRATION DJ OUR CHIEF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND WE ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING OUR OUTREACH TEAM TO A LEVEL WE NEED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THAT SIDE. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR BDBRS. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS WE HAVE OVER 5,000 VDVRS BUT WE HAVE ALMOST 3600. THEY HAVE NOT TURNED IN A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION. SO WHAT WE HAVE -- WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED IS THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER OUTREACH TO OUR BDBRS AND WE DID AT -- DJ EAN EBADA WAS OVER THAT. IN COMPARING IT WITH COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES TORE UNIVERSITIES TO DRIVE VOTER REGISTRATION. WE CANNOT IN A COUNTY THIS SIZE HANDLE THAT ON OUR OWN. AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE STRONG
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PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE UP THAT VOTERS REGISTRATION.>> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION YOU TOUCHED ON THIS SO WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE PATH FORWARD. SO WE COLLECT TAXES FOR APPROXIMATELY 80 JURISDICTIONS IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME AGREEMENTS IS NOT UPDATED FOR 1999. THANK THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US IN MODERN TIMES BUT THE GIVEN THERE'S 80 ENTITIES RENEGOTIATING ALL OF THOSE COSTS RECOVERY AGREEMENTS, WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE HAVING RENEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WITH EACH ENTITY FOR
WHICH WE ARE COLLECTING TAXES. >> WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THOSE AGREEMENT NOW. AND I ANTICIPATE THAT IN THE FIRST HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 WE WILL BE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE WITH MAYBE NOT ALL 80 OF THEM, BUT WITH DEFINITELY AT LEAST HALF OF THEM IS MY GOAL. MAYBE THAT'S A LITTLE AMBITIOUS. MY STAFF MAY LOOK AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY. BUT I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY IN RESTRUCTURING COSTS HAVE OBVIOUSLY INCREASED OVER TIME. STAFF COSTS TECHNOLOGY COSTS, AND IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE COST TO COLLECT THOSE TAXES IS INCREASED AS WELL.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND MY NEXT QUESTION I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT BEING A WILLING COUNTY, AND, OF COURSE, LUCKILY, SB876 WOULD ALLOW US TO BE. TALK ME WHAT THAT ENTAILS EXACTLY TO BECOMING A WILLING COUNTY AND WHAT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRINGS TO HARRIS COUNTY, ESPECIALLY FROM A REVENUE
GENERATION? >> ABSOLUTELY. SO I WILL SAY THAT HOUSE BILL AND WILLING COUNTY INITIATIVE WAS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE WERE UNABLE YEARS AGO, TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR FRANCHISE DEALERS AND THE SALES OF AUTOMOBILES AND ALL THE TITLE TRANSFERS THAT WERE REQUIRED. SO IF WE CAN MOVE AWAY FROM OUR TEMPORARY STAFF, AND CREATE A PERMANENT WORK FORCE THAT IS EFFICIENT, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP LOSING THE REVENUE THAT WE LOSE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHAT THAT ALLOWS OTHER CAR DEALERSHIPS, AND ALSO INDIVIDUALS TO DO, IS TO REGISTER THEIR VEHICLES BY USING A TAX ASSESSOR IN ANOTHER COUNTY. AND SO THEY GO TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND FORT BEND AND THERE ARE DEALERSHIPS THAT SEND ALL THEIR TITLE SERVICES TO LUBBOCK COUNTY. TESLA MADE AN AGREEMENT WHICH THEY ANTICIPATE $10 MILLION IN TITLE TRANSFER AND TRANSACTION FEES. WE HANDLE ABOUT 3,000 DEALER TRANSACTIONS A DAY. AND WE ARE ABLE RIGHT NOW, WE HAD A BACKLOG OF 25,000.
AND WE ARE NOW AT 7,000. SO WE HAVE IMPROVED THAT BACKLOG. WE AND IT ANTICIPATE TO CATCH UP AND ONCE WE DO THAT WE SHOULD HANDLE PERMANENT WORK FORCE COULD HANDLE HIGHER VOLUME SO WE ENCOURAGE DEALERS AND INDIVIDUALS TO COME BACK TO THE
OFFICE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP AND PROGRESS YOU HAVE DRIVEN AND WILL CONTINUE DRIVING, AND PLEASE ANYTHING MY TEAM AND I CAN DO TO SUPPORT,
COUNT US IN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES REMAINING EVEN.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> PRECINCT WOULD BE YOU HAVE NO TIME REMAINING. PRECINCTS 2 YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 26 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
>> PRECINCTS 3 NO TIME REMAINING AND THAT CONCLUDES THE COURT OFFICE QUESTIONS SECTION AND SO, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR
CLOSING REMARKS. >> FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME. BUT ALSO THANK MY TEAM. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO OURR COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE OFFICE. SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK. AND THEIR DEDICATION TO MY OFFICE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE TAX OFFICE PLAY AS CRITICAL AND UNIQUE ROLE IN IMPARING HARRIS COUNTY BY ENSURING EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAN REGISTER AND CAST BALLOT WHILE ALSO GENERATING AND COLLECTING THE REVENUE THAT HELPS POWER HARRIS COUNTY AND THE VITAL SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS RELY ON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHALLENGING FISCAL CLIMATE THE COUNTY IS FACING. AND WE WANT TO BE A TRUE PARTNER TO COMMISSIONER COURT AND OMB WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE PROGRESS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MARCH INVESTMENT WAS NOT JUST AN INVESTMENT IN THE OFFICE, BUT AN INVESTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY AND PEOPLE WE
>> THANK YOU, TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AND TO YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
[County Attorney]
[00:31:52]
>>> WELCOME TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AS A REMINDER OF THE FORMAT, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING REMARKS, AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU WILL TWO MINUTES FOR
CLOSING REMARKS. WHEN YOU READY. >> GOOD MORNING. COLLEAGUE, I AM I AM THE DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY AND JOINED WITH A COUPLE FOLKS FROM THE OFFICE. THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS PROUD TO PLAY CENTRAL ROLES SUPPORTING THE COUNTY'S MISSION EVERY DAY WE PROVIDE -- # 15 BOARDS AND COMMISSION AND NEARLY 19,000 EMPLOYEES. PUT SIMPLY OUR WORK TOUCHES EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. BEYOND THAT, THE CAO IS A TRUE PARTNER IN REVENUE GENERATION. SINCE 2019 WHEN WE TOOK ON TOLL COLLECTS WE HAVE SEEN 1163% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE PRIOR VENTEDOR.
AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 ALONE COLLECTS EXCITEDED 24 MILLION.
WE HAVE SECURED MORE THAN 60 MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH NATIONAL LITIGATION EFFORTS SINCE 2021. AND SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS SUCH AS REINSTATING SUPPORT FOR HARRIS COUNTY REFUGEE SCREENING PROGRAM. THESE ARE REAL DOLLARS THAT HELP STRENGTHEN COUNTY OPERATIONS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THE GENERAL FUND. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS, OUR OFFICE IS NOT REALLY RECEIVED A BUDGET INCREASE SINCE 2022 AND NOW IN THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR WE ARE FACING ONE OF THE LARGEST CUTS OF ANY COUNTY DEPARTMENT AN 11% REDUCTION OR 5.5 MILLION DOLLARS. WE RECOGNIZE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRES SHARED SACRIFICE AND THAT'S WHY CAO IS SHIFTING POSITIONS TO OUR DISCRETIONARY FUND TO PRESERVE CRITICAL OPERATIONS. WE'RE IF HE CANNIVELY DEFUNDING ABOUT 50 POSITION FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
DEMONSTRATING THAT WE CAN DO MORE WITH LESS WHILE CONTINUING TO DELIVER VAL CREW. WE TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVICE COUNTY TORN'S OFFICE IS MEETING THE CHALLENGE BUT LEADING BY EXAMPLE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE COUNTY'S LEGAL AND FINANCIAL INTEREST ENSURING TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE USED WISELY. I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 1.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK OF YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM. CAN YOU START BY SELLING US ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY PROJECTS IN YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION, AND IF THERE ARE ANY RECENT SUCCESSES THAT HAVE HELPED YOU ADDRESS
POLLUTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> YES, SO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION HAS GROWN SINCE 2021 FROM ABOUT 4 ATTORNEYS TO ABOUT 11 NOW. AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THAT GROWTH IS DO REALLY THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS. ONE IS ENFORCEMENT WORK THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE AT THE COUNTY, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHEN THERE'S AN UNPERMITTED EVENT WE COME AND SUE AND TRY TO GET PENALTY OR INJUNCTIONP AND THEN BROADER SCALE LITIGATION AND UNION UNION PACIFIC AND GETTING EPA TO TAKE OVER THE SUIT AND WE ARE SEEING RESULTS WITH TESTING GOING ON ON THE GROUND EDUCATION THAT'S GOING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HOPEFULLY A REMEDY THAT WILL
[00:35:01]
HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONTAMINATION. AND THEN, THE LAST THING IS GETTING INVOLVED IN FEDERAL LEGISLATION BY FILING COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTY HAVE AN ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT GIVEN THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT REALLY PARTICIPATE IN THOSEEXERCISES. >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU WORK WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ON DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION AND IF YOU ARE SEEING NEW HE EFFICIENCY OR IMPACTS FROM A FULLY STAFFED
OPERATION. >> WE TOOK OVER DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS IN 2023. THAT SYSTEM HAD BEEN RUN TO THE COUNTY BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
THAT VENDOR IS WORKING COLLECTING TAXES FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND SO STILL WORKING WITH THE TAX OFFICE. WE HAD A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION THE TAX OFFICE WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE COLLABORATION. WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE I.T. SYSTEMS THAT FEED THEIR AND OUR OPERATIONS AND SO FAR HAVE -- I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS AND JUST KUDOS TO THE TAX OFFICE FOR ALL THE
IMPROVEMENTS THEY HAVE MADE. >> THAT'S GREAT NEWS. AND THEN, YOU MENTIONED AFFIRMATIVE LIL LITIGATION AND TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU BROUGHT IN $16 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC CASES THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. >> SURE, THAT NUMBER IS REALLY TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS. SOME IS AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION WHERE WE ARE SUING COMPANIES USUALLY, IN SORT OF MASS NATION WILD LITIGATION. SO, THE OPIOID LITIGATION AND AGAINST JUUL AND VOLKSWAGEN SO THE VOLKSWAGEN SETTLEMENT BROUGHT IN OVER $20 MILLION TO THE COUNTY. RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE CASES WHERE WE HAVE SUED THE ADMINISTRATION THIS YEAR TO ESSENTIALLY REINSTATE FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS. SO, I SPOKE ABOUT THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT CLINIC THAT DOES REFUGEE SCREENING, THAT WAS MONEY THAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY AROUND $10 MILLION THE COUNTY WAS SET TO LOSE IT GOT BACK. WE GOT PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION REINSTATING FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE COVID RELATED GRANDS THAT WE -- THAT FUNDED PUBLIC HEALTH OPERATIONS. WE ARE FIGHTING WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO GET THAT MONEY. BUT WE HAVE THAT ORDER AND SO, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CASES WE BRING THAT CAN BRING IN REAL DOLLARS. THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO BRING THOSE CASE BUT WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DIFFERENT FOLKS TO BRING THAT
LITIGATION. >> THANK YOU. TO CONFIRM WHEN THE DOLLARS COME IN, THOSE ARE THEN USED FOR EITHER SPECIFIC PURPOSE LIKE REALLY THE SUIT IN OUR GENERAL FUND?
>> JUST. >> BACK TO THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? >> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S NOT GOING TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND TYPICALLY THEY ARE UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS IN THE OPIOID CASES WE HAD SOME UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS THAT CAME IN. OTHER MONEY WENT TO AN OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND WE DON'T CONTROL WHERE THE COUNTY HAS THE ABILITY TO APPLY AND GET OPIOID ABATEMENT GRANTS AND THERE'S SOME MONEY RESTRICTED BUT MOST IS UNDER RESTRICTED AND SO ON THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THE 18TH, WE HAVE ANOTHER SETTLEMENT WITH PURDUE PHARMA THAT'S BRACE IN 3.8 MILLION SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE SOME OF THAT MONEY COME IN AND IT'S
SELF. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES AND IF THE COURT CAN DO ANYTHING TO
SUPPORT. REMAINING 37 SECONDS. >> PRECINCT 2 YOU WILL HAVE FIVE
MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> SO I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND COUNTY ATTORNEY MENEFEE FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THE VALUE PURCHASE.
IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. IT'S A FLOOD MITIGATION THAT PROJECT THAT WILL FAR OUTLAST ALL OF US.
IT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT WE DREAM ABOUT AS FAR AS LEGAL WORK GOES. SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT WORK. ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO JUSTINA PRESTON, AND ERIC BEALEY AND SARA UTLEY AND YOURS JOHN FOR HELPING US RESURRECT THE PROJECT. SO, I THINK PRIMARILY I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL ABOUT STAFFING NEEDS AT COULDN'T TORNKK COUNT -- COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HOW HAS THE CASE LOAD CHANGED OVER YOUR TENURE AND HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR NEEDS EVOLVING AS FAR AS RESOURCES GO?
>> THERE'S STAFFING NEEDS THAT HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE OF CHANGE PRIORITIES IN OUR OFFICE LED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY MENEFEE, SO WE BUILT AN AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION GROUP BROUGHT IN LAWYERS WHO FILE SOME OF THE LAWSUITS THAT GENERATE REVENUE. FILE SOME OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWSUITS WE HAVE SEEN. CAME FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE WE ANNOUNCED A SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION FROM SOMEONE FILING FRAUDULENT DEEDS AND SELLING PROPERTIES FROM
[00:40:02]
UNDERNEATH THE OWNERS WITH THEM NOT KNOWING AND THE OWNER SPOKE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND GOT HIS PROPERTY BACK. THAT KIND OF WORK, I WOULD SAY, IS WORK WE HAVE ADDED TO THE WORKLOAD AND THOSE STAFFING NEEDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THOSE -- THE NUMBER OF THE PROJECTS. BUT SEPARATELY, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A CONTINUING INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF LITIGATION THAT WE GET AGAINST COUNTY AND THAT'S NATURAL, RIGHTS AS THE COUNTY AND OPERATIONS GROW, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE MORE LAWSUITS COMING OUT OF, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMPLOYMENT LAWSUITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO, THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. IT'S PRETTY STEADY AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO STOP GROWING IN THE FUTURE. WE HAVE TAKEN ON ADDITIONAL LINES OF WORK AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER COURTS SO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX WAS NOT A BUSINESS LINE WE HAD IN OUR OFFICE. AND I KNOW IT WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT. NOW COMMISSIONER COURT DID FUND THAT INCREASE IN STAFFING, BUT THAT'S A MASSIVE BUSINESS LINE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 50 TO 60 PEOPLE. AND SO, THAT WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE, YOU KNOW, AS COUNTY KEEPS GROWING AND AS COLLECTIONS KEEP GROWING. SO, I THINK YOU KNOW, AS THE COUNTY GROWS BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TOUCHES EVERYTHING AS I MENTIONED IN MY INTRODUCTION, THE GENERAL NEEDS ARE GOING TO GROW. BUT I DON'T FORESEE ANY ACCELERATED GROWTH IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO UNLESS OF COURSE, WE, YOU KNOW, ADDED A NEW PRIORITY.>> AND THEN, I STARTED AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS A YOUNG LAWYER, AND SO THIS TOPIC IS A LITTLE BIT NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE INCREASED STARTING SALARY FOR YOUNG ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS DEVELOPED A PIPELINE PROGRAM AND I WONDER IF YOU CAN TOUCH ON THAT BRIEFLY THE WAY YOU ARE WORKING ON RECRUITING, RETENTION AND GROWING LEGAL TALENT ESPECIALLY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
>> YEAH, SO WHEN CHRISTIAN MENEFEE WAS REFLECTED 2021, STARTING SALARY FOR LIKE A FIRST YEAR ATTORNEY WAS YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER ABOUT 64, $65 WHICH IS INSULTING TO THOSE COMING OUT OF LAWSUIT WITH OVER $200,000 IN LAW SCHOOL DEBT. WE INCREASED TO PARODY WITH THE DA'S OFFICE SO IN THE MID-90S RIGHT NOW. I STILL THINK THAT'S UNDER WHERE WE SHOULD BE. BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FOUR YEARS. AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PIPELINE OF TALENT. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE JOIN OUR OFFICE FROM BIG LAW FIRMS WHERE THEY WERE MAKING 3, 4 TIMES THAT AMOUNT AND DOING THAT BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE SEEING IN THE NEWS, AND THAT OUR OFFICE IS TAKING ON NEW CHALLENGES THAT ARE VERY INTERESTING AND THEY CAN COME HERE AND GET EXPERIENCE IN THE COURTROOM, AND SO, IT'S VERY EXCITING. BUT TO RETAIN THAT TALENT WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE MARKET AND INCREASE SALARIES ANTS MARKET IS ONE. MARKETS IS THE MARKET FOR GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS I THINK WE ARE DOING OKAY. RIGHT NOW FOR THAT, BUT REAL ISSUE IS COMPETING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT'S STILL A VERY TIGHT LABOR MARKET FOR LAWYERS OUT THERE. FOR SOME REASON A LOT OF LAWYERS WHO REALLY WANT TO STAY IN THEIR JOBS AND ARE NOT LOOK TO LEAVE, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE PROFESSION. BUT IT MADE IT HARD FOR US TO RECRUIT. ANYTHING KEY CAN DO TO RAISE SALARIES AND INCREASE THE PIPELINE OF TALENT
WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT. >> OH, I WILL YIELD BACK THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT 2.
PRECINCT 3 YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH PRECINCT 3. I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME I GO TO A DIRECTOR'S MEETING THERE'S A DIRECTOR TALKING ABOUT SOME PROGRAM OR SOME CONTRACTOR SOME ITEM Y'ALL HELPED THEM WITH, AND ALSO, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EPA HAVE TWO FUND SITES IN THE PRECINCT SARA AND HER TEAM MADE A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAPPENS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PART OF HIS DEGREE INCLUDED POLLUTION. SO HE'S STILL GOT A SOFT SPOT FOR THAT. SO WE LIKE BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO ASK YOU HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW?
>> IT'S ABOUT 300 YOU KNOW EXACTLY? 319. THANK YOU.
>> HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE LAWYERS?
>> ABOUT HALF. >> OKAY. ARE -- ARE ANY OF YOUR EMPLOYEES ALLOWED, AND STILL PARTICIPATING, IN THE WORK FROM
HOME. >> YES, SO THIS IS A POLICY WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE BECAUSE WE CAN SET OUR OWN POLICIES. WE REQUIRE TWO DAYS IN THE OFFICE, AND IT IS UP TO THE DISCRETION OF EVE MANAGER TO SEE IF THEY WANT MORE OR LESS. IT DEPENDS ON THE TASK EACH ATTORNEY IS ENGAGED IN. SO, WE HAVE FOLKS LITIGATORS WHO GO TO COURT OFTEN FOR EXAMPLE OUR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAWYERS WHO HAVE TO BE HERE MORE OFTEN AND SO THEY ARE IN THE OFFICE MUCH MORE THAN FOR EXAMPLE SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS DIVISION LAWYERS WHO CAN WORK FROM HOME, AND DO A THE LOVE THEIR WORK REMOTELY. WE DO THAT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE IS WE RUN OUT OF SPACE. NOW WE ARE MOVING TO NEW BUILDING AT 1010
[00:45:03]
LAMART AT SOME POINT. IT'S BEEN PROCESSED DRAGGED ON TOO LONG, BUT I THINK LATER THIS YEAR WE WILL MOVE THERE AND HAVE SOME OFFICE SPACE. BUT THE OTHER THING I TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE HAVE IN RECRUITING NEW TALENT, NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF OUR OWN BECAUSE WE CAN'T PAY THAT MUCH.ONE THING WE CAN OFFER IS FLEXIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS AND WE KNOW FOR A FACT, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD THIS FROM PEOPLE WHO APPLIED TO THE OFFICE, THAT THIS FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT IS A HUGE SELL. WE ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT IN THE SUBURBS, AND OR WISE WOULDN'T WANT TO COMMUTE IN FIVE DAYS A WEEK. AND THEY DO IT TWO DAYS A WEEK OR WHEN THEY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE A COURT DATE. AND SO AS A RESULT, WE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS A POOL OF TALENT THAT WE OTHERWISE
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS. >> WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE IDENTITY FRAUD CASE, WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THAT WHERE THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE WOULD BE INVOLVED.
>> SO, LONG STORY BUT ESSENTIALLY, THE DECEPTIVE CREATIVE PRACTICE ACT CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW IN NEXT TEXAS IS ENFORCEABLE ABOUT AG AND COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. BUT OFTEN, I DON'T THINK THIS EXIST ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND DA DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS. THEY ARE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS CRIMES BUT WHEN WE THINK OF THE SERIOUS CRIMES OUT THERE, WE THINK OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND THESE ARE USUALLY NOT VIOLENT CRIMES. AND SO, BUT WE SAW THIS AS A PROBLEM WE WERE SEEING LOSS OF REPORTS OF DEED FRAUD THAT'S ONE OF THE TYPES OF FRAUD THAT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT A LOT LATELY. BUT OTHER TYPES OF FRAUD, TOO, BASIC CONSUMER FRAUD. SOMEONE PROMISES TO PROVIDE A GOOD OR SERVICE AND GET MONEY AND DOESN'T PROVIDE THE GOOD OR SERVICE. AND SO WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COULD DO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO DO SO. SO WE SET UP A PROGRAM WE HAVE A TASK FORCE IN OUR AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION DIVISION THAT HANDLES THIS. SO IT'S A SMALL GROUP. TWO OR THREE PEOPLE. AND THEN WE SET UP A WEBSITE SCAM FREE HC.COM AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. AND OUR FOLKS WILL HAD INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINTS AND IF WE THINK THEY ARE MAYOR TOREOUS AND WORTH GOING AFTER WE WILL FILE A LAWSUIT. FIRST WE START WITH DEMAND LETTERS AND TRYING TO REACH OUT TO PERPETRATOR BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FILE SUIT AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL. AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOING THIS I WANT TO SAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL AND NOW THE LEGISLATURE IS TAKEN UP A NUMBER OF BILLS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR COUNTY CLERKS FOR EXAMPLE TO INTERVENE WHEN THEY THINK THERE'S A FRAUDULENT DEED BEING FILED. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TIME FOR A FUN STORY WE WERE TALKING TO A REPORTER ABOUT THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO. ABOUT A SPECIFIC FRAUDSTER, AND YOU KNOW, JUST NORMAL INTERVIEW ABOUT THE CASE WE WERE FILING. AND WE GOT AN EQUALLY FROM THE COUNTY CLARK'S -- CLERK'S OFFICE AND I SAID I THINK THEY ARE HERE AND WE RAN DOWN AND CAUGHT THE PERSON IN THE ACT. IT'S HAVING AN IMPACT AND PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING VERY
POSITIVELY FOR THAT. >> YOU MENTIONED CHRISTIAN MENEFEE EARLIER, DID HE PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET
PREPARING? >> OH, OF COURSE, YEAH.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AND I WILL GIVE UP MY
19 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT 3.
PRECINCT 4 YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP TODAY. WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR PCN NUMBERS YOU NOTED YOU HAVE 319 EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW AND ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE ATTORNEYS. OR LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THE COUNTY'S ADOPTED MINIMUM WAGE HAS BENEFITED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SPECIFICALLY FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO -- I AM SORRY NOT MINIMUM WAGE, THE 2500 PAY INCENTIVES FOR ANY STAFF ON YOUR AS A PARTS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HOW THEY MAY HAVE BENEFITED FROM
THAT? >> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. WE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPACTED. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ATTORNEYS TEND TO BE HIGHER EARNERS, AND YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID HALF OUR OFFICE IS CERTAINLY MAKING OVER $75,000 AT LEAST NOW. FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. SO, THOSE FOLKS WERE NOT IMPACTED AND MANY OF OUR PARALLELS AND OTHER STAFF ARE ABOVE THAT LEVEL. I CAN GET YOU AN ACTUAL NUMBER OF THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IMPACT. WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE NUMBER.
>> THANK YOU. WE ALSO -- AND IN THOSE -- IN THAT LINE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE COUNTY PAY EQUITY AND COMPENSATION STUDY, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO HOW THAT MAY BENEFIT YOUR OFFICE AS WELL.
>> SO, WE WOULD BE A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THE STUDY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY, BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY OFFICE THAT HAS CIVIL LAWYERS OR SUPPOSED TO HAVE CIVIL LAWYERS OPERATING AS LAWYERS AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PAY EQUITY YOU HAVE TO COMPARE LIKE FOR LIKE POSITIONS. I KNOW THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOME YOU KNOW SOME PARODY WITH THE
[00:50:02]
DA'S OFFICE BUT WE DON'T DO THE SAME JOBS AND THEIR PATH TO PROMOTION IS DIFFERENT. AND SO, YOU KNOW WE WOULD BE A WILLING PARTICIPANT. WE HAVE STAFF LEVEL FOLKS WHO DO CLERK TYPE TASK THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS TO SEE HE CAN WHY THE ACROSS OFFICES. I THINK FOR A LOT OF OUR FOLKS, THOUGH, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY CABIN TO YOU KNOW THE TYPE OF WORK OUR OFFICEDOES. >> AND TO CLARIFY, ALSO LOOKING AT PARODY WITH OTHER COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICES, RIGHT, ACROSS THE STATE, AND SO, IN TERMS OF THAT ANY INCITES ON IMPACT FOR THOSE FINDINGS AS IT RELATES TO LIKE RECRUITMENT AND BEING ABLE TO RETAIN? YOU MENTIONED NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE MARKET. AND SO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY MAY ADDRESS THAT.
>> I WILL SAY WE DO THIS. SO, WE -- YOU KNOW WHEN WE CAME IN, WE REQUESTED NOT THROUGH PI, A REQUESTS BUT RELATIONSHIPS THAT PAY SCALES FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT OTHER COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICES AROUND THE STATE. YOU KNOW, WE ARE MUCH BIGGER MARKET AND BIGGER OFFICE. YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY -- THE NEXT BIGGEST COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE STATE I THINK IS A THIRD OF OURS. AND THEY DO MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTION. SO, IT IS HARD TO COMPARE THOSE THINGS. I WILL SAY THAT WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, WE ARE THE HIGHER END OF THE PAY SCALE. I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE INTERESTING TO US IS COMPARING US TO OFFICES IN OTHER LARGE MARKETS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. AND REALLY HAVING AN ACCURATE COMPARISON TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE ARE NEVER GOING TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT THE TASK WE DO AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK OUR FOLKS DO COMPARABLE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED HOW OUR FOLKS ARE GETTING NIGHT IN MY REMAINING TOO MANY I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE OFFICE'S WORK WITH THE CONTRACT LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PROCURE TO PAY. WE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN BUSY AND HAVE BEEN COLEADING THAT WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND OCA. CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT KEY CHALLENGES OF THE CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS AND WHERE WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS. I ONCE CMLS IT IS LAUNCHED.
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JAY BUT THE ISSUE WITH THE COUNTY IS NO ONE OWNS THE CONTRACTS OR DEPARTMENTS OWN THEM BUT IT'S INCUMBENT ON FOLKS TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW INITIATIVE AND COME TO OUR OFFICE AND THEN REALLY MANAGE THE CONTRACTS AFTER THEY ARE DONE. AND THERE'S NOT A CENTRALIZED PROCESS FOR KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYTHING. AND SO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JAY TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE BEEN DOING TO IMPROVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH AN AWARD ON THAT AND SO NOW WE ARE MOVING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS IT WILL ALLOW AS PART OF THEIR PROCURE TO PAY PROCESS, A MUCH MORE STREAMLINE CONTRACTING PROCESS, WHERE BOTH FROM PROCUREMENT TO PAYMENT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL GOAL IS TO GET IT MUCH FASTER. SO WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES RELATED TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED WORKING WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS MORE TEMPLETED STYLE CONTRACTS. ONE OF THE POINT JOHN MADE EARLIER WAS THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE HAD ROUGHLY SPEAKING, THE NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS IS DOUBLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH ESSENTIALLY THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE. WE MIGHT AND LITTLE DOWN. FROM AN EFFICIENCY LEVEL WE TRIED TO INCREASE THAT AND CML PROCESS WILL HELP BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE TEMPLETED WORK AND MORE CONTRACTED.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> TAPAN THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALWAYS BEING SO RESPONSIVE TO OUR OFFICE. AND JUST FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. SO YOU ALREADY SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RECRUITING AND RETENTION. SO I WILL ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF HIRING FREEZE AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT YOUR OFFICE.
>> I THINK THAT YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE DISCRETIONARY FUND WE CAN TAP INTO TO MAKE SURE IN THE END OUR OPERATIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.
OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BIG FUND LIKE THE GENERAL FUND THAT GETS REPLENISHED EVERY YEAR, SO WE HAVE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY, IF WILL ARE ISSUES WE WILL BRING THEM BACK TO COURT COURT AND ASK FOR MORE IMPORTANT GIVEN THE BIG CUT WE
TOOK TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND IN TALKING ABOUT THAT CUT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM CLEAR I KNOW A LOT IS BEING CUT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST KIND OF BEING MOVED AROUND. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CURRENT L OF
SERVICE WILL NOT BE IMPACTED. >> THAT'S CORRECT. AND I MEAN CUT TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. AND WE DO HAVE SOME ROOM IN THE DISCRETIONARY FUND TO ABABOR THAT AND WE MOVED THE DELINK WIN THE PROPERTY TAX TO THAT FUND AND FOR NOW DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY EFFECT ON CONTINUING LEVEL OF SERVICE.
>> GREAT. AND KIND INFORM THAT SAME VEIN, ONE OF THE PROPOSED OFF SETS FOR YOUR BUDGET IS 1.5 MILLION IN VACANT POSITIONS
[00:55:01]
SAVINGS. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT.>> NO, IT'S THE SAME ANSWER. IF WE ARE ABLE TO FILL THE VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NORMAL NUMBER OF VACANCY FOR ANY OFFICE THIS SIZE OF THE COUNTY. BUT YOU KNOW SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO FILL THE VACANCY AT ONCE WE WOULD ABSORB THAT.
>> OKAY. AND THEN, I ALSO HAVE MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEY BEEN CHANGES IN LEGISLATION YOU EXPACT TO IMPACT YOUR DEPARTMENT, SERVICE YOU PROVIDE AND DEMAND ON YOUR SERVICES IN
SAY SIGNIFICANT WAY? >> IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT KIND OF LITIGATION THERE WILL BE. YOU KNOW I THINK WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BILLS THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT HAVE CHANGED HOW THE COUNTY CAN BUDGET. HOW THE COUNTY CAN FUND CERTAIN TYPES OF OPERATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOT SPEAK TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT IN PUBLIC AND I WISH WE COULD HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY THE POSSIBILITY FOR LITIGATION. JAY IS THERE ANYTHING YOU THINK WILL
IMPACT CONTRACTING? >> NO I THINK -- NOTHING IN THIS
PAST SESSION. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> , OKAY I HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT SO I AM GOING TO ASK WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST SUCCESSES AND GREATEST CHALLENGES THIS PHYSICAL CAS YEAR AND WHAT IF ANYTHING IS KEEPING YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?
>> OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED ABOUT WHICH IS WE FILED THREE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, TWO OF WHICH RESULTED IN FUNDING TO THE COUNTY BEING REINSTATED. YOU KNOW THESE ARE SURE THERE'S A POLITICAL IT IS EXPECT BUT IT'S ABOUT CONTINUING IMPORTANT COUNTY OPERATIONS. AND SO, WHEN SUDDENLY THAT FUNDING STREAM WAS TAKEN AWAY, WE JUMPED IN VERY QUICKLY. WE WERE P■REPARED, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS LIKE I SAID, WE ASSEMBLED A TEAM OF EXTREMELY TAL ENTERED YOUNG LAWYERS AND FILED THE SUITS BE, AND WE WENT TO D.C. AND HAD EVIDENTLY HERE'S AND GOT INJUNCTION. THESE ARE NOT EASY LAWSUITS IT'S QUESTIONS OF FEDERAL LAW AND JURISDICTION AND WE WERE ABLE TO WIN AGAINST TALENTED DOJ LAWYERS. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THAT. THE OTHER THING, WHICH IS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND CHRIS WILL PROBABLY SMILE. WE HAD A SYSTEM AT COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CALLED CASEY A MICROSOFT ACCESS DATA BASE AND IT DOESN'T WORK. AND IT HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, BUT THIS YEAR WE TRANSITIONED TO THE NEW LAW BASED SYSTEM WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO DRAMATICALLY ENHANCE OPERATION AND BRING US INTO THE I WOULD SAY 21ST CENTURY. LAW BASE IS JINK YET BUT IT'S BETTER THAN WE HAVE NOW AND I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE
IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF WORK. >> IF I COULD ADD TWO OTHER THINGS TO WHAT JOHN SAID. ONE IS CLM SYSTEM WE HAVE GOT GOING. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO IN THE COMING YEARS, DRAMATICALLY SPEED UP PROCUREMENT PROCESSES IN THE COUNTY IN A WAY IT HASN'T BEFORE. P AND THE SECOND THING IS THIS PAST YEAR, WE WENT THROUGH A TRANSITION WHERE WE WERE -- THIS COURT THE COURT IS FAMILIAR WITH OBVIOUSLY, MOST FOLKS ARE, WE TRANSITIONED AND TOOK A LEAD ROLE IN TRANSITIONING JAIL HEALTH CARE WITH THAT FUNDING SOURCE BECAME PART OF HARRIS HEALTH, AND THE BUDGET OFFICE KNOWS, SAVE THE COUNTY CLOSE TO 100 MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF SOME GREAT LAWYERS IN OUR OFFICE. THOSE ARE TWO BIG -- TWO BIG THINGS I NET AND THE
ONES JOHN DID. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME PRECINCT
1, YOU HAVE 21 SECONDS. >> HOW BIG ARE THE TEAM OR TEAMS ARE THAT SUPPORT WORK ON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA AND SPECIFIC COURT IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES AND IF THOSE FEEL SIGNIFICANT FOR ALL WE THROW AT YOU?
>> THE AGENDA PROCESS I THINK, WE ARE OKAY. COURT PRIORITIES IS -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE COULD ASK IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE SIZE OF THE TEAM ALTHOUGH I GUESS WE COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH A BIGGER TEAM. IT'S THE SPEED AT WHICH SOMETIMES Y'ALL WANT AN ANSWER. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE AND IT TAKES A WHILE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE LEGAL STUFF RIGHT BEFORE WE ENGAGE IN TO, YOU KNOW, MORE SPENDING THAT MAY TURN OUT IN SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO. THAT SAID, OF COURSE, MORE STAFF IS ALWAYS GOOD. SO, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD STAFFING TO HANDLE THOSE ISSUES, THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I WILL SAY THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, COURT HAS ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF SORT OF NEW TYPES OF PROJECTS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN A NEW ISSUE IS THROWN AT US, IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A LAWYER THAT HAS A BUNCH OF FREE TIME AND IS READY TO HANDLE THAT ISSUE. WE HAVE A GENERAL COUNCIL TEAM THAT CAN HANDLE RUN AT THE MILL ISSUES BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE FACED WITH VERY COMPLEX YOU KNOW CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES OR NEW ISSUES OF LAW AND WE HAVE FOLKS WHO CAN HANDLE THAT. BUT THEY
[01:00:08]
ARE ALREADY VERY BUSY. >> PRECINCT FOUR AND COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE HAVE NO REMAINING TIME SO WE WILL MOVE TO YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> FIRST YOUR ANSWER IT'S 83 EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE GOT THAT ADDITIONAL 2500. AND ROGER JUST TO RESPOND BRIEFLY WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE ARE MOST PROUD OF OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IS THE EFFORT THAT WE UNDERTOOK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARE OFFICE REGARDING CARVERDALE LANDFILL THAT'S A CASE PEOPLE THOUGHT WE COULD NOT WIN AND WE DID. AND THAT WAS IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE WORK OF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND OUR OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK FEW PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE WHO PREPARED THIS BUDGET AND BUDGET PRESENTATION AND STEVE GARDNER AND BEN SITTING BACK HERE. AND JAMIE AND REGINA AND OUR OPERATIONS TEAM AND THEN ROXANNE WARN AROUND SAMANTHA ROMERO IN THE COMMUNICATION TEAM AND JAY AND I ARE HERE. IN THE BEGINNING WE TOUCH ON EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTY PROBABLY ONE OF A FEW OFFICES THAT DOES US UNIVERSAL SERVICES WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? THERE'S ONE WE ALWAYS SAY. HRT. I THINK ITS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ANY CONNED NUDITY OF OPERATION AT COUNTY WE MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR OUR SERVICE. AS I NOTED SEVERAL TIMES WE ARE WILLING TO HELP SHOULDER THE BURDEN, BUT YOU KNOW PLANNING OUT FIVE, TEN YEARS INTO THE FEATURE IT'S IMPORTANT THE COUNTY KNOW THAT WE ARE MAKING THAT SACRIFICE AND SOME POINT THAT FUNDING MAY HAVE TO BE REINSTATED FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AT THIS TIME WE WILL BE TAKE OUR MORNING BREAK UNTIL 11:45 A.M. WHEN WE WILL RESUME WITH
[County Clerk ]
>>> WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 11:45 A.M., AND WE ARE READY TO RESUME OUR BUDGET HEARINGS FOR THE DAY. NOW WE WELCOME THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT, CLERK, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR INITIAL PRESENTATION AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. SO WHEN YOU'RE READY, CLERK.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MIKE IS ON. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. THE MISSION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS. WE SERVE AS A CORNERSTONE IN RESIDENTS' LIVES AND RECORDING REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, ISSUING MARRIAGE LICENSES, BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES AND ISSUING COURT RECORDS AND ADMINISTERING FREE AND FAIR COURT ELECTIONS. THEY ARE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS AND WE FULFILL THEM WITH INTEG RIDDY, TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ALL OF WHICH ARE DEEPLY TIED TO PUBLIC TRUST.
SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR '25 WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, COLLECTED OVER 35 MILLION IN FEE, A 14. 7 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, PROCESSED MORE THAN 470,000 REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, AND 88,000 VITAL RECORDS AND APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CIVIL AND PROBATE FILINGS. LAUNCHED ELECTRONIC COURT NOTIFICATIONS ANDAND CONTINUING EXPLORING AI TECHNOLOGIES AND CONDUCTED MULTIPLE, SUCCESSFUL ELECTION WHILE COMPLETING THE CONSOLIDATIONS INTO A CENTRALIZED FACILITY. WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS ALL WHILE FACING RISING SERVICE DEMANDS INCREASING ELECTION LAW COMPLEXITY AND GROWING PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS. TO CONTINUE MEETING THESE DEMANDS, WE ARE FORMALLY REQUESTING TARGETING ELECTIONS IN INVESTMENTS. TO ENSURE SECURE EQUIPMENT HANDLING, LEGAL CHAIN OF CUSTODY IN COMPLIANCE WITH NEW ELECTION LAWS. THIS IS A PRIORITY REQUEST BACKED BY ADVISORIES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. RESTORATION OF FUNDING FOR OUR VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED BY EXPIRED ARPA FUNDS. ELECTION RECRUITMENT AND ARCHIVING TOTALING SEVERAL THOUSAND POSITIONS.
CREATION OF A FULL- TIME POLICY AND LEGISLATION ADVISER TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO ONGOING LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND ENSURE PROPER LEGAL IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS ALL ELECTION TEAMS. WITHOUT THESE RESOURCES, WE RISK FALLING SHORT OF NEW LEGISLATIVE MANDATES AND
[01:05:02]
COMPROMISING THE SECURE, EFFICIENT AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT.I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING HOW WE CAN PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN CRITICAL SERVICES WHILE PLANNING RESPONSIBLY FOR THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. NOW EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 2.
>> OOD MORNING, CLERK. THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS, AND AS JUSTICE STARTED OUT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR OFFICE HAS STATUTORY DUTY TO SECURE COURT AND MAINTAIN VITAL RECORDS AND SO FORTH, AND WE SEE THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED AREAS FOR BUDGET REDUCTION, AND THAT ALSO YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOME CHALLENGES TO POSSIBLY FACE NOT FILLING SO OPEN POSITIONS THAT WERE BUDGETED TO MEET GROWTH, AND WHILE THESE ARE LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SEE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DILIGENTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER YOUR BEST SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. SO TO START OUT WITH, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE REVENUE GENERATED BY SERVICES THAT YOU TOUCHED ON.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THAT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR THIS COMING YEAR?
>> IN TERMS OF INCREASING OUR BUDGET REVENUEY WOO THAT WE CAN INCREASE FUNDS FOR THE OFFICE.
TO PAINT MORE OF A PICTURE, I MENTIONED THAT WE TOOK IN FROM THOSE SERVICES A LITTLE OVER 35 MILLION. IN THE BALLPARK OF 14 MILLION OR MORE COME BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO IN TERMS OF CAN WE BE ABLE TO CHARGE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR OUR RECORDS FOR EVERY DIFFERENT ACCOUNT THAT WE USE? WE ARE AT THE TOP LEVEL FOR MOST OF ALL OF THOSE SERVICES.
>> AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE PROCESS A LOT OF WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THAT COMES FULL THROTTLE TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET.
I GUESS GOING ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC, ARE THERE POTENTIAL EFFICIENCIES THAT MIGHT HELP MAINTAIN YOUR SERVICE AT CURRENT LEVELS AND/OR MEET THE INCREASED LEVELS OF SERVICES NEEDED?
>> SURE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE ARE DEMOING NOW IS AI TECHNOLOGY. WHAT AREAS OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE CAN WE UTILIZE MORE ON THE AI SIDE THAT WOULD HELP US HIRE MORE INDIVIDUALS.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL NEED STAKE FOR ACTUAL PERSONS TO COME IN AND IDENTIFY WORK. RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF ANYTHING THAT'S OPEN. WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON GETTING THOSE POSITIONS FILL BECAUSE THE NEED IS STILL THERE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT AI TECHNOLOGIES FROM REAL PROPERTY TO PERSONAL RECORDS AND PUBLIC FILINGS. THEY ARE ALL AREAS IF WE'RE NOT ALREADY DOING SOMETHING THAT BRINGS US FURTHER INTO WHERE WE NEED TO BE, IT'S ADDITIONAL TECHS TO HELP US GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO GET TO AS 15 FTES ON THE PARTICULAR
AND MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION, IS THERE ANYTHING -- IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND HOW IT'S IT'S TO AFFECT THE CLERK'S OFFICE? SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED ON YET?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. BOTTOM LINE, OUR OFFICE IS A SERVICE-ORIENTED OFFICE. EVERYTHING WE DO FROM THE TIME WE OPEN OUR DOORS TO THE TIME WE CLOSE THEM IS SERVICING THE PUBLIC.
EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT PHYSICALLY THERE, THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS OUR WEBSITE AND GET RECORDS AND INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S WEBSITE.
SO WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD THERE'S NOT A GREAT BENEFIT FOR REDUCTIONS FOR OUR OFFICE.
THERE ARE MANY LEGISLATIVE MANDATES THAT HAVE COME DOWN THIS SESSION THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE US TO NOT DO ONLY THE WORK WE'RE DOING NOW, BUT IT WILL INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE OF THOSE MANDATES, AND SO WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS. EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT WE USE, WE FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE BEST INTERESTINTEREST YOUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE SUPPORT EVERY DAY AND AS A REFLECTION OF THAT, I'M PROUD TO SAY WE GET FEEDBACK ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS FROM OUR VOTERS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS ON THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH THE SIDE STAFF THAT WE DO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A CONCERN FOR MOST OF THE COUNTY, FOR A COUNTY OUR SIZE, FOR THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE SERVE, WHETHER THERE'S AN ELECTION OR NOT, AROUND THE CLOCK WE ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RECORDS, AND SO WE ARE SERIOUS.
WE ARE COMPASSIONATE, BUT WE'RE ALL VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW EVERY DOLLAR IS SPENT COMING INTO THE OFFICE AND GOING OUT OF THE OFFICE. IT IS TO BENEFIT EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE RESERVE THE REST OF THE TIME.
[01:10:01]
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. QUICKLY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, HOW WILL THE HIRING FREEZE AFFECT YOUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND GIVEN THE MANDATE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, HOW WILL IT IMPACT YOU?
>> IT WILL IMPACT US NEGATIVELY. I'LL JUST GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN AND MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN OPENED VERY LONG AND WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF FILLING THOSE, BUT ANY LOSS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR WORK.
SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WILL INCLUDE A WORKING GROUP, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW ALL OF OUR STAFF SUPPORTS ELECTIONS, WHETHER YOU'RE FULL- TIME ELECTIONS OR NOT, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT CYCLE WHICH WE ARE GOING INTO A YEAR AND A HALF LONG CYCLE, NOVEMBER IS NOT JUST ONE ELECTION. WE'LL HAVE ELECTIONS ALL THROUGH NEXT YEAR AND ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS STEP UP TO SUPPORT THAT AND SO WE NEED EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF THOSE FULL- TIME POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS LEFT BEHIND.
SO IT WOULD -- BOTTOM LINE, IT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT US. WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES. YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER POSITIONS POSSIBLY COULD BE UTILIZED IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT IF WE HAVE TO REDUCE IN ANY AREA, WHAT WILL BE THE TRUE IMPACT FOR THAT AREA. HOW CAN WE SOMEHOW SUPPLEMENT, BUT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE MANDATES THAT ARE COMING DOWN AND WE KNOW WITH REDUCING POSITIONS AND REDUCING PARTS OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COURT IN TURN AND COME BACK TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE ITEMS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> JUST QUICKLY, WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION AT COUNTY FOR THOSE EXACT REASONS THAT THE COUNTY CLERK WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE HIRING PROCESS -- FOR THE HIRING FREEZE PROCESS.
YIELD. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3.
PRECINCT 4. >> YOU DELIVER AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> I WANTED TO ASK AND YOU TOUCHED WITH THE NEW STATE MANDATE, HOW IS YOUR OFFICE PLANNING TO TACKLE THE EXTENDED EARLY VOTING PERIOD.
>> I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT, TALIA.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 2753 WHICH HAS NOW BECOME LAW.
THIS IS A BILL THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN AUSTIN MYSELF TALKING TO LEGISLATURES LEGISLATURES THE AISLE. SPEAKING OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL FACE AND THE TOP TWO OF THEM ALL IS THE CHALLENGES WITH RESOURCES AND WHEN WE MEAN BY THAT IS FUNDING DOLLARS. THIS BILL AND LAW DID NOT COME WITH ANY FUNDING FROM THE STATE, OF COURSE, AND IT WILL IMPACT US IN MANY WAYS AND THE FULL- TIME ELECTIONS TEAM AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW COULD MEAN THAT WE NEED TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF FULL-TIME STAFF JUST TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE 2753. IF I CAN PROVIDE MORE COLOR AND BACKGROUND. 2753 DOES A LOT OF NEW THINGS TO THE ELECTIONS PROCESS, AND IT'S THE MOST PREVALENT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF EARLY VOTING DAYS, BUT IT CHANGES THE TIMEFRAME. WE WILL GO FROM A MONDAY TO THE SECOND WEEK ON FRIDAY TO STARTING ON A THURSDAY WHICH WOULD INCLUDE TWO WEEKENDS OF EARLY VOTING.
NOW, FOR MOST PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY WILL SAY THAT'S GREAT. TWO WEEKENDS OF EARLY VOTING AND WHEN WE LOOK AT STATISTICAL DATA, THE HIGHEST LEVELSLEVELS DRASTICALLY ON THE WEEKENDS. NOT TO MENTION, THERE ARE A LOT OF ELECTION FACILITIES THAT WILL NOT AGREE TO TWO WEEKENDS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES AND COLLEGES AND DIFFERENT AREAS.
THEY KNOW THE DATES AND THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND THEY HAVE OTHER SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES IN THOSE POLLS. BEFORE IT WOULD BE CALL AN EARLY VOTING PERIOD, WHICH MEANS VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE IN WHEN WE CONSIDER TO BE EARLY VOTING UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP ON FRIDAY TO ALLOW FOR EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS TO BRING THEIR EQUIPMENT IN, FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES AND ALLOW USUS PREPARE TO HAVE RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. AND THAT WILL GO AWAY BECAUSE WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THAT TIMEFRAME THROUGH ELECTION DAY.
A LOT OF THOSE THAT SERVE, ELECTION WORKERS, ALSO SERVE ON ELECTION DAY.
WE ARE IN FEAR OF THE ALREADYALREADY DECLINE AND RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS WILL ALSO CREATE CHALLENGES FOR US WHERE THEY LOOK FOR THAT BREAK TO PREPAREPREPARE FOR DAY.
SO THIS ONGOING PROCESS OF EQUIPMENT, CHAIN OF CUSTODY WILL NOT STOP. OUR PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WORKING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOURS AROUND THE CLOCK INCLUDING THEIR CLERK, AND THE AMOUNT OF
[01:15:07]
TIME, RESOURCES, EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT INTO IT WITH NO STATE FUNDING BEHIND THIS. YES, WE ARE THE LARGEST COUNTY, BUT THIS WILL IMPACT THE ENTIRE STATE AND WAYS THAT I'M NOT SURE LAWMAKERS TRULY UNDERSTAND IT. THAT IS ONLY ONE ASPECT.WE ARE ALSO IN THAT LAW, BEING ASKED TO HAVE ANOTHER LAYER OF SECURITY FOR EQUIPMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AT, BUT ESSENTIALLY THAT LAW IS ASKING FACILITIES.
WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK FACILITIES FOR THEIR KEYS FOR NO OTHER FUNCTIONS TO GO ON INSIDE THOSE BUILDINGS. SO IT IS ONE OF THOSE DOMINO EFFECT LAWS WHERE YOU WANT TO ADDRESS ONE THING TO COME DOWN TO THE OTHER, AND IF I COULD JUST BE VERY TRANSPARENT. WITH TALKING TO LAWMAKERS PART OF THE EFFORT OF THIS LAW IS TO GET COUNTIES TO GO FROM VOTING COUNTYWIDE BACK TO PRECINCT.
THAT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS DISADVANTAGE FOR THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
IT WOULD CAUSE A CONCERN IN MANY ISSUES. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THE BOARD MEMBERS PASSED AND SUPPORT A RESOLUTION TO KEEP COUNTY WIDE AND A GOOD MAJORITY OF OUR STATE ENJOYS COUNTYWIDE, AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT DOMINO IMPACTS THAT I'LL BE TALKING TO BACK TO THE COURT.
I WILL SAY THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS CREATED A WORKING GROUP BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN IMPLEMENTATION FOR SEPTEMBER 1ST NOW, BUT BY A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME AND THE ASK IS FOR COUNTIES OF ALL SIZES TO COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THIS, AND I HAVE BEEN A STRONG VOICE IN AUSTIN TO TALK ABOUT THOSE CHALLENGES AND A STRONG VOICE HERE ALREADY.
WE WILL NEED A PR -- A P.R. CAMPAIGN JUST TO GET VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE THAT'S COMING THEIR WAY.
SORRY. AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, AND I MAY HAVE GONE OVER TIME, AND I
FOUR SECONDS LEFT. I WILL HOLD MY
TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4.
COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> FIRST -- WELCOME, CLERK. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE CLERK'S OFFICE USES TEMP EMPLOYEES VERSUS PERMANENT FULL-TIME STAFF AND WHAT BENEFIT ONE OVER THE OTHER WOULD HAVE?
>> YES. SO I WILL -- WE USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF TEMP EMPLOYEES ON THE NON-ELECTION SIDE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THIS TALKING POINT IS EVEN BIGGER WHEN IT COMES TO THE FULL-TIME ELECTION STAFF. SO WHAT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW IS IT TAKES THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS TO PULL OFF AN ELECTION. MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE VOLUNTEERS, ELECTION WORKERS IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS TO UTILIZE TEMPS BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FULL TIME. THE EFFORT TO GET MORE FULL TIME WOULD PUT US IN A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT WE ARE TRAINING FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK WHICH SOME OF THIS IS STATE MANDATED AND LEGALLY PRIVATE. IT IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE MORE FULL TIME BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS ONCE THAT TERM ENDSENDS FOR THEIR TEMP, THEN WE LOSE THAT EDUCATION AND THAT TRAINING. THEY WALK AWAY AND ESSENTIALLY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW THAT TYPICALLY FOLLOW AFTER ELECTIONS AND BEFORE, REALLY YEAR ROUND. THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS WE GET, WE ARE NOW HAVING TO BUILD AN EVEN LARGER TEAM JUST TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC INFORMATION AROUND THE CLOCK. I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF BALLOT BY MAIL, RIGHT? ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW ELECTION YEARS ARE DIFFERENT, THIS IS AN AROUND THE YEAR JOB. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT EDUCATION AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THAT BECAUSE.YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE SINCE I'VE BECOME THE CLERK OF ELECTIONS THAT THREATEN TO QUESTION THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AND POSSIBLY REMOVE ME FROM OFFICE.
SO THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FULL- TIME STAFF THAT'S TRAINED, THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL TIME, AND SO WHILE WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM HAVING TEMPS FOR ELECTIONS, IT WOULD BE BETTER, IN OUR BEST INTEREST, ESPECIALLY FOR ELECTION TRAINERS.
ELECTION TRAINERS, THAT IS A YEAR-ROUND JOB AND WE GET THESE PEOPLE INVOLVED, EDUCATEDEDUCATED BECAUSE WE CAN'T HIRE THEM FULL TIME IS A MAJOR CONCERN. THERE IS NO PART THAT WE CAN'T UTILIZE FULL TIME, AND I'M LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT WORD, TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.
>> GOING ON THE TOPIC OF STAFFING, WHAT CHANGES IN RECRUITMENT HAS YOUR OFFICE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR AND HAVE ANY OF THE MINIMUM WAGE POLICIES OR PAY INCREASES FOR THE LOWEST PAID
[01:20:02]
EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY BENEFITED YOUR OFFICESO FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THIS WAS AN INCENTIVE TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICE BECAUSE MANY OF OUR DEPUTY CLERKS WERE AT SOME OF THE LOWEST PAID HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO BRINGING THOSE INDIVIDUALS UP TO THE $20 AN HOUR INCENTIVES HAVE HELPED AND HAS ALSO CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF FRICTION FOR THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY AT THE $20 LEVEL DOING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK OR FOR SOME EVEN MORE NOT RECEIVING THE BUILDUP.
SO THIS IS NOT A THANK YOU, BUT THIS IS NOT WORK.
IT'S MORE SO. IT'S A THANK YOU, BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE EVEN THE SCORE. ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SPENDS AROUND THE CLOCK ON THE WEEKENDS THAT WE JUST CAN'T WALK AWAY UNTIL THE JOB GETS DONE IS THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT AT A COMPETITIVE OR COMPARING LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO SALARY WHICH IS CAUSES TURNOVER, RID? WE DO HARD WORK. IF I'M TALKING ABOUT MY ELECTION TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES TEAM WHICH IS CONSTANTLY WORKING AND AUDITING EQUIPMENT. MANY OF THESE MANDATES WON'T CHANGE AND WE NEED MORE EMPLOYEES AND TO NOT LOSE THOSE FOLKS TO AMAZON AND OTHER COMPANIES WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT IN.
THAT'S A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HOW WE NEED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SEE THE IMPORTANCE AND INVEST IN OUR ELECTIONS DIVISION. WORK IS NOT GOING TO BE EASIER. IT WILL GET HARDER AND THERE ARE MORE WAYS WHERE WE'LL BE INNOVATIVE AND GET AHEAD OF THE THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE'VE DONE THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT, AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT. I HOPE THEY'RE LISTENING, THANK YOU FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WE'LL COME BACK AND SAY HERE'S WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AND HERE'S HOW WE CAN BELIEVE WE CAN PREPARE.
>> THANK YOU. SWITCHING GEARS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROPERTY RECORDS AND PERSONAL RECORDS. THAT IS THE SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE NEED THAT HAS ARISED OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT CHANGE -- THAT NEED BECOMING HIGHER IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND WE TALKED ABOUT AI AND ARE THERE OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THE CLERK'S OFFICE CAN HELP?
>> YES. THE FIRST THING IS SUSTAINING WHAT WE HAVE, RIGHT? MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP THE FOOT PRINT OF THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CONCERN IS TO THERE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THATTHAT THOSE FOLKS ARE MAKING COMPETITIVELY IN THE TURNOVER. WHAT DO WE NEED TO SEE IN THE FUTURE? WE NEED TO SUSTAIN THE DEPARTMENT AS WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER AI TECHNOLOGIES AND I HAVE IT SAY I'M ROUD ON THE ELECTION SIDE. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED MORE ONLINE SYSTEMS THAT'S HELPFUL. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN AND÷÷ NOT LOSE POSITIONS.
I'M GLAD MR. RAMOS IS HERE TO ENSURE US THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION TO DO THAT. WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO USE DOLLARS ON IMPLEMENTING NEW POLICIES AND PROCEED TOURS PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE IT EASIER. SO SUSTAINABILITY IS BIG FOR OUR PUBLIC RECORDS AND OUR PERSONAL RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
IF I CAN FURTHER PAINT THE PICTURE. THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS LOCATED AROUND THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE TEN ANNEXES WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE ABLE TO GO AND CONSTITUENTS CAN GO TO THOSE ANNEXES TO RECEIVE SERVICES. I'VE SPOKEN TO MY COUNTERPART, ANNETTE RAMIREZ FOR PROTECTION, AND WHEN I SAY PROTECTION I MEAN LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT GO ON AT THOSE ANNEXES. THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S AT THOSE ANNEXES AND THE SECURITY IS THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANT TO LEAN ON AND THESE OTHER FACILITIES THAT ARE NOT DOWNTOWN OR IN A HIGH, SECURE FACILITY IS MORE SO LOOKING AT THOSE ANNEXES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE MOST UP-TO- DATE, THAT WE HAVE EXIT STRAT SCOMBREES AND WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY'RE FOCUSSED IN ON OTHER ITEMS. I CAN GIVE YOU ALL A LITANY OF CONCERNS AND RISK THAT WE HAVE AT THOSE STOREFRONTS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT AND THAT IMPACTS ALL OF OUR PUBLIC RECORDS DEPARTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, PUBLIC OFFICE. YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT -- NOW?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE WORK YOUR OFFICE DOES. I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING IN REGARD TO
[01:25:01]
53. YOU MENTIONED IN PART OF YOUR ANSWER PERHAPS THERE'S A NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THESE IN CERTAIN AREAS. SO I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS? WHAT SUPPORT DOES THE CLERK'S OFFICE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY ELECTIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING ELECTION.>> THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES. THIS BILL IS LAW NOW. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVES THAT MIGHT COME DOWN THE PIPELINE AND THIS IS A HUGE MAYBE IS ONCE THIS WORKING GROUP BEGINS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION AND IT'S MAYBE THAT THE STATE WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT FUNDING. THAT WON'T -- WE WON'T KNOW THAT. WE WON'T START IN THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS AND I COULD ATTEND SOME HEARINGS THAT WILL COME DOWN THE PIPELINE IN AUSTIN TO FURTHER CLARIFY THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE. AS OF NOW IF THEY SAID SEPTEMBER 1ST, YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THAT, WE KNOW WE'D HAVE TO DOUBLE OUR STAFF, RIGHT? LOOKING FORWARD, IS REALLY COMING BACK HERE IS WHERE THE WORKING GROUPS ARE LANDING. MY OFFICE WILL ALREADY BE BRINGING A LIST OF ITEMS SAYING FOR THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, FOR LOCATION, WE CAN'T TELL FACILITIES HOW WE HAVE TO SECURE THEIR BUILDINGS. THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY EITHER WE AGREE TO THIS OR WE DON'T. SO WE KNOW IT WILL IMPACT POLLING LOCATIONS.
IT WILL IMPACT ELECTION WORKERS AND IT WILL IMPACT BEHIND THE SCENES TO DO THIS AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE HOURS THAT WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE.
IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US FINANCIALLY THE MOST FOR DELIVERY OF EQUIPMENT, FOR AUDITING, AND SO IN TERMS OF WHAT ADVANTAGES YOU HAVE, IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE LAW SAYS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL PROVIDE AN ADVISORY. WHAT WILL COME DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO ALSO? MY STAFF AND I WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT IN THE WORKING GROUP MEETING TO DISCUSS IT AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO COURT TO REALLY LAY OUT, HERE IS WHAT WE BELIEVE THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE. NOW, THE LAW, IT WAS PASSED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL 2027, BUT THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS IN THAT LAW THAT SAYS THE STATE CAN'T COME UP NEXT YEAR AND SAY HEY, YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT BY NOVEMBER 2026. THAT'S WHAT I'M ANTICIPATING.
IF THIS HAPPENS BY THE SPRING, IF IT HAPPENS BY NEXT FALL. WHAT DO I NEED TO COME BACK TO THE COURT TO ASK FOR? WHAT RESOURCES WILL YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THIS OUT? UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, AND IT'S A LOT OF UNSURE SPACES AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THIS JUST TO BE A TEST, RIGHT, TO COME BACK, YOU I BELIEVE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THIS LAW WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE 27TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ASK FOR MORE AMENDMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WITH 2753 IS IT WILL REQUIRE US IN SOME CASES TO HAVE TO WORK HOLIDAYS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, NOVEMBER HAPPENS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A RUNOFF COULD BE SO.
THE RUNOFF EARLY VOTING TIME SPILLS RIGHT INTO THANKSGIVING, RIGHT? THEN WE GO INTO DECEMBER, AND SO, WHILE THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL THAT HAS BECOME LAW HAS SAID WE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND AMEND IT, THE REALITY IS THAT SAYING IT VERSUS IT BE IT IN WRITING DOESN'T CHANGE THE DYNAMIC FOR OUR COUNTIES AND YOU SHOULD KNOW, WE'RE WORKING FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE MID-SIZED COUNTIES AND SOME OF US ALL FACE THE SAME THING. IT'S MORE WORK.
THERE ARE MORE MANDATES AND MORE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS FROM THIS, AND THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR IT, AND SO AS WE START THIS WORKING GROUP, MY GOAL WILL BE TO HAVE SOME ASSESSMENTS FOR YOU ALL TO SEE, HERE'S WHAT WE BELIEVE THE IMPACT WILL BE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, A YEAR FROM NOW, BUT MY REAL TRUE HOPE IS AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS, THE REALITY IS SOME OF THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT WITHOUT THE STATE FUNDING IT OR GIVES MORE TIME TO ADDRESS IT IN THE NEXT SESSION.
>> YES, OF COURSE. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER NON-ELECTION SIDE SERVICES SUCH AS RELATED TO THE CLERKS FOR PROBATE, CIVIL COURTS AS WELL AS RECORDS.
WOULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF PROPOSALS -- BUDGET PROPOSALS AS IT RELATES TO BACKLOGS, WAIT TIMES AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO THE TIMELY
ACCESSACCESS RECORDS? >> I AM PROUD TO SAY OUR OFFICE DOES NOT EXPERIENCE WAIT TIMES. I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN OFFICE AND OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTY, SO NOT EXTREME WAIT TIMES AT MOST OF OUR FACILITIES. IN TERMS OF BACKLOGS, IF WE WERE
[01:30:02]
TO LOSE ANY PCNS, THEN THAT COULD BE A CONCERN, BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH TODAY. AS OF TODAY, OUR FILINGS, OUR RECORDINGS ARE ALL ON TIME AND IN A GOOD SYSTEM. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT AI TO SEE HOW WE CAN CUT SOME OF THIS AND SPEED UP THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND I'M GLAD MR. RAMOS IS HERE TO SAY LOOK, SUSTAINABILITY IS MY BIGGEST GOAL ON THE NON-ELECTION SIDE. I DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES.IF, FOR ANY REASON, THAT CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND THE BUDGET THEN THERE COULD BE SOME CONCERNS ON THOSE ITEM, BUT RIGHT NOW, I AM PROUD TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1.
WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 2, YOU HAVE 26 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND 9 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL YIELD TO PRECINCT 4.
>> PRECINCT 4, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND 12 SECONDS.
I DO WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL REN -- ARE YOU ABLE TO COLLECT ON FEES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY COLLECTED AT ALL SUCH AS ADJUSTMENTS TO COLLECTION OF FILING FEES?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT JUST POPPED IN MY MIND AS A REMINDER, THE MENTAL ILLNESS FEES.
SO, MYSELF AND JUDGE COX OF OTHER PROBATE COURTS WILL BE COMING BACK TO TALK ABOUT A LAW THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT WILL NEED TO COME TO THE COURT FOR ADOPTION, NOT APPROVAL BECAUSE IT IS LAW AND THAT IS FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO COLLECT CERTAIN FEES FOR MENTAL ILLNESS CASES.
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, OUR CLERKS ACTUALLY INTAKE CONSTITUENTS AND PART OF THAT WILL BE THIS MENTAL ILLNESS PROCESS. AM I MISSING ANYTHING? MENTAL HEALTH FEES.
WE WILL COME BACK TO HAVE THAT ON THE COURT SOONER OR LATER FOR ADOPTION AND THAT WILL BRING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY SO THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE FOR THAT, AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE FOR YOUR OFFICES.
MY LAST QUESTION, IN 2024 THERE WAS A TRANSFER OF PCNS TO TRY TO HELP WITH THE COUNTY'S PROGRESS TOWARD BRINGING POLLING LOCATIONS INTO ADA COMPLIANCE.
>> SURE. SO THIS IS WORK THAT WE DO AROUND THE CLOCK AND THIS NEVER STOPS IS THE WORK OF THE ADA, JUST SO YOU KNOW TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO THE COUNTIES SETTLED AN ADA AGREEMENT FROM THE LAWSUIT AND SINCE THE END, A MAJORITY OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS, IF NOT ALL, ARE UP-TO- DATE ON WHETHER THEY'RE COMPLIANT OR NOT COMPLIANT. BY LAW, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW MANY OF THOSE PROCEDURES AND SO WHEN WE COME AND PROVIDE THE CONTEXT TO YOUR OFFICES AND TALK ABOUT THE PLAN FOR THIS UPCOMING NOEF -- SOME OF THOSE POTENTIAL AM WHYS IS WHICH LOCATIONS ARE COMPLIANT, WHICH ARE NOT AND WHICH IS AVAILABLE AND WHICH IS NOT. JUST A REMINDER, WE CAN'T TELL ANY LOCATION THAT HEY, YOU HAVE TO BE A POLLING LOCATION.
THEY HAVE TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF ADA COMPLIANCE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE OPEN, AND SO WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE STAFF TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
THERE IS NO ELECTION ALIKE, RIGHT? THIS NOVEMBER WON'T BE LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MARCH PRIM AERS WILL BEBE DIFFERENT FROM MAY ELECTION OF KNOWING EVERY, WE WON'T SEE THE STATISTICAL DATE AT AND WITH COUNTY WIDE, THERE ARE CERTAIN LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEM AND THEY WORK, BUT WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COUNTY, CHANGES AND CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE LOOK OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOCATIONS. I WILL SAY THIS HAS BECOME A HUGE COST FACTOR. SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS WERE NOT CHARGED. OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE WE ARE CHARGED AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO BE CHARGED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING TO THE FOREFRONT, AS WELL, IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE COUNTY IS HAVING TO SPEND ON POLLING LOCATIONS AND IF THERE ARE BETTER REMEDIES. BY LAW, WE HAVE TO USE CERTAIN TYPES OF VOTE CENTERS AND SO GOING THERE, LESS COST AND BUILDING DOWN IS ONE OF THOSE ASPECTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTION ABOUT POLLING
LOCATIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4.
THE JUDGE'S COUNTY'S OFFICE AND PRECINCT 1 HAS NO TIME REMAINING AND CLERK, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
[01:35:01]
THAT'S ME. THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS NOT JUST A SERVICE PROVIDER. WE ARE REVENUE- GENERATING DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTING MILLIONS ANNUALLY INTO THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND.WITH THE COURT'S SUPPORT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET OUR STATUTORY OBLIGATION, SERVE THE PUBLIC EFFECTIVELY AND CONTINUE TO GROW OUR REVENUE THROUGH INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY. AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO FISCAL YEAR '26, THE PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS, THOUGH MODEST, EACH DOLLAR CUT DIRECTLY. ISSUE TIMELY, PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROVIDE VITAL HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND IN ADDITION COMPLY WITH THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX ELECTION MANDATES. WE ARE NOT ASKING MORE TO DO LESS. WE ARE ASKING FOR STRATEGIC RE-INVESTMENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE DOING MORE AS PUBLIC DEMAND INCREASES AND STATE LAWS, VOFL. EVOLVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK AND TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
WITH THAT, OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
[Pollution Control ]
>>> WELCOME TO THE POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT, DR.
BEV WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING REMARKS AND EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COURT OFFICES FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TODAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE DURING THIS RIGOROUS BUDGET PERIOD. THE CREATION OF POLLUTION CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER OF 1953 BY THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND IT WAS TO BETTER THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LEIRIS COUNTY BY IMPROVING AIR, WATER AND SOIL BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. POLLUTION CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND WE UTILIZE LAWS THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS AT THE TIME SUCH AS THE ENGLAND COMMON LAW NUISANCE EXPECT STATUTE AND THE TEXAS SANITATION LAW TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS AND THE FOCUS OF OUR DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME WAS ON HEALTH, COMFORT AND WELL- BEING OF ITS CITIZENS.
TODAY, THIS MISSION IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED THE WHEELS BACK ON TIME AND SOME OF THE PROVISIONS AFFORDED BY THE CLEAN AIR ACT ARE NO LONGER THERE. THEY ARE REDUCING THE PROTECTIONS OF CHEMICAL INFLUENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SAFEGUARDS. POLLUTION CONTROL HAS STOOD FIRM FOR OVER 70 YEARS ENFORCING REGULATIONS AND BRINGING VIOLATORS INTO COMPLIANCE. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE AS A MEAN WAS HINDERING INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS, BUT TO ACT AS A GUARDRAIL TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS. WE, AS POLLUTION CONTROL, NOT ONLY PROTECT CITIZENS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, BUT WE PROTECT ALL CITIZENS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THAT INCLUDES THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS BY STATE OF HOUSTON. WE ALSO RESPOND BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE CONCERN OF BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY IS A STRUGGLE FOR US AS WE DESIRE TO MEANINGFULLY, CONTINUE IN THE PROCESS AND THE REQUIREMENT TO DO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL IF ANYTHING IS REDUCED BY A REDUCTION IN FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. NOW EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 3.
[01:40:03]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. QUICKLY, COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU THINK WILL BE MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS GOING FORWARD?
>> SO THE MOST CONCERN IS HOW WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL INVASIONS OF CONTAMINANT, SHOULD I PUT IT THAT WAY? THESE COME AT THE EMISSION EVENTS FROM INDUSTRY. THEY COME FROM TRUCK ROLLOVERS WHICH WE'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW LATELY HAPPENING ON THE ROAD. IT COMES FROM JUST A WAREHOUSE THAT MAY HAVE A FIRE. THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE SIZE OF THE STAFF THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THOSE KINDS OF RESPONSES. THE CONCERN THAT THAT LEAVES FOR ME IS THE FACT THAT OUR SIZE IS RATHER SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY THAT WE SERVE AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN OPERATIONAL PERIOD AND A RISK PERIOD FOR THOSE RESPONDERS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IF WE HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE OUT BECAUSE OF PTO, WE DON'T HAVE A BACK WASH OF PEOPLE THAT CAN COME IN WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SKILL SET TO FILL THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. HOW IS THE LIVING WAGE AND THE $2500 INCENTIVE FOR THOSE MAKING UNDER $75,000 IMPACTEDIMPACTED
CONTROL STAFF. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT IT HELPED, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THERE'S LOTS OF TRAINING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR END TO GIVE EXCELLENCE IN RESPOND IN EVERYTHING WE DO FROM EVALUATIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND THE ACTUAL RESPONSE TO THOSE EMERGENCIES AND IN COMPLAINT, BUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE AND THE TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE WE GIVE THAT TO OUR STAFF, AND THEN SOME OF THEM HAVE LEFT IN ORDER TO GET MORE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO IT HAS HELPED. IT HAS NOT SOLVED ALL OF THE COMPENSATION ISSUES, BUT WE HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD THE COMPENSATION STUDY WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING UNDER $75,000 IN POLLUTION CONTROL?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MOVE HEAD, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
OF THE OFFSETS THAT OMBOMB RECOMMENDING HOW MANY ARE IMPACTED?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE 14 POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN, AND I WILL SAY SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW -- QUITE A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO HIRE FOR SOME OF THE NICHE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS POSTINGS FOR A COUPLE OF POSITIONS.
SO AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE FIVE POSITIONS THAT OMG HAS GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED US TO LOOK AT AGAIN. SO WE HAVE FIVE POSITIONS THAT ARE ON THE REDUCTIONREDUCTION SIDE, BUT THEN THERE ARE THREE THAT WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE HIRING PROCESS ON THAT WE WILL PROBABLY LOSE, AS WELL WITH THE HIRING FREEZE.
>> ARE ANY OF THOSE FIVE PCNS FILLED OR ARE THEY ALL VACANT?
>> ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE VACANT POSITIONS.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION I HAD WAS ON THE CLS BUILD IN.
THERE IS AN ITEM FOR POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNICAL DIVISION OPERATIONAL INCREASES FOR $200,000. WHAT IS THAT?
>> SO THE $200,000 WAS SO WE COULD CONTINUE THE OPERATIONS OFOF MONITOR AT FRIENDSHIP PARK.
IT IS A COMPLETE 63 PAN, VERY COMPREHENSIVE, 24/7 MONITOR THAT IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY ININ AN WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY. THAT MONITOR IS THERE -- IT WAS PUT THERE BECAUSE OF SOME GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH PRECINCT 2 AND THE AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL. THAT NUMBER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THAT.
>> GOT IT. MY LAST QUESTION IS ON TURNOVER AND BASED ON THE DATA FROM HRT, POLLUTION CONTROL HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TURNOVER RATES IN THE COUNTY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THAT IS AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> AS I INDICATED RETENTION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF COMPENSATION. WE BRING IN STAFF AT BEGINNING LEVELS IN THE INVESTIGATE OF AREA AND WE TRAIN THEM TO BECOME INVESTIGATORS THAT ARE VERY COMPREHENSIVE THAT UNDERSTAND THE LAWS THAT WE ENFORCE AND THEN HOPEFULLY, WE CAN MOVE THEM THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND WE CAN MOVE TO HIGHER POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS AS WE START TRAINING AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT
[01:45:03]
HAPPY WITH THE COMPENSATION THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING, THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO OTHER INDUSTRIES AND TO OTHER DEPENDS AND TO GET MORE MONEY AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN A LOT OF THOSE CASES. WE DID SEE THAT SOME OF THEM MOVED TO OTHER AREAS WHEN COVID HAPPENED. WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GO AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE BALANCE. WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE EMERGENCY, AND SO IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE IN A CYCLE THAT IS CONSTANTLY ON CALL AND THOSE TYPES OF THING, AS WELL, AND SO THOSE HAVE HINDERED US IN RETENTION.I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT LEFT INDICATED HOW THEY LOVED WORKING FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND THEY CANNOT A NORD TO STAY IN POLLUTION CONTROL WHEN THE COST OF LIVING WAS RISING SO FAST.
>> COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR
BABIN. WE TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AND PROPOSED HIRING FREEZE AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S SOME TECHNICAL REASON YES YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH TURNOVER RATE AND CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW THE HIRING FREEZE WOULD AFFECT CAPACITY TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY DURING EMERGENCIES?
>> AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE MAY BE THE POTENTIAL TO ADVOCATE FOR POSITIONS TO BE REPLACED IF THEY ARE LOST WITH TURN OVER SO THAT IS MY HOPE THAT IF WE DO EXPERIENCE ANY OF THAT, THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION. IF WE DO LOSE STAFF IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HINDER OUR AVAILABILITY TO RESPOND.
WE HAVE A VERY SMALL DEPARTMENT COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY THAT WE SERVE.
IN TOTAL, WE HAVE ABOUT 88 POSITIONS IN THE RESPONSE AREA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE.
OUR TEAM IS FIVE RESPONDERS WITH THE SUPER ADVISER.
WE HAVE TWO SUPERVISORS AND A MANAGER AND THAT'S VERY SMALL TO HANDLE THE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS AND CASES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH. WE HAVE A TEAM OF THREE ENFORCEMENT COORDINATORS AND TO MOVE THOSE THINGS THROUGH IN AN EFFECTIVE, TIMELY MANNER IS VERY DIFFICULT WITH THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
SO ANY POSITIONS THAT WE LOSE IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THINGS TO GAIN COMPLIANCE.
>> PARDON ME. YOUR DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BRING INDUSTRIAL VIOLATORS TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE AND WORK ALONGSIDE THEM. SOMETIMES TAKING THINGS TO COURT WHICH IS A REVENUE STREAM FOR THE COUNTY TO RECOUP LOSSES. WITH A REDUCED STAFFING CAPACITY, HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT YOUR DEPARTMENT'S AVAILABILITY TO ENSURE VIOLATORS ARE RETURNED TO COMPLIANCE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND RECOVER FINANCIAL PENALTIES WHEN APPROPRIATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. IT WILL DEFINITELY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SPEED IN WHICH THAT CAN BE DONE AND SO SOMETIMES WHAT WE SEE IS WE HAVE VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND WE ISSUE THE VIOLATION NOTICE AND WE'RE GIVEN A TIME OF CONVERSATION WITH THAT SUBJECT ON WHAT HEAD TAKE TO MOVE THEM INTO COMPLIANCE AND SO THE STAFF THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO GO BACK AND TO DO FOLLOW- UPS, IF THAT IS REDUCED, THEN THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GO AND VERIFY THAT, AND SO IT ELONGATES THAT TIME IN GAINING COMPLIANCE. ANYTHING THAT ELONGATES THAT TIME WILL DELAY THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DEVELOP THAT CASE TO DEVELOP THAT TO SEND IT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ONCE THAT HAPPENS THEN THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE MOVES AS THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE MOVES AND THAT HELPS US. SO OUR SPEED IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. AND IF POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES WERE TO FACE CUTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, FIELD SERVICES, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON YOUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT YOUR CORE FUNCTIONS LIKE ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HARRIS COUNTY
RESIDENTS? >> SO IF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TEAM AND THE FIELD INVESTIGATIVE TEAM IS LOWER IN THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT THEY HAVE, THEN THAT MEANS IF THERE IS AN EMISSION EVENT THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE TO MONITOR FOR THE COMMUNITY'S PROTECTION AND IT LESSENS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE TO DO THAT. IT LESSENS THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND DATA THAT IS TRANSPARENT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO THE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES AND IT LESSENS THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO DECISION MAKERS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITIES OF THEIR SAFETY RISK AND TO DEVELOP POLICIES THAT MIGHT BE MORE PROTECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
[01:50:02]
>> THANK YOU. I'LL RESERVE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES
FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANTED TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE SERVICES OF POLLUTION CONTROL AND CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE DIFFERENT BUDGET PROPOSALS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CAPACITY AS IT RELATES TO MONITORING AND WHAT IMPACTS WILL RESULT FROM ANY PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO MONITORING AND WHAT IS THE NEED, IN FACT, TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THAT WORK WELL IN A COUNTY OF
OUR SIZE. >> SO THE COUNTY, POLLUTION CONTROL HAS A COUNTY NETWORK THAT FILLS IN THE GAPS OF WHERE TCEQ'S MONOORING IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND SO WE HAVE 32 SPOD MONITORS AND OZONE MONITORS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN COMBINATION, AND SO THAT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AIR QUALITY IS IN VARIOUS AREAS. IF THE SIZE OF THAT TEAM IS REDUCED, THERE'S ABOUT 12 UNITS THAT EACH MONITORING SPECIALIST CAN HANDLE.
IF THE SIZE OF THE TEAM IS REDUCED THEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PUT MORE MONITORS OUT THERE TO BROADEN THAT NETWORK AND THEN IT ALSO REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DO THE MAINTENANCE ON THAT. THEY REQUIRE THE MAINTENANCE WHENEVER WEATHER GETS BAD OR THE GLITCHES AND THEY REQUIRE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT WITH EXCELLENCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STAFF TO GO OUT ON THE ROUTINE BASIS AND THEY HIT THE MONITORS PROBABLY TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK SO THAT WOULD REDUCE THE QUALITY OF THE DATA THAT WILL COME OUT OF THOSE UNITS.
>> AND TO TOUCH ALSO ON THE COMPLIANCE SIDE, POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO HOW DIFFERENT BUDGET PROPOSALS AND I HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CAPACITY AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW POLLUTION CONTROL, COMPLIANCE SERVICES SUPPORT, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND PARTICULARLY IN VULNERABLE AREAS NEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, OTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES WHERE COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATIONS MIGHT NEED IT?
>> YES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE COMPLIANCE AREA IS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF CONCRETE BATCH PLANS THAT WERE IN VIOLATION OF THE REGULATIONS THAT CONTROLLED THEM. WHEN WE ARE SET TO DO A BETTER, CLOSER LOOK AT THAT, WE LOOKED AT 140 CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS AND ALL OF THEM HAD MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS.
MOVING THAT THROUGH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THOSE SO THEY ARE NOT AS IN VIOLATION AS THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT THOSE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY DO. IN DOING THAT, OUR SKOM PLIANCE TEAM WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO SET FORTH POLICY PROPOSALS THAT HAVE MOVED THE NEEDLE IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS OF CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS SO SOME OF THE RULES HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED FROM THE STATE, BUT WE HAVE HAD THE TCEQ GIVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND HOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT ISSUING THOSE -- THOSE PERMITS.
>> AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THE OTHER NEEDS AND SERVICES AND AS IT RELATES TO WATER AND SERVICES IN PARTICULAR WITH THE THREATS THAT MIGHT BE FACING HARRIS COUNTY.
WHY ARE THESE SERVICES ESSENTIAL FOR LARGE, INDUSTRIAL REGION LIKE OURS ALONG WITH THE FIELD SERVICES AND IN LIGHT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE SERVICES.
>> THAT'S A VERY COMPLEX QUESTION. SO HARRIS COUNTY IS A LARGE, THE THIRD MOST POPULOUS COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST PORT IN THE STATES, AS WELL.
SO INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS GROWING AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GROW AND DO BETTER AND DO MORE WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING. LOOKING AT THAT AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY AND THE GROWTH AND THE CITIZENS THAT COME TO THE COUNTY, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN COMBAT SOLID WASTE DUMP, COMBAT TIRES.
TIRES IS A BIG ISSUE, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE SIZE OF OUR DEPARTMENT HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO BE REACTIONARY. WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE PROACTIVE AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE IN AND MOVE FORWARD. WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD INTO THAT AND AS WE LOOK AT ONE OF THE PROACTIVE THINGS THAT WE DID WITH THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANT AND THAT WAS A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY AND WE LOOK TO BUILD PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE PROACTIVE TO CONTINUE TO REMOVE WASTE AND CONTINUE TO REMOVE CONTAMINANTS AND
[01:55:02]
CONTINUE TO DO IT ON THE REDUCTION SIDE AND NOT THE BUILDING SIDE.>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ALSO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS ESPECIALLY IN PRECINCT 2. THE FACT THAT WE JUST SURVIVED, KNOCK ON WOOD, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHETHER THERE WERE ANY NEW LAWS PASSED THAT MIGHT HAVE A FINANCIAL IMPACT ON SOLUTION CONTROL EITHER IN PERMITTING OR COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF NEW PERMITS OR PERHAPS IN THE SUNSET PERIOD BEFORE THAT.
>> SO THE NEW LAWS, FOR THE MOST PART THAT BRING ME CONCERN HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT GET ANYTHING PASSED THROUGH FOR THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS. THERE'S NOT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING FINANCIAL IMPACT ON US EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS IN STATE ABILITIES WILL MEAN THAT WE WILL BE PROBABLY REFERRED MORE COMPLAINTS FROM THIS STATE WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU SPEND MAKING THOSE
RESPONSES. >> SO YOU MENTION EARLIER THAT WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL MONITOR IN SEABROOK THAT I'M AFRAID THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON WHICH IS SO UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT IS AN INCREDIBLE DATA POINT OR THOUSANDS OF DATA POINTS AT THIS POINT, I WONDER HOW YOU'RE USING THAT DATA OR IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST IN OTHER OUTSIDE PARTIES IN USING THE DATA THAT YOU ARE AN AMAZING CAMP PROGRAM YOU'VE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND POLLUTION CONTROL DOESN'T HAVE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF USING AND PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE THAT COULD.
>> WHAT I DO KNOW IS IF THE FUNDING RUNS OUT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE MONITOR GOING AND TCQ HAS NOT INDICATED THAT WE WILL KEEP THE MONITOR GOING. IF WE DON'T KEEP IT GOING, IT WILL NOT KEEP GOING. THAT MONITOR HAS GIVEN US INFORMATION ABOUT ETHYLENE OXIDE IN THAT AREA THAT WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.
SO FOR US TO MOVE MORE PRODUCTIVELY IS THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED A MORE ROBUST CALL UP IN THE RAM SO WE CAN DO MORE MONITORING IN THE ETHS LEAN OXIDE. IT HAS HELPED US TO DO MORE MONOORING, MORE SPECIFIC MONITORING IN THAT AREA.
WITHOUT THAT, THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AGAIN, INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS GROWING AND BUILDING CAPACITIES. SO WE MAY NOT KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DETECTED IN THE COMMUNITY IF THAT MONITOR GOES AWAY. AND END STREE HAS A JOB TO DO TO KEEP UP WITH MAKING CONVENIENT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITIES, AND WITH CONVENIENCE COMES MORE COMPLEXITIES IN MONITORING.
WE HAVE NOT FOUND A MAGIC BOX THAT ALLOWS US TO KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT THIS MONITOR HELPS US UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THE COMPLEXITIES ARE OF THOSE COMPOUNDS IN THAT AREA.
>> CAN YOU TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT NUISANCE ODORS AND HOW TO CHASE DOWN THESE ODORS, TO POLLUTION CONTROL, THERE'S NOT AN ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISM THAT CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY EVERY SINGLE POLLUTION EVENT THAT HAPPENS IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO SORT OF CHASE CLUES.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOUR TEAM DOES THAT AND THE BURDEN IT PUTS ON YOU TO DO IT?
>> YES. ORDERS ARE WHAT WE CALL PHANTOMS. THEY COME AND THEY GO.
THEY COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
THEY COME DURING RAIN. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT ODORS AND IT DEPENDS ON THE METEOROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING. SO THAT'S A VERY HARD SITUATION FOR US BECAUSE WE MAY CHASE DOWN AN ODOR FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND NOT REALLY KNOW A SOURCE BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE PHANTOM AND THEY MOVE WITH THE WIND.
AND SO THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR US. WE RELY ON THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD WITH INDUSTRY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WE CONTACT INDUSTRY AND ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU HAVING AN ISSUE AT YOUR FACILITY? IT SMELLS LIKE THIS. WE RELY ON THAT INFORMATION TO HELP US HUNT THAT DOWN AND WE RELY ON CITIZENS TO HELPHELP US THEY CALL IN WITH THE COMPLAINTS. WE TRY TO UTILIZE DATA TO PINPOINT WHERE WE'RE GETTING THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND THEN WE USE THAT AS HOT SPOTS TO GO AND SEND THOSE INVESTIGATORS TO HAVE A METHODOLOGY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE ODORS ARE COMING FROM. SOMETIMES WE'RE ABLE TO FIGURE THEM OUT, BUT OFTENTIMES WE'RE
NOT. >> I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT POLLUTION CONTROL IS THE ONLY ONE WORKING IN THIS SPACE.
[02:00:02]
THERE IS NOT ANOTHER BACKSTOP AND IT'S HARRIS COUNTY DOING THIS WORK>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAD 1 MINUTE AND 41 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> JUST LAST QUESTION, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN BOTH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE HARRIS COUNTY CLIMATE CUSTIS PLAN WHICH I KNOW WE ARE ALL VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLAN. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW POLLUTION CONTROL IS BOTH SUPPORTING EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO COMMUNICATE VERY WELL WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITIES ON SUPER FUN SITE, AND SO WE HAVE STAFF THAT GOES TO THOSE MEETINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOUGH IMPACTS ARE FROM THOSE SITES AND WHAT IS BEING DONE FROM THOSE SITES, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE ABLE TO STEP IN AND EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITIES A LITTLE BIT MORE IN LAYMAN'S TERM WHAT THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE INFORMATION SITES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE POST THAT INFORMATION SO THE INFORMATION IS INFILTRATED INTO THE COMMUNITIES MORE THAN THEY MAY MISS OR WHAT THEY MAY NOT GET FROM GOING TO THE MEETINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE MEETINGS HAPPEN AFTER HOURS AND PEOPLE HAVE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO WE TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION IN OUR SPACE.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY'S OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO THE QUALITY OF HARRIS
>> PRECINCT 2. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS REMAINING.
>> JUST THANK YOU. NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU COURT OFFICES, WITH THAT, DR. BABIN, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTESES FOR CLOSING
REMARKS. >> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WRAP-UP, BUT I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS BUDGET YEAR IS VERY TOUGH. I RECOGNIZE THE OBSTACLES ARE MANY AND THEY ARE VERY LARGE. I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR THE REDUCTIONS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE WHAT WE HAVE DEEMED AS STRATEGIC TRAINING MECHANISMS SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND GROW LEADERS IN THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE OUR TEAMS THE EQUIPMENT AND THE TRAININGS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT A CONCERN OF WHAT THIS HIRING MIGHT MEAN AND IT BRINGS A CONCERN TO THE STAFF AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING THOSE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT IS VERY HELPFUL AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT RETENTION ISSUES HAVE BEEN A CONCERN, AND I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE THINGS TO DO AND WE RECOGNIZE THE ABILITY OF THE STAFF OF THE COURTS TO HELP US IN THAT SPACE WITH THE COMPENSATION STUDY, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COURT OFFICES AS WELL AS OMB AND AS WILL AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DR. BABIN AND TO THE ENTIRE POLLUTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WITH THAT, WE WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH UNTIL 1:45 P.M.
WHEN WE WILL RESUME WITH A PRESENTATION FROM
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 1:45 P.M. AND WE ARE READY
[Equity and Economic Opportunity]
TO RESUME OUR BUDGET HEARINGS FOR THE AFTERNOON.NOW WE WELCOME THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DEO AND THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THAT WE SERVE. TODAY I HAVE WITH ME ALEJANDRO MONDRAGON, AND MONTRICE JONES.
IT IS TO ENABLE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES AND OUR LONG- TERM VISION IS TO HAVE AN INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, PROSPEROUS AND RESILIENT HARRIS COUNTY ECONOMY. THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THE DAY TO DAY WORK INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FOUR PROGRAM AREA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH IN
[02:05:02]
CALENDAR YEAR 2025 PROCESSED 7.6 MILLION IN FTC PILOT PAYMENT WHICH IS A REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE COUNTY AND OTHER TAX ENTITIES. EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES WHICH HAS SERVED OVER 7,400 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SINCE ITS INCEPTION THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR. PROGRAM PLANNING INNOVATION WHICH MANAGES THE APPRENTICESHIP ADVANTAGE PROGRAM THAT HAS SERVED OVER 1,050 RESIDENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE COUNTY'S FIRST- EVER REVOLVING LOAN FUND AND OUR LARGEST DIVISION WHICH OVERSEES MONITORING OF THE END OF LEAVE PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERALLY MANDATED SERVICES FOR DBRA, SECTION 3 AND THE STATE'S PREVAILING WAGE. THIS DIVISION ALSO CURRENTLY OVERSEES OUR OUTREACH IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNTY SAFETY RECORD POLICY.IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MUCH OF OUR WORK IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE COUNTY'S FIVE- YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SMALL BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH AND WORKFORCE SUPPORTS INCLUDING CHILD CARE.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS ON THE SMALLER SIDE, BUT AS I SAID IT TO COURT BEFORE, WE DO GET NEW PROJECTS AND TANKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT TEST OUR BANDWIDTH.
I KNOW THIS SAY TOUGH BUDGET SEASON AND WE WILL MAKE THE BEST OUT OF THE SITUATION AS WE HAVE ALSO DONE. FINALLY, THANK YOU TO OMG FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 4.
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS THERE'S $130,000 IN INCREASE THAT'S GOING TO DEO NEXT YEAR FOR THE BILINGUAL PAY INCENTIVE AS WELL AS THE $2500 ADJUSTMENT AND HOW HAVE THOSE IMPACTED STAFF?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL FOR THE STAFFER THAT'S USING THEIR BILINGUAL SKILLS TO SERVE THE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. IT'S A TEAM OF TWO, SO VERY SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY, BUT ONE OF THEM IS FULLY BILINGUAL, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE WEBINARS, WORK SHOPS, PANELISTS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE BILINGUAL PAY, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALEJANDRA AND HER TEAM DURING THAT PROCESS WHEN THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN BEING PROACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF THAT WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BILINGUAL PAY WAS USING IT FOR THEIR WORK PURPOSES.
WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF GUIDELINES SO WE STARTED TO WORK ON OUR OWN AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S PART OF THE JOB DUTIES SO THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL FOR THE STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO QUALIFY.
>> THANK YOU. MY SECOND QUESTION IS THE VENDOR DIVERSITY MONITORS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE OMB PAGE, IT SAYS THERE IS A 300K IN SUSTAINED GENERAL FUNDS FOR -- TO CONTINUE THOSE POSITIONS.
DO ANY OF THE -- I GUESS, ONE -- HOW WILL THAT BE USED?
>> LAST YEAR WHEN WE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL MONITORS AND THAT'S SUSTAINING THAT FROM LAST YEAR. SO FISH US, THE OR US, THE COUNTY'S GROWTH REALLY PECKS OUR DEPARTMENT. AS THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE GROWS AND OUR STAFF MONITOR THOSE.
SO THEY DO GET MORE PROJECTS UNDER THEIR BELT EACH YEAR, AND SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT IN THAT AREA BECAUSE IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THINGS FOR THE TEAM AND THE PROTECTION TEAM WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROJECTS ARE BEING MONITORED IN COMPLIANCE.
>> GREAT. WILL ANY OF THE OFFSETS THAT ARE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IMPACT THE CONTINUITY OF THE MWBE
PROGRAM? >> WE DIDN'T HAVE OFFSETS IN THE LABOR PORTION FOR THAT TEAM. THE ONLY OFFSETS THAT COULD IMPACT THAT TEAM WOULD BE MORE IN THE TEMP SERVICES, LINE- ITEM THAT WE USE.
WE DO USE A LOT OF THAT IN DEO, FOR INSTANCE, BEING ABLE TO FILL SOME GAPS AS THE PROJECTS HAVE GROWN. THE PERSON THAT LEADS THE DISPARITY STUDY IS TEMP FUNDED AND OUR DATA ANALYSIS TEAM USES THAT, AS WELL, WHEN THEY NEED TO FILL FOR SOME EXTRA WORK, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THAT'S MOST IMPACTFUL AND WE'LL DO WHATEVER THE DEPARTMENT DOES TO STRATEGIZE AND PRIORITIZE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.
>> SURE. NEXT QUESTION IS ON THE OFFSETS FOR THE -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH LINE-ITEM IT'S ON, BUT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD POSITION. ONE, IS THAT POSITION FILLED AND WHAT KIND OF WORK ARE THEY DOING AND WILL THERE BE ANY
[02:10:02]
IMPACT TO CONSTITUENT- FACING SERVICES AS A RESULT OF ITS ELIMINATION?>> SURE. I'LL START AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER TO SANTRICE.
WITH THE 10% OFFSET GIVEN TO US WE DID AS MUCH AS WE COULD ON THE NON-LABOR SIDE, BUT GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENT WE KNEW IT COULD AFFECT OUR LABOR DOLLARS.
IT WAS CHALLENGING AND ITIT ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY AS A LEADER WOULD DO, BUT I LOOKED AT THE DIVISION AND WAS LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE I FELT OTHER AREAS COULD ABSORB THAT WORK. SO THAT POSITION IS CURRENTLY FILLED AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO ELIMINATE POSITION, BUT THEY CAN ADD MORE TO WHAT THEIR DAY TO DAY WORK LOOKS LIKE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, YES, IT WOULD ALSO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY- FACED SERVICES, AS WELL. OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CONVENING NOW SERVES HUNDREDS OF CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SO THOSE WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE CUTS OF THESE SERVICES IN ADDITION TO OUR ABILITY TO COLLABORATE AND ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH LARGE ENTITIES SUCH AS THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD BECAUSE WE DO COLLABORATE THERE AND THIS SUPPORTS AS A LIAISONLIAISON FOR THAT WORK, SO THE WORK FLOW WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED SOMEWHERE ELSE, AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT IT WOULD IMPACT. IT WOULD ALSO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH CORE OFFICES AT LARGE. WE TRY TO MAKER SURE THAT YOU ALL REMAIN INFORMED AND UP TO SPEED IN EVERYTHING THAT'S OCCURRING ACROSS DATA ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION SO THAT THOSE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT NEED TO TRANSPIRE ARE ABLE TO DO SO. SO LONG- TERM, IT WOULD IMPACT
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE BENEFITS OF THE POLICY ANALYSIS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS TEAM AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR YOUR OFFICE AND HOW WOULD THE PROPOSED OFFSET IMPACT PROJECTS OR POTENTIAL PROJECTS?
>> SURE. THAT IS A TEAM INSIDE THE PROGRAM PLANNING INNOVATION. THAT DIVISION HAS UNDERGONE A LOT OF CHANGES SINCE IT FIRST STOOD UP AND THE DEPARTMENT STARTED AND REALLY, THE VISION WAS TO HAVE A DATA ANALYSIS, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND A POLICY TEAM THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT, BUT AS WE WERE COMING ONLINE IN 2021 SO ARE THE ARPA PROJECTS AND THAT DIVISION BECAUSE IT HAD NOT STARTED SOME OF THAT WORK THAT WAS ENVISIONED HAD CAPACITY SO THEY WERE GIVEN THE PROJECTS THAT HAD TO DO WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND WORKFORCE. SO CURRENTLY, THEY ARE OVERSEEING THE PROGRAM, AND THE HARRIS HUB PROGRAM AND AS WELL THAT'S FLEX FUNDED AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT TEAM DOES AS WELL AS SUPPORT THIS THROUGH THE LOCAL BOARD AND THAT TEAM TAKES LEAD ON MAKING YOU ARE SURE THAT THEY REVIEW THE POLICIES THAT ARE BE WITH THE STATING LEGISLATOR, YOU ALL KNOW AROUND THAT TIME IT GETS CRAZY SO WE LEAVE FLEXIBILITY THERE.
I LIKE TO LEAVE BANDWIDTH THERE FOR COURT REQUESTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE KNOW THOSE ARE COMING SO ELIMINATING THAT POSITION WILL AFFECT THAT FLEXIBILITY. AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO, BUT IT'S A SACRIFICE THAT WE HAD TO MAKE, AND SO TALKING TO THAT TEAMTEAM ABOUT PROJECTS THAT CAN COME OFF, ANY RESEARCH THAT THEY WERE DOING THAT'S NOT REQUIRED, BUT MORE NICE TO HAVE AND REALLY PRIORITIZING WHAT'S REQUIRED AND THAT'S WHAT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN WITH THAT
MANY PROJECTS ARE VERY COMMUNITY- IMPACT FOCUSED.
IF DEO WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE LIKE THE VULNERABLE POPULATION SUPPORT, PARENTAL SUPPORT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DO YOU KNOW OF OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR RESOURCES THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN GO TO?
>> YEAH. I THINK IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND AND I HAD TALKED TO THE STAFF WHEN THE PROGRAMS WERE COMING ONLINE THAT WERE ARPA FUNDED AND WE KNEW THAT FROM THE BEGINNING AND THOSE SERVICES WERE GOING TO BE ARPA FUNDED WITH A DEADLINE AND DATE FOR STAFF. SO FOR US IT WAS WORKING TO MAKER SURE THAT WE COULD HAVE PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD EITHER DURING THAT TIME AND GOING AFTER GRANTS AND PARTNERS THAT COULD PICK UP THE WORK AND THAT'S THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO SEE HOW SOME OF THIS CAN WORK, AND THEN WE WERE ALSO PLANNING TO REQUEST SOME POTENTIAL FUNDING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHEN ARPA WILL BE ENDING TO SEE IF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE SUPPORT TO CONTINUE.
SO I THINK THAT ON A SMALLER SCALE COULD STILL BE POSSIBLE, BUT THINK, IT WILL DEPEND ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
>> AND SPEAKING TO ARPA, CAN YOU SPEAK ON THE REALLOCATION
[02:15:05]
OPTIONS FOR DEO AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT CURRENCY OF THE LAST FOUR AND EARLY CHILDHOODFOR WORKFORCE WE DID INCLUDE REALLOCATION OF THE LOAN FUND, SO WE HAD BOTH A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT TO LOAN BUSINESSES AND A REDUCTION FOR THE RESERVE LOAN. IF YOU DON'T GIVE AS MUCH LOANS YOU DON'T NEED MUCH IN THE RESERVE. I THINK THE IMPACT OF THAT WILL BE LESS LOANS GIVEN AND I'LL LET THEM TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT TO THE EARLY CHILD CARE ONES.
>> YES. SO FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD THERE WILL BE COMPONENTS IMPACTED SUCH AS OUR ABILITY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE EARLY QUALITY NETWORK SO THOSE EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY CARE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED ALONG WITH PARENTS SUPPORT WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH THIS.
ADDITIONALLY, TRAINING THE WORKFORCE WOULD BE ANOTHER SPACE IN WHICH THIS IS IMPACTED, AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT PROGRAM WOULD ALSO NOT SEE OR REACH AS MANY PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD.
>> THE THANK YOU. I'LL RESERVE MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERELIS AND I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND CELEBRATE WITH YOUR LAST BUDGET HEARING FOR NOW.
THESE FIRST FOUR QUESTIONS, CAN YOU PLEASE ANSWER YES OR NO AND THEN I'LL HAVE A MORE OPEN QUESTION. IS IT TRUE THAT DEO IS LEADING THE REVISION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TAX ABATEMENT POLICY FOR THE COUNTY?
>> YES. >> IS IT TRUE THAT DEO LEADS THE CONTRACTOR SAFETY PROTECTION POLICY?
>> IS IT TRUE THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS LEADS THE SCORECARD?
>> THE DOLLAR WILL IMPACT THAT MOSTLY IN THE AREA OF THE SCORECARD PROJECTS. I THINK FOR US WHAT IMPACTS THE MOST IS THAT THERE WAS NO AVAILABILITY FOR BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY TAKE -- EVERY YEAR, WE LOOK AT THE REQUEST AND THE COMMISSIONERS' EXPECTATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM AND WE KNOW THAT COSTS MONEY AND SO WE HOLD THAT. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT AND SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT INCLUDING THE SCORECARD, THE VETERANS' BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE WORK DONE.
>> THIS YEAR, WHAT'S MOST IMPACTFUL IS WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ANY BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. SO SOME OF THAT WORK WAS TIED DIRECTLY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FUNDING AND FOR EXAMPLE, THE SCORECARD BUDGET AND THE VETERANS PROGRAM IS PRIME TO CONTINUE. SO THAT WILL BE AN IMPACT.
>> THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE WE DISCUSSED THAT, OUR ABILITY TO HAVE MEMBERSHIPS AND PARTNER WITH CHAMBERS AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT VETERAN AND SMALL BUSINESSES. IS THAT IMPACTED?
>> YES, THAT WILL BE IMPACTED. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MANY MEMBERSHIP, AND I HAVE STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIRECTOR TO SEE HOW CREATIVE WE CAN GET, AND I WILL SAY NOW EXPECT A CALL FROM THEM TO SEE IF THE COURT OFFICES CAN JOIN SOME OF THOSE MEMBERSHIPS OR SHARE THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITH US BECAUSE THAT IS A WAY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH THOSE RESOURCES. I THINK, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES TO DO IT THAT WAY INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO DO IT INHOUSE AND OWN THE MEMBERSHIP, SO IT WILL JUST TAKE MORE TIME AND AGAIN, WHAT I WORRY ABOUT THE MOST IS THE STAFF WORKLOAD. SO HAVING TO TELL THE STAFF THAT YOU WORK DIFFERENTLY IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT AND WE WANT TO RENEW IT TO LESSEN THE IMPACT.
>> THIS IS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD. HAVING WORKED ON IT WITH YOU ALL, THE COURT STAFF FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE ON TRACK AND MANY ARE HEAD OF KPIS. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT
SUCCESS? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND THAT IS CORRECT.
THE 12 REMAINING PROGRAMS WITHIN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PORTFOLIO ARE CURRENTLY MEETING OR EXCEEDING ALL OF THEIR KPI TARGETS AND WE TRULY DEEM THATTHAT TO OUR TEAM. SO THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TREMENDOUSLY TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATIONS AND OVERSIGHT FOR THOSE PROGRAMS ARE BEING FACILITATED IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY AND ALSO IN AN EFFICIENT WAY SO THAT WE CAN UTILIZE AND MAXIMIZE THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TO
[02:20:02]
US. SO THOSE ARE THE WAYS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS, AND THEY ARE ON TRACK TO DATE.>> THANK YOU. LASTLY, SINCE WE ARE HANDING THIS OWN TO A NEW DIRECTOR WITH THIS BUDGET DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT DEO WAS NEVER FUNDED TO THE FULL LEVEL THAT WAS RECOMMENDED WHEN IT WAS NEWLY
ESTABLISHED. >> THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT HAS BEEN THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH TEMPORARY STAFF.
REALLY IMPORTANT, CRITICAL PROJECTS.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW. WE'VE DONE IT SINCE 2021.
IN FACT, ONE OF OUR LONGEST TEMP PERSON HAS BEEN SOMEONE WORKING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HELP THAT TEAM, BEEN WITH US SINCE 2021. MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT THAT YOU ALL KNOW AND WORK WITH IS FUNDED BY TEMP DOLLARS. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF ROLES THAT I BELIEVE NEED TO BE PERMANENTLY FUNDED FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR DEO.
PRECINCT 2, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> HELLO. I'M DESMOND SPENCER ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. DEO HAS A HUGE MANDATE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANTED TO PASS ALONG HIS THANKS. FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DEO'S BUDGET IS DIRECTED TO DIRECT SERVICES VERSUS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS? I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU, DESMOND. I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF US. THE LABOR IS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET AND THOSE ARE THE STAFF DOING THE DAY TO DAY WORK AND THAT'S ABOUT 90% OF THE BUDGET IS STAFF.
WHAT ARE SOME CORE KPIS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> SURE. SO WE HAVE KPIS THAT ARE FOR OUR GENERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS AND THEN KPIS THAT ARE OFFERED FOR THE FUNDED PROGRAMS AND SPECIFICALLY, SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED, FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT INCLUDES INQUIRIES THAT ARE TAKEN AND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT TAKES SUCH A LONG TIME TO CULTIVATE THOSE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE THEM COME TO FRUITION. THE FTC PAYMENTS D HOW MUCH OF THAT IS SOMETHING WE TRACK. THE MWB IS THE UTILIZATION NUMBERS AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SINCE THE DEPARTMENT WAS CREATED IN BOTH THOSE NUMBERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM TO IMPROVE THE REPORT YEAR OVER YEAR, AND IT HAS RICH INFORMATION.
I KNOW IT'S KIND OF LONG WHEN IT COMES TO YOU ALL AND JUST LOOK AT THE ONE-PAGER. THAT KPI TRACKS HOW THE COUNTY IS DOING WITH THE MWB DOLLARS, AWARDS AND SPENDS.
WORKFORCE IS THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICESHIPS THAT ARE SERVED AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND THE AMOUNT OF WAGES THAT THEY'RE GETTING, AS
WELL. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING AND TRACKING AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
MY FIRST IS A COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB IN A DIFFICULT DEPARTMENT. IT IS CHALLENGING TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE REALITIES OF HUMAN NATURE SO GOOD JOB.
FIRST QUESTION, WHAT IS THE PRIMARY MISSION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> OUR MISSION IS -- IS TO SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND EMPOWER THE RESIDENTS AND TO HAVE ECONOMIC RESILIENT HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR MISSION. >> SO HOW DOES EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE WAGE RATE COMPLIANCE MONITORING -- EXCUSE ME, AND OSHA'S SAFETY TRAINING FIT INTO THAT MISSION?
>> I WOULD SAY FOR US THE KIND OF THE STRING THAT HOLDS ALL THAT TOGETHER REALLY HAS TO DO WITH ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. FOR US, YOU KNOW, THE WAGE RATE COMPLIANCE, IT'S ABOUT WAGES THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE GETTING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING COMPLIANT WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARDS. THAT WORK IS STATUTERALLY MANDATED AND IT CAME TO US FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AND IT'S BURDEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH FOR CHILD CARE, IT'S HELPING THE PARENTS BE ABLE TO WORK AND GIVE TAXES TO THE COUNTY AND BE ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY CHILD CARE SO
[02:25:04]
THAT THEY CAN BE, YOU KNOW, ADDING TO THE HARRIS COUNTY'S ECONOMY.>> THANK YOU. IN REFERENCE TO ECI, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET DOES THAT DIRECTLY REPRESENT?
>> SO ECI IS -- THEIR PROGRAMS ARE 100% FLEX FUNDED, BUT WHEN THEY COUPLE OVER THAT DIDN'T HAVE DOLLARS AND WE HAD THREE PCNS THAT WERE FUNDED AND THEY'RE ABOUT 5% OF OUR BUDGET.
>> ONE FINAL QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE AN ARE A CURRENT BUDGET, AND ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH CUTTING COST?
>> LINE BY LINE, I AND ALEJANDRA AND SPESH SHOUT OUT TO ALE WHO -- WE WENT LINE BY LINE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE COULD OFFER FOR EFFICIENCIES. MY DIRECTIVE FOR DIRECTORS GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR IS TO DO WHAT THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. IN TALKING ALEJANDRA, WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET AND IT COULD BE VACANCY SAVINGS OR THE DOLLARS FROM REIMBURSEMENTS PAID TO US IN THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY, YES, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR DEO.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. WE WILL CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. COUNTY OFFICE, YOU HAVE 34 SECONDS REMAINING. LAST QUESTION.
YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STAFFING SHORTAGES AND IT'S A LITTLE STRETCHED THIN.
HOW WILL THE POTENTIAL HIRING FREEZE IMPACT YOUR OFFICE?
>> THE WE'VE HIRED THE POSITIONS AND GREAT RETENTION. FOR US, WHAT'S REALLY CHALLENGING IS THE EFFECTIVE DATE SO I JUST REVIEWED THAT, AND FOR US, WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE ONE OR TWO VACANCIES TO BE ABLE TO OFFER TO THE STAFF THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LAY OFF AND SO THAT WILL NOT LEAVE US TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF THE HIRING FREEZE IS IN EFFECT TO THE DATES POSTED AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.
YOU HAVE 18 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE HIRING FREEZE AND HOW IT BEING AFFECT THE NEW DIRECTOR?
>> WE ALSO DON'T HAVE MANY ON THE TABLE. WE HAVE THE TIMING IS CRITICAL TO GET RIGHT. SOME OF THE WE ACCEPTED START ON 22 SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT DATE. AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT ON STAFF AND HAVING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO ANOTHER POSITION THAT'S CURRENTLY OPEN, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 51 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> YES, THE BUDGET PROCESS IS TEDIOUS.
DO YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FUTURE
BUDGET MEETINGS? >> SUCH A TOUGH QUESTION.
I MIGHT GIVE THAT TO ALEJANDRA, MY BUDGET DIRECTOR.
I WILL SAY ONE FEEDBACK THAT I GAVE TO THE OFFICE IS JUST TO GIVE THE DIRECTORS MORE TIME. I UNDERSTAND THE DEADLINES ARE TOUGH, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING, BUT I THINK IF WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO SEE THINGS BEFORE THEY ARE PUBLISHED IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CATCH ANYTHING THAT WAS CONFUSING FOR OUR STAFF THIS YEAR.
>> WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE POLICY AS OF YET, BUT WE ARE GOING WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS ON OFFERS THAT ARE ALREADY SENT OUT SO WE CAN NOW FACILITATE THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET OUT OF HERE THAT IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE AND I'M DEEPLY SADDENED AND IT'S A HUGE LOSS FOR THIS COUNTY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE
REMEMBERED. >> GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.
THANK YOU, DANIEL. I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICERS. SO WITH THAT, DIRECTOR, YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> SO I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS TO PRIORITIZE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, MANY OF WHICH ARE REQUIRED. MY HOPE IS FOR THE NEXT
[02:30:01]
EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE AMAZING LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT THEY'RE GIVEN GRACE FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD THAT WILL HAVE TO TAKE PLACE AND FINALLY, I WANT TO END WITH A TESTIMONIAL WITH AN WMB FIRM OWNER WHICH I HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. HE STATE, MY NAME IS VLADIMIR NARANJO AND I SERVE ON THE REGIONAL HISS TANNIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. OUR VENDORS EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE DEAL DEALS DEO MAKE.THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF REACH, EXPAND RESOURCES AND PROVIDE GOOD PAYING JOBS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT COMPLIANCE. THEY ARE PATHWAYS FOR STABILITY AND FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITIES.
I AM A LIVING EXAMPLE. FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES OF HARRIS COUNTY.
HOWEVER, SINCE THE MWB PROGRAM, NOT ONLY MY COMPANY, BUT MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BENEFITED BY JOINING OTHER TEAMS ON LARGER BUDGETS AND IN SOME CASES WINNING BUDGETSES AS A PRIME.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS WE ASK THAT YOU STAND WITH US, STAND WITH SMALL, MINORITY AND WOMEN- OWNED CONTRACTORS BY CONTINUING TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR WORKERS SAFE, OUR BUSINESSES GROWING ANDAND BUSINESS STRONG. I ISE I DID NOT COACH HIM ON THAT AND THAT IS MY CLOSING STATEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE DEO DEPARTMENT. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER.
[Children's Assessment Center]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER. AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT THIS AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING PRESENTATION AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS PLATFORM TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS HARRIS COUNTY'S ONLY ADVOCACY CENTER FOR SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN. WE HAVE OVER 4,000 NEW CASES COMING THROUGH OUR DOOR EACH YEAR, AND WE KNOW WE ARE BARELY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.
OUR FUNCTIONS ARE STATUTORILY MANDATED AND CAN BE FOUND IN SECTION 264 OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE. WE DO OUR WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM COMPROMISED OF 60 PARTNER AGENCIES. I BELIEVE YOU ALL KNOW THAT WHAT OUR SPECIALIZED, HIGHLY TRAINED COLLISIONS DO FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE VICTIMS OF THE MOST UNTHINKABLE OF CRIMES IS PRICELESS, BUT AS YOU CONSIDER OUR BUDGET TODAY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER OTHER FACTORS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHILDREN WHO ENTER ADULTHOOD WITH UNRESOLVED TRAUMA ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER NEGATIVE OUTCOMES SUCH AS UNWANTED PREGNANCY, POVERTY, PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEM, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, DRUG ADDICTION AND ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ALL OF THESE THINGS RESULT IN RELIANCE ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS WHICH COST HARRIS COUNTY MONEY. WE ARE HERE TO INTERVENE TO HELP KIDS ENTER ADULTHOOD, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE AND WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO COPE WITH THEIR TRAUMA.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER IS NOT ONLY THE HUMANE THING TO DO BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, NO CHILD DESERVES TO BE THE VICTIM OF SUCH A VICIOUS CRIME, BUT WE ALSO ACTUALLY SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER. WE MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE SAFE BY ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS IN GETTING THE BAD GUYS OFF OF THE STREETS BY PROVIDING THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW AT THE ONSET OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, WE ARE PRESERVING THE CRUCIAL EVIDENCE SO THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN DO THEIR JOBS. WE ALL KNOW THAT COURT CAN BE A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE FOR ANYONE ESPECIALLY A CHILD. WE KNOW THE BACKLOG OF LATE MEANS A CASE MIGHT NOT BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. OUR CHILDREN'S COURT SERVICES DIVISION ASSIGNS AN ADVOCATE TO A CHILD AS SOON AS CHARGES ARE FILED. THEY LET THE FAMILY KNOW EVERY TIME THERE IS A COURT SETTING. THEY
[02:35:02]
LET THEM KNOW THE RESULTS OF ARE HEARINGS.THEY KEEP THEM POSTED ALL ALONG THE WAY.
WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR TRIAL THEY TAKE THE CHILD TO KORT COURT BEFOREHAND AND THEY SAY THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE SITTING, THIS IS WHERE THE JUDGE IS, THEY INTRODUCE THEM TO THE COURT AND TO THE PROCESS.
ON THE DAY OF TRIAL THAT COURT ADVOCATE WAITS WITH THEM ALL DAY WHILE THEY'RE WAITING WHICH RIGHT THERE IS ANXIETY PRODUCING AND SITS WITH THEM IN COURT WHERE THE CHILD CAN SEE THEM BECAUSE MANY TIMES THE CAREGIVER CANNOT BE IN COURT WITH THAT CHILD, BUT GUESS WHAT? THE BAD GUY IS THERE, SO HOW SCARY IS THAT? THAT COURT ADVOCATE IS IN COURT.
WITHOUT THESE COMPASSIONATE, HARDWORKING ADVOCATES MANY FAMILIES WOULD DISENGAGE AND WOULD NOT SHOW UP ON TRIAL DAY AND DEFENDANTS WOULD WALK FREE
TO PERPETRATE AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS CAN YOU SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THE SERVICE AT THE CHILDREN'S, ASSESSMENT CENTER. I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE ROB ROB SANCHEZ. I APPRECIATE THE HARD JOB YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THE BUDGET IS TIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CUT IS SOME OF THE -- WELL, SOME OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE WE ARE CONSIDERING CANCELING OUR NIGHT SECURITY. OFFERS HOURS ARE TRADITIONALLY THOSE DAYTIME HOURS AND SOMETIMES CASES DO HAPPEN IN THE EVENINGS AND WE DO HAVE THERAPY THAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENINGS AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT OUR CLIENTS TO BE SAFE.
WE WANT OUR STAFF TO BE SAFE. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT CUT. JANITORIAL SERVICES, OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO KEEP THE BUILDING CLEAN AND THE EXTRA DEEP CLEANINGS.
EVERYTHING WE DO THERE IS PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS.
SO WHEN A CHILD GRADUATES FROM THERAPY WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE THRIVING FOR, RIGHT? IT'S EMPOWERING IMPORTANT MOMENTS AND WE HAVE A GRADUATION PARTY.
WE BUY THEM A LITTLE GIFT AND WE HAVE SNACKS. THOSE THINGS COST MONEY. .
WE HAVE PARTICULARLY TWO CHILDREN'S PARTIES A YEAR.
WE HAVE A BACK-TO- SCHOOL PARTY WHERE WE DO BACKPACK STUFF IN ADVANCE AND HAND OUT BACKPACKS FULL OF SUPPLIES.
THE WHOLE FAMILY COMES BECAUSE CHILD ABUSE DOES AFFECT THE WHOLE FAMILY AND WHEN YOU GO TO THOSE PARTIES YOU SEE THOSE KIDS RUNG AROUND RUNNING AROUND HAVING A DAY OF NORMALCY. YOU THINK THIS IS A FUN EXTRA.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. THIS IS PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS RETURN THEIR LIVES TO NORMALCY. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE A HOLIDAY PARTY, THE COMMUNITY DONATES TOYS AND WE HAVE A PARTY.
KIDS COME, FAMILIES COME, WE DO FUN THINGS, FACE PAINT AND CHILDREN GET GIFTS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES A DRIVE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING A TOY DRIVE FOR 32 YEARS AND EVERY YEAR THEY COME DROP OFF THE TOYS THE SHERIFF HIMSELF. DIFFERENT SHERIFFS THROUGH THE YEARS COME DROP OFF THE TOYS AND IT'S JUST LIKE AGAIN, IT'S NOT A PARTY.
IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO HELP HEAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND WE'D
HATE TO SEE THOSE THINGS GO. >> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW HIRING AND RETENTION HAS GONE AND WITH THE FREEZE?
>> RETENTION IS ALWAYS A BIT CHALLENGING FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF OUR STAFF ARE MASTS ARE- LEVEL CLINICIANS AND LICENSURE, AND THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY AT A HOSPITAL.
THEY CAN WORK FROM HOME WHEN THEY GO INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE. SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO US BECAUSE WE DO CONSIDER OURSELVES A LEARNING FACILITY AND A TEACHING FACILITY AND IT'S VERY NUANCED AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT ONCE THEY DO GET SOME EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR BELT IT'S OFTEN ATTRACTIVE TO THEM TO GO ON AND MAKE MORE MONEY. SO WE DO HAVE SOME REAL TENURED STAFF THAT HAS BEEN THERE A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ARE MISSION DRIVEN AND THEY'RE NOT THERE FOR THE MONEY, BUT FOR THE MISSION, BUT THAT IS ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES, AND YOU KNOW, CONTINUITY IS SO IMPORTANT. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT A HIRING FREEZE AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT A THERAPIST LEAVING US AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE A CHILD WITH THE THERAPIST TO PECK UP WHERE THE OTHER ONE LEFT OFF IS SCARY.
ONE FINAL QUESTION. CAN YOU DISCUSS WHETHER THERE ARE RECENT CHANGES IN LEGISLATION THAT YOU THINK WILL IMPACT YOUR DEPARTMENT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY?
>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE. I'M TRYING TO THINK.
[02:40:03]
SORRY. NOTHING THAT'S COMING TO MIND RIGHT AWAY.THERE ARE ALWAYS THING, BUT -- YEAH.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. QUESTION REGARDING, WHAT ABOUT ON THE GRANT SIDE, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, IN THE FISCAL YEAR AHEAD AND THE LOSS OF REVENUE STREAMS, GIVEN CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL OR STATE LEVEL OR EVEN LOCAL?
>> YEAH. SO I THINK THE STATE LEGISLATURE JUST OCCURRED AND WE HAVE SECURED FUNDING FROM THE STATE FOR THE NEXT SESSION. ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, WE'VE GOT THAT SECURED FOR AT LEAST THIS YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, THAT FUNDING HAS GONE THROUGH SOME CHANGES VERY RECENTLY. SO WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON THAT, BUT WE ALSO WITH THE CAC, WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A PRIVATE FOUNDATION SO WE CAN GO GET PRIVATE MONEY AND PRIVATE GRANTS TO TRY TO SUPPLEMENT THAT. THAT'S A MUCH SMALLER PIECE OF WHO WE ARE, SO IF WE WERE TO ONE DAY LOSE THAT FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY BIG IMPACT FOR US, BUT WE TEND TO LOOK A YEAR OR TWO OUT BETWEEN THE COUNTY FUNDING AND THE CAC FOUNDATION FUNDING, BUT THAT'S HOW FAR I COULD GIVE YOU ASSURANCE ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
FOR THE STATE SIDE WE'RE PROBABLY TWO YEARS.
ON THE FEDERAL SIDE I THINK WE'RE TAKING IT YEAR BY YEAR. SO WE'RE GOOD FOR FUNDING FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO ASSESS IT COME THE NEXT TIME THE FEDERAL MONEY COMES THROUGH.
>> AND AS A FOLLOW- UP, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE IF THAT FUNDING WERE NOT THERE.
>> YEAH. SO ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, EACH YEAR WE GET ABOUT 2.4 MILLION SOSO TOTAL FOUNDATION BUDGET IS RIGHT AROUND $10 MILLION ON THE FOUNDATION SIDE. 2.4, SO THAT'S 25% OF -- OF THAT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, WE GENERATE RIGHT AROUND $2 MILLION ON THE PRIVATE SIDE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE THE PRIVATE FOUNDATION GIVING WITH THE SMALL TEAM THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT FEDERAL BUDGET AND THAT FEDERAL MONEY, THAT VOCA MONEY THAT PAYS FOR THERAPISTS AND THAT PAYS FOR INTERVIEWERS AND PAYS FOR PROGRAMATTIC POSITIONS. THAT IS NOT FUNDING ACCOUNTING AND FACILITY PEOPLE. THAT IS FUNDING PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, YEAH, IT WOULD BE A BIG IMPACT FOR US IF THAT WERE TO EITHER BE REDUCED OR TAKEN AWAY.
IT HAS BEEN REDUCED IN THE PAST, BUT THROUGH THE STATE -- THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS MADE UP FOR SOME OF THOSE REDUCTIONS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT THEY'VE BEEN SMALL PIECES.
THIS THOUGHT OF ALL OF THAT GOING AWAY WOULD BE TOUGH.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU SPOKE ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS THE LABOR COST AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND I WONDER IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE.
COULD YOU SPECK A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT STAFF, PROGRAM OUTCOMES, YOU KNOW? DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS THERE --
>> I MEAN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ALL THE PROGRAMS, LIKE I SAID, THE GRADUATION FOR THE KIDS IS PART OF THE PROGRAM AND WE WOULD HATE TO ELIMINATE THAT.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, AS YOU SAID, NON- LABOR AND WE DO CONSIDER THOSE EXTRAS THAT WE DO FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER THING I DIDN'T MENTION EARLIER OR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTRICT IS TRAVEL.
SO WE -- IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR CLINICIANS IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALL OF OUR STAFF IS TRAINED, AND WE HAVE LICENSES TO MAINTAIN AND AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HARD TO FIND A SPECIALIST IN CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND WE ARE ACCREDITED TO THE ACAS OF TEXAS, AND WE THRIVE -- WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HONESTLY BEING THE BEST IN THE NATION AND PART OF OF THAT IS KEEPING OUR STAFF HIGHLY TRAINED. WE'D HATE TO SEE OUR ABILITY TO TRAVEL MINIMIZED. WE ALSO ARE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE FIELD. SO WE GO SPEAK AT TIMES AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, COUNTY BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES US TO TRAVEL WOULD BE RESTRICTED. SO IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'D HAVE TO REDUCE.
>> WE RESERVE OUR TIME. ? THANK YOU.
[02:45:01]
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> HI. I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAY THANKING YOU FOR THE CRITICAL WORK YOU DO.
ARE THERE ANY PERFORMANCE METRICS OR OUTCOMES YOU CAN MONITOR SO THEY DIFFERENT HINDER THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CAC, AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD THEY ENTAIL?
>> YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR EYE ON, AND SO YOU TALK ABOUT OUR OFFSETS WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY, AS CARRIE HAS MENTIONED GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE.
THE THING THAT'S MOST CONCERNING TO US BECAUSE MOST OF OUR BUSINESS IS PEOPLE. 85% TO 90% OF THE BUDGET WITH THE COUNTY IS PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE HIRING FREEZE IS A BIT MORE OF OF A CONCERN TO US BECAUSE OF THAT INTERACTION. SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THINGS LIKE INTAKE. HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE COMING THROUGH OUR FRONT DOOR. WE'LL BE MONITORING THINGS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE, WE HAVE GRADUATION.
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE GRADUATING THROUGH PHASES OF THERAPY AND GETTING THROUGH OUR SYSTEM? WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP CALLED THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT GROUP WHICH SORT OF BRIDGES BETWEEN FORENSIC AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WE HAVE A KPI THAT MEASURES THE CONVERSION RATE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR THAT ACTUALLY STAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THAT'S A SUPER IMPORTANT RATE FOR US BECAUSE THE INITIAL PART MAY BE BECAUSE BECAUSE THERE IS A CASE TO BE MANAGED, BUT FOR THEM TO STAY AND RESEVE RECEIVE THAT HEALING LONG TERM. SOMETIMES, EACH THOUGH OUR SERVICE IS FREE, THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS.
TRANSPORTATION, JUST UNCERTAINTY AND UNKNOWN AND LACK OF EDUCATION AROUND IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH THAT THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DON'T STRIKE WITH IT. IT'S THOSE PIECES THAT SEEM SMALL, BUT THEY KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED AND THEY KEEP FAMILIES ENGAGED AND CHILDREN ENGAGED IN THE SYSTEM SO THEY CAN RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.
IT'S THOSE OUTCOME MESH THAURS WE'LL BE KEYING IN ON AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
>> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS GIVEN THAT OVER 65% OF PRECINCT 2'S POPULATION IS HISPANIC, WILL ANY OF THE PROPOSED CUTS AFFECT THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCESSIBLE SERVICES SUCH AS THERAPY PROVIDED IN SPANISH?
>> MY SHORT ANSWER IS NO UNLESS OUR SPANISH- SPEAKING FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS OR THERAPISTS OR FAMILY ADVOCATES WERE TO LEAVE AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THEM.
>> THANK YOU. AND MY FINAL QUESTION IS I WAS WONDERING IF YOU GUYS COULD EXPAND ON YOUR TOP BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND EXPLAIN HOW THEY ALIGN WITH YOUR LONG- TERM GOALS AT THE
I THINK YOU AND I CHATTED ABOUT THIS A BIT. THE GOAL FOR US, WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE. ONE OF THEM IS INTAKE. HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE FINDING US? SO THE ONE MEASURE WE HAVE IS JUST EDUCATION, EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 30,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN LAST YEAR. AND WE'RE TRAINING THEM ON -- ON HOW TO BE AWARE, HOW TO BE INDEPENDENT AND HOW TO HAVE BODY AUTONOMY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT DO AND IT'S REALLY AWARENESS AROUND SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THAT, RIGHT? SO THAT IS AN OUTCOME THAT WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO IMPACT WHICH IS THIS ISSUE WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, RIGHT? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW 4,000 CHILDREN SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, THAT'S A FRACTION OF HOW MANY THIS HAS OCCURRED AND HOW MANY KIDS AND FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS, RIGHT? SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AND IT'S JUST ACCESSIBILITY, RIGHT? WE HAVE ONE LOCATION IN WRIGHT'S VILLAGE WHICH IS CENTER TO THE HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY IS QUITE A BIG COUNTY.
WE WANT TO INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION. WE WANT TO INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, ACCESSIBILITY IS NUMBER TWO AND THE THIRD THING AS I MENTIONED TO YOU IS THE CONVERSION RATE. WE REALLY, REALLY, YOU COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND YES, EVERYBODY WANTS TO CATCH THE BAD PERSON AND HAVE THE CASE DONE AND EVERYBODY PATS THEMSELVES ON THE BACK, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT TRAUMA STAYS WITH THAT CHILD AND WITH THAT AND WITH THAT FAMILY AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY WITH US TO CONTINUE TO GET THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO IMPACT NEXT YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. QUESTION.
YOU'RE A COUNTYWIDE AGENCY, AND THERE ARE
[02:50:02]
APPROXIMATELY 41 CITIES WITHIN HARRISHARRIS COUNTY.DO YOU RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT FROM ANY OF THE CITIES, BUDGET-WISE?
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TO DO THAT? POTENTIAL FINDINGS, SOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS?
>> YEAH, SO, I THINK IT'S -- SO, THE ANSWER IS, FROM A FUND-RAISING STANDPOINT, GOING TO PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN US, BUT IN THE FAMILY CODE, WE ARE SET AS AN ADVOCACY CENTER BY COUNTY.
SO, IT SAYS THAT EACH COUNTY IN TEXAS SHALL HAVE THIS ADVOCACY CENTER. SO, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A, IN MY UNDERSTANDING, A COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ON THIS WORK. BUT I WOULD HAVE NO ISSUE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PLACES THAT WE'RE HELPING THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND WE'RE HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR FUNDING MAY BENEFIT US AND THUS BENEFIT THEM.
>> OKAY. WHAT ABOUT POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH HARRIS HEALTH? HARRIS CENTER?
>> WE HAVE TALKED TO ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE TALKED TO, I THINK, BOTH OF THEM. ROB MENTIONED THE IDEA THAT WE ARE A CENTRALLY LOCATED CENTER THAT SERVES ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY AND FOR SOME OF OUR CLIENTS, THAT'S JUST A BARRIER TO COMING FOR SERVICES. SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SERV COUNTY BUT THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.
SO, WE ARE IN THE EXPLORATION PHASE RIGHT NOW.
MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE PAUSE BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, DO WE BUILD SOMETHING? DO WE BUY SOMETHING AND REMODEL IT? WHAT DO WE DO? BUT WE HAVE TALKED TO ALL OF THEM ABOUT, HEY, WHAT BUILDINGS DO YOU HAVE THAT MAYBE WE COULD LEASE OR CO- LOCATE A LITTLE CORNER TO PROVIDE OUR SERVICES IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS? WE HAD ONE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION RECENTLY WITH HARRIS HEALTH. THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW CENTER.
A NEW CAMPUS. BUT IT'S A FEW YEARS OUT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE NEED'S A LITTLE MORE URGENT. ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO CONSIDER WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CO- LOCATING IS SOME REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, LIKE, OUR CLIENTS ARE GOING TO NEED THEIR OWN ENTRANCE.
THESE KIND OF THINGS. SO, IF WE GO TO A CAMPUS WHERE, IN THE NEXT BUILDING, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME SORT OF PROBATION MEETING OR SOMETHING, THAT MIGHT NOT BE A MIX FOR US. SO, IT'S COMPLICATED. BUT WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY TALKED ABOUT PARTNERING WITH THEM FOR THOSE KIND OF THINGS. LEAH BARTON REACHED OUT TO ME YESTERDAY. I SAID, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING APPOINTED, FINALLY, AND SHE SAID, HOW CAN WE PARTNER? I SAID, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A MEETING.
WE WORKED IN THE PAST WITH -- I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK BOTH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS HEALTH, ABOUT POSSIBLY SHARING TECHNOLOGY.
SO, THEY'RE ALL ON EPIC. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. IT'S RECORD -- PAPERLESS RECORD MANAGEMENT.
WE TALKED ABOUT PARTNERING IN THAT WAY.
SO, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF WAYS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
HOW CAN THE COURT OFFICES SUPPORT YOUR PROGRAM?
>> YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE. WE FEEL SO BLESSED. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHEN WE ASK FOR SOMETHING, HE COMES, AND HE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE. SO, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WITH THESE -- WITH THE BUDGET FREEZE COMING, I BEG THAT YOU CONSIDER MAKING OUR DEPARTMENT EXEMPT.
WE HAVE, DURING COVID, WE WERE DEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
TO BE FRANK, WE'VE ALWAYS OPERATED VERY LEANLY.
WE COULD COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, 15 MORE EMPLOYEES, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET, AND WE DID NOT DO THAT. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANYBODY. AND EVEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOST SIMPLE OF TASKS, LIKE THE PERSON IN THE FRONT DESK, I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR CENTER, A CAREGIVER HAS JUST LEARNED THE MOST HORRIFIC THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR CHILD. THEY ARE IN HIGH ANXIETY, AND TO COME TO OUR CENTER AND NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO GREET THEM. TO COME TO OUR CENTER AND HAVE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN INTAKE CLERK IS ANXIETY-PRODUCING.
SO, I AM TELLING YOU, EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE AT THE CAC IS ESSENTIAL. AND I JUST CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE DOING WITHOUT ANY OF THEM.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS HIRING FREEZE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER MAKING OUR DEPARTMENT EXEMPT.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
[02:55:01]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND ALL THE INVALUABLE WORK YOU DO.
>> I WANTED TO ASK HOW TRANSFERRING ARPA-FUNDED STAFF VIA THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER WILL HELP YOU ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CRITICAL
SERVICES. >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.
THE ARPA FUNDS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO TRANSITION, TWO OF THEM ARE IN OUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
TRAINING IS SO ESSENTIAL. ROB MENTIONED IT, BUT WE GO INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE TRAIN ADULTS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
CAMP COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, ANYBODY THAT ENCOUNTERS A CHILD. AND REALLY, THAT'S ALL OF US, RIGHT? WE ALL HAVE NEIGHBORS AND CHILDREN IN OUR LIVES. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE ADULTS KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT.
WHAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, THOUGH, IS THOSE KIDS.
SO, WE GO INTO SCHOOLS AND TRAIN.
ROB MENTIONED 30,000. IS THAT THE ACCURATE NUMBER? THAT'S KAREN'S DEPARTMENT OVER THERE.
WE GO TEACH THEM ABOUT SAFETY. SAFETY.
SO, IT'S NOT SEX EDUCATION. IT'S SAFETY.
OUR CURRICULUM IS CALLED CHILD SAFETY MATTERS AND IT'S GOT A DIFFERENT CURRICULUM FOR THE YOUNG ONES, A LITTLE BIT OLDER, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE CONTENT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. ABUSE CAN BE AVOIDED WITH TRAINING. THAT'S HUGE.
THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE NOT GETTING IN FRONT OF 100% OF HARRIS COUNTY'S CHILDREN.
SO, I WOULD HATE TO -- WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THANK YOU TO THE ARPA FUNDS THAT DID HELP US DOUBLE THAT DEPARTMENT. BUT I WANT TO PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE WERE PUT INTO BUSINESS TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED. BUT GUESS WHAT? LET'S HAVE LESS OF THEM. SO, THIS IS REALLY, I THINK, THE KEY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT'S GOING UPSTREAM, PLAYING THE LONG GAME, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT. IF WE PREVENT ONE KID FROM BEING ABUSED, IT'S WORTH IT. THE OTHER TWO ARPA POSITIONS ARE -- I'M JUST DRAWING A BLANK.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER TWO ARPA POSITIONS ARE CLINICIANS IN OUR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT GROUP, AND SO THAT GROUP WAS ACTUALLY, I GIVE ARPA, REALLY, MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR GETTING IT STARTED.
ARPA INVESTED IN THAT GROUP, AND WE GOT THAT GROUP STARTED BECAUSE OF ARPA FUNDING AND THEN NOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DOUBLE THAT GROUP WITH OUR OWN FUNDING, BECAUSE ARPA WAS PROOF OF CONCEPT. THE ONE THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT ARPA IS WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING AWAY RIGHT WHEN WE GOT IT.
WE'VE BEEN KING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS TO SECURE THIS FUNDING AND WE HAVE THE FUNDING READY TO GO FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS FOR THESE POSITIONS. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND ALL THIS IS, THAT YOU SEE ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER, IS US JUST MOVING ITS TO THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WILL THEN GET FUNDED BY OUR FOUNDATION AND PRIVATE FUNDING.
>> THAT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE. I THINK IT DESERVED A HIGHLIGHT, FRANKLY. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, BUT THE MAJOR CHANGE WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES NOW BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPUTER PURCHASES, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY HICCUPS, GIVEN THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS WITH
Y'ALL'S TECHNOLOGY? >> NO, I DON'T ANTICIPATE -- IT'S GOING TO BE NEW FOR US. BUT I'LL BE FRANK WITH YOU.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION AS WELL.
THIS BELONGS WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES. IT BELONGS. IT NEEDS TO BE STANDARDIZED ACROSS THE COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN TO US ON A SPECIFIC COMPUTER-BY- COMPUTER LEVEL. THERE IS CERTAIN TECHNOLOGY THAT, YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT WE REQUIRE AROUND FORENSIC INTERVIEWING. WE USUALLY BUY THAT SPECIFIC BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF STANDARDIZED IN OUR BUSINESS TO HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY AROUND THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TECHNOLOGY AROUND OUR MEDICAL GROUP, BUT WE OUTSOURCE THAT TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S, SO THEY TELL US WHAT TECHNOLOGY THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT WORK, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT -- IT'S THE SAME TECHNOLOGY THEY HAVE IN THEIR TRAUMA ROOM IN THEIR HOSPITAL. SO, I THINK IT'LL BE GOOD FOR US, BUT YOU KNOW, TIME WILL TELL WHEN WE SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
>> OKAY. EXCELLENT. AND MY COLLEAGUES ASKED MOST OF MY REMAINING QUESTIONS, SO I'LL FINALIZE THERE.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. WE WILL CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING÷÷REMAINING TIME. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAD 52 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> I HAVE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD 22 SECONDS
REMAINING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> PRECINCT 2, YOU HAD 20 SECONDS
REMAINING. >> NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
>> PRECINCT 3, YOU HAD 4 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> THANK YOU. PRECINCT 4, YOU HAVE 47 SECONDS REMAINING.
>> JUST THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
COURT OFFICES. AND WITH THAT, DIRECTOR, YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING
REMARKS. >> OKAY, I DIDN'T SPEND A LOT
[03:00:01]
OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO.MOST OF YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO. IT'S COMPLICATED.
IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED OUR CENTER, WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND SEE WHAT WE DO. THE HEALING STARTS THE SECOND A FAMILY WALKS IN THE DOOR. WE HAVE A STAFF OF ABOUT 120, AND THEY ARE THE MOST COMPASSIONATE, DEDICATED PEOPLE YOU WILL EVER MEET, DOING THE HARDEST WORK YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE. TALKING TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY SEXUAL ABUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE PRESERVE OUR STAFF, THAT WE DON'T OVERWORK THEM AND HAVE THEM BE -- GET BURNT OUT, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, VICARIOUS TRAUMA IS REAL. A CHILD, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT'S BEEN A VICTIM OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE -- AND TO BE HONEST, IT'S NOT JUST THE CHILD. IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY, AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER, WE DON'T ONLY OFFER OF THE CHILD, BUT TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE OFFER ADVOCACY SERVICES AND THERAPY SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAL THE WHOLE FAMILY.
BUT THE -- YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT CHANGES A LIFE, THE FAMILY, IS JUST -- I CAN'T SAY IT IN THREE MINUTES.
I LIKE TO SAY SOME PEOPLE THINK OF OUR CENTER AS A PLACE OF SADNESS, BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S A PLACE OF JOY. IT'S A PLACE OF HOPE. IT'S A PLACE OF HEALING.
AND I LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S HEALING IN ACTION BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS YOUNG PEOPLE COMING FOR THEIR SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH APPOINTMENT, WALKING IN THE DOOR, SEEING ONE OF OUR STAFF AND, LIKE, HEY! NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. SO, THEY ACTUALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.
AND YOU KNOW, I CALL THAT HEALING IN ACTION.
SO, IT'S WORKING. WE GET LETTERS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE GRADUATED OUR PROGRAM, LIKE, OH MY GOSH, NOW I'M IN COLLEGE AND GETTING A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE MYSELF AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN THEIR REWARD COMES.
AGAIN, THOSE HOLIDAY PARTIES AND ANYONE CAN COME AND VOLUNTEER. AGAIN, YOU SEE THAT HEALING IN ACTION. SO, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID -- HAVE DONE. I KNOW IT WAS A HARD YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND TO THE ENTIRE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
[Library ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT THIS AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING REMARKS AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. WHEN YOU'RE READY, DIRECTOR.
>> EDWARD MELTON, LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. ALSO WITH ME IS MY DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, DAISY TORRES.
HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, OUR MISSION IS ENRICHING LIVES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY, AND OUR TOP STRATEGIC PRIORITY AS A COMMUNITY IS LEARNING, LITERACY, ACCESS TO SUSTAINABILITY.
A BUDGET IMPACT -- THE PROPOSED BUDGET IMPACT IS A TOTAL OF $1.2 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES $700,000 IN LABOR, WHICH EQUALS OUT TO 11 FTE, $300,000 IN COLLECTIONS AND MATERIALS, $200,000 IN I.T. SERVICES.
WITH THAT, THERE WILL BE A MODERATE IMPACT TO OUR SERVICES, BUT NOTHING THAT WE CAN'T MANAGE. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THE BUDGET HEARING IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A YEARLONG HIRING FREEZE, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN TERMS OF OUR HOURS AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
AND WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MELTON.
EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 1.
>> HI. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.
IT'S SO IMPACTFUL IN OUR LIBRARIES, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU MENTIONED THE HIRING FREEZE. I'D LIKE TO START THERE.
IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT OUR RESIDENTS WILL SEE WITH A HIRING FREEZE.
>> SO, COUPLE OF IMPACTS THAT A HIRING FREEZE WOULD DO IS TWOFOLD. IT'S THE STAFFING, AND IT'S ALSO THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT.
TYPICALLY, WITH THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT, WE USE OUR
[03:05:03]
SALARY SAVINGS IN ORDER TO HELP OFFSET OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, AND SO WITH THAT, WITH THE HIRING FREEZE, IF THAT FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEN WE WON'T HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUNDING TO SHORE UP OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT BUDGET. SO, BACK IN 2024, WE HAD AN OFFSET WHERE WE HAD $1.2 MILLION THAT WAS OFFSET IN OUR BUDGET, BUT WE RECOUPED THAT FUNDING THROUGH OUR SALARY SAVINGS, AND SO SINCE THEN, AND EVEN BEFORE THEN, WE TRADITIONALLY DID THAT. ANYTHING WE HAD IN OUR SALARY SAVINGS, WE WOULD ROLL IT OVER SO OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT COULD SHORE UP THAT BUDGET.JUST TO SAY WITH OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST COLLECTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTRY, WITHIN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF OUR DIGITAL COLLECTION, AND SO WITH THAT, IT DOES IMPACT -- THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPACTS OF THE HIRING FREEZE.
AND THEN, ALSO, IN TERMS OF THE STAFFING, THAT IMPACT IS THAT IF WE DON'T HIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POSITIONS, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME BRANCHES HAVE MAYBE FIVE STAFF. AND IF YOU REDUCED TWO -- ONE OR TWO STAFF, THAT BRANCH MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN TERMS OF HOURS AND SERVICES. AND SO, THAT'S THE IMPACT WE SEE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET AND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE WORKING ON A PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN REQUEST FOR POSITIONS TO BE BACKFILLED SO IF THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE, I THINK THAT WE COULD WORK THROUGH THAT IN TERMS OF OUR
DEPARTMENT. >> YOU TOUCHED ON TWO OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, ONE BEING THAT DURING THE TIME OF DISASTERS, THE LIBRARIES ARE OFTEN A SOURCE OF A SAFE PLACE.
THEY'RE WARMING CENTERS OR COOLING CENTERS, AND THEY'RE A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO, SO I'M WONDERING IF THOSE STAFF IMPACTS WOULD AFFECT THE ABILITY TO STAFF THOSE LOCATIONS DURING WEATHER- RELATED DISASTERS.
>> IT POSSIBLY COULD, BUT REALLY, WE ABSORB THAT IMPACT DURING, SAY, THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S COOLING CENTERS BECAUSE WHAT WE DO IS WE ALLOW STAFF TO EARN COMP TIME, SO IT KIND OF -- IT'S NOT -- WOULDN'T IMPACT US IN A MAJOR WAY, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, THEN THAT'S WHERE THE IMPACT MAY BE.
>> THANK YOU. AND THEN YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN THE COLLECTION MATERIALS. I KNOW THERE'S A $300,000 PROPOSED OFFSET. COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT HOW THAT COULD LEAD TO LONGER WAIT TIMES AND LESS SERVICES
OVERALL. >> WITH THE COLLECTION OF -- LET ME BE CLEAR. WITH THE $300,000 REDUCTION, THAT'S REALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE REDUCING THINGS LIKE SOME OF THE DATABASES WE MAY SEE REDUCTIONS, WHERE WE MAYBE SEE REDUNDANCY FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, TSLAC, THE TEXAS STATE LABOR AND ARCHIVE COMMISSION, THEY PROVIDE US WITH CERTAIN RESOURCES, AND SO WE REALLY LOOKED AT WHAT THEY PROVIDED, SEE WHAT OVERLAPPED WITH US AND REDUCED SOME OF THE RESOURCES, THE ONLINE RESOURCES DATABASE WE HAVE THAT WAS OVERLAPPING. ALSO WORKING WITH THE HANESWORTH LAW LIBRARY WHERE WE HAD SOME SOME DATABASES. WE LOOKED AT WHAT THEY PROVIDE AND WHAT WE PROVIDE AND WHAT THE STATE PROVIDES AND DECIDED WHAT WE COULD REDUCE THEN. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE DO HAVE DATABASES AND SERVICES THAT HELP US TO BE ABLE TO SELECT MATERIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO WE'RE OFFSETTING THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND THAT JUST MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE MANUAL RESEARCH IN TERMS OF SOME OF THAT SELECTION AND COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
THANK YOU. MY LAST QUESTION WILL BE, ARE THERE ANY PROGRAMS OR SERVICES MOST AT RISK OF REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION DUE TO THE CURRENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS? SPECIFICALLY, WILL LIBRARY HOURS BE REDUCED?
>> NO. AT THIS TIME, WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL, LIBRARY SERVICE HOURS WILL NOT BE
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MELTON, HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL YOUR WORK HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. DESMOND SPENCER HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION, IF YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT THERE WOULD BE NO HOUR REDUCTIONS WITH THIS BUDGET YEAR, BUT YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, SO SO MUCH. I GUESS WHAT I CAN ALSO ASK IS, CAN YOU DESCRIBE IF YOU HAVE HAD INTERACTION OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS BUDGET YEAR? OUR OFFICES RECEIVED A LOT OF COMMENTS, AND I'M SURE OTHER COURT OFFICES HAVE, SO I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC?
>> WHEN THE COMMUNITY STARTED HEARING THE LIBRARY MAY HAVE A 10% REDUCTION OR 7% REDUCTION, WE STARTED HEARING A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THEM SAY, WE DON'T WANT THE HOURS REDUCED. WE DON'T WANT SERVICES TO BE REDUCED. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAVE, SO THAT'S WHAT THE MAIN THINGS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THINGS -- THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THE LIBRARY IN THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH, THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE.
DO YOU THINK YOU'VE -- CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY OTHER TIME WHERE YOU HAVE HAD SO MANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BUDGET? OR IS IT JUST LIKE A FISCAL YEAR 2025 SPECIFIC?
>> I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY'S JUST PAYING
[03:10:01]
ATTENTION. IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHAT'S THE POSSIBLE IMPACT IN TERMS OF SERVICES THEY USE, IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY AND WITH THAT, THEY WANT -- THEY'RE VOCAL IN PARTICIPATING IN EXPRESSING WHAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.>> ABSOLUTELY. APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION, CAN YOU DEFINE ANY KPIS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS MONITORING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FOR 2025?
>> SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE TYPICAL KPIS WE MONITOR, LIKE DOOR COUNT, HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS, HOW MANY PROGRAMS WE OFFER.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR SOMETIMES IS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T READING ANYMORE. SO, SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD OVER 7 MILLION MINUTES TO BE READ BY THE COMMUNITY.
HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL WAS 5 MILLION. SO, WE EXCEEDED THAT GOAL IN TERMS OF ABOUT 2 MILLION. SO, PEOPLE ARE STILL READING.
SO, THEY'RE COMING IN DOORS IN TERMS OF OUR PROGRAMMING AND UTILIZING OUR SERVICES. AND EVEN WITH OUR PROGRAMMING, WE HAVE HAD, DURING THE SUMMER, WE HAD OVER -- OH, I HAD THAT NOTE. I'M SORRY.
DURING THE SUMMER, WE HAD OVER -- OVER 3,000 PROGRAMS AND OVER 85,000 PEOPLE TO TAENLD.
ATTEND. SO, PEOPLE ARE COMING IN OUR DOORS, UTILIZING OUR SERVICES, AND THE SUMMER WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE BEING HEAVILY USED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFO.
AGAIN, FOR ALL THOSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING TO THE PUBLIC.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I WANT TO KNOW.
YOU MENTIONED THE OFFSETS, MAINLY DUE TO DUPLICATION OR REDUNDANCIES SO YOU GUYS FOUND WAYS TO MAYBE CONSOLIDATE WITH TESLAC OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ARE THERE ANY AVENUES, WHETHER THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS OR THROUGH THE STATE, THAT YOU CAN IMPROVE ENHANCEMENTS OR ADD TO THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE?
>> SO, WE DO LEVERAGE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO HAVE A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT GOES OUT AND SEEKS GRANT FUNDING, AND SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT WHERE WE HAD A GRANT FOR $3 MILLION OVER A 3- YEAR PERIOD.
WE HAVE ALSO HAD -- WE CURRENTLY HAVE A GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR $500,000 WITH THE MCARTHUR FOUNDATION, IN ORDER TO ENHANCE ESL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THE BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LOCAL PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE HERE. THEY FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OUR CURIOSITY CRUISERS, AND THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR FAMILY- PLACED LIBRARIES THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE PLACES WITHIN EVERY ONE OF OUR LIBRARIES FOR CHILDREN TO INTERACT AND SOCIALIZE. AND THEN WE HAVE WORKSHOPS FOR THE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS FOR THAT.
SO, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF OUR BIG PARTNERS THAT WE UTILIZE, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS, ACTUALLY, SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS. WE ALSO JUST APPLIED FOR $250,000 FOR THE WI- FI GRANT FROM TESLAC.
WITH THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERING SERVICES, THEY ALSO CONTACTED AND FOLLOWED UP WITH US IN TERMS OF POSSIBLY INCREASING THAT AMOUNT. WE'RE WAITING, POSSIBLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR TRUE AMOUNT WE WILL BE AWARDED, BUT THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF TRYING TO INCREASE OUR SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE÷÷ THAT. A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'RE ALSOALSO ANOTHER SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IS PASSPORT SERVICES. SO, WITH PASSPORT SERVICES, WE GENERATE OVER 750,000 IN PASSPORT SERVICES.
SO, THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, LIBRARY SYSTEM, THAT PROVIDE PASSPORT SERVICES, AND ALSO, INTERNALLY, THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE? THE DISTRICT CLERK. THANK YOU.
BUT WE HAVE A FAR MORE -- WE GENERATE A LOT MORE REVENUE THAN A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IS POSSIBLY EXPANDING THE PASSPORT SERVICES TO AN ADDITIONAL FIVE LIBRARIES.
CURRENTLY, WE PROVIDE IT AT EIGHT LIBRARIES. SO, IF WE INCREASE IT TO FIVE LIBRARIES, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD GENERATE ANOTHER -- AN ADDITIONAL $350,000 TO $400,000
[03:15:04]
PER YEAR BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET AND THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS HOW CAN THAT REVENUE COME BACK TO THE LIBRARY? RIGHT NOW, IT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.AND I WOULD PREFER FOR THAT FUNDING OR THAT REVENUE THAT WE GENERATE COMES BACK TO THE LIBRARY TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF OUR BUDGET REDUCTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
AND THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING. MY FIRST QUESTION IS ON THE OVERALL BUDGET. THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET IS INCREASING BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS FROM FISCAL YEAR '25 TO FISCAL YEAR '26, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE LIVING WAGE INCREASES AND THE $2,500 RAISES FOR STAFF THAT ARE MAKING UNDER $75,000. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WERE IMPACTED BY THOSE RAISES?
>> FOR THE 25 -- DAISY WILL LOOK THAT UP.
QUESTION. >> SURE, I CAN ASK THE NEXT ONE AND WE CAN CIRCLE BACK. THE NEXT ONE IS, ARE THERE ANY PCNS THAT ARE IMPACTED WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET?
>> WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE WILL BE IMPACT TO 11 PCNS. WE HAVE -- CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 25 PCNS THAT ARE VACANT, OPEN. WE, IN THIS PAST THREE MONTHS, WE'VE INTENTIONALLY HELD OUR PCNS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO ANTICIPATE IN TERMS OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND SO WE WOULD HAVE -- WE PREFER TO REDUCE PCNS VERSUS REDUCING EMPLOYEES OR SEPARATING FROM EMPLOYEES. AND SO, WE INTENTIONALLY DID THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH CUSHION IN ORDER TO POSSIBLY OFFSET OUR BUDGET WITHOUT HAVING TO TERMINATE
AND ARE ANY OF THESE PCNS THAT ARE BEING OFFSET FILLED OR ALL
VACANT? >> THEY'RE ALL VACANT.
EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFSETTING IS VACANT.
BUT THE THING THAT I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF IS THAT EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL 14 PCNS THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE OFFSET.
WE WOULD WANT TO BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS. BUT WE'LL WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND OCA IN ORDER TO GO THROUGH THAT
PROCESS. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S AN EXEMPTION PROCESS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICY.
>> SO, FOR THE $20 INCREASE, WE HAD 121 PCNS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THAT AND THE $2,500 INCREASE, WE HAD 350 STAFF.
>> AWESOME. AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOES THE LIBRARY HAVE OVERALL?
THAT WAS -- IMPACTED A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES.
>> TREVOR, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE LIBRARY WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGER BENEFICIARIES WHEN WE GET THE STUDY BACK. THEY HAVE FOLKS WITH MASTER'S THAT ARE STILL IN THAT $25 RANGE WHERE WE'RE NOW, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOLKS, ENTRY- LEVEL, OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, $20. SO, I WOULD IMAGINE, AS WE DEAL WITH COMPRESSION, THAT THEY'LL BE A BIG BENEFICIARY AND HOPEFULLY HELP STABILIZE THE STAFFING MODEL THERE.
>> GREAT. IN ADDITION TO THE MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FOR THE LIVING WAGE INCREASES, THE PAY EQUITY WILL COME AS WELL THIS YEAR?
>> I WOULD -- KNOWING HOW THIS ALL -- HOW THIS WORKED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, YES, I WOULD IMAGINE THEY'D BE A BIG BENEFICIARY, ESPECIALLY THE LIBRARIAN CLASS.
>> AND DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INSIGHT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ON THE -- YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE OFFSETS FOR THE DIGITAL CONTENT.
THERE'S ALSO A INCREASE OF $500,000 IN THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET FOR DIGITAL CONTENT INFLATION
COST. >> THAT'S JUST THE INCREASE OFOF BUYING DIGITAL MATERIALS.
I THINK ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS IS THAT DIGITAL IS LESS THAN PHYSICAL. THE THING ABOUT DIGITAL CONTENT IS THAT YOU DON'T OWN IT FOREVER.
YOU BUY IT ONCE -- I MEAN, YOU DON'T EVEN BUY IT.
A LOT OF IT IS ON SUBSCRIPTION-BASED TYPE SITUATIONS WHERE IF YOU BUY IT, YOU HAVE IT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BUY IT AGAIN. AND THEN, ALSO, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODELS, BUT WITH THOSE MODELS, SOME OF THEM, THEY CHARGE US PER CHECKOUT.
AND WE CIRCULATE OVER SEVEN MILLION ITEMS IN DIGITAL CONTENT AS A SYSTEM.
SO, THAT CAN GET EXPENSIVE. SOME OF THEM, WE HAVE SIMULTANEOUS USE WHERE WE OWN THAT -- WELL, NOT EVEN OWN IT. I'M GOING TO SAY WE LEASE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE CAN CHECK IT OUT. BUT IT VARIES IN TERMS OF HOW THAT LOOKS AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, ALSO, THIS YEAR, EVEN WITH OUR PRINT MATERIALS, THE VENDORS ARE STARTING TO CHARGE US MORE TO PROCESS SOME MATERIALS, PUT THE LABELS ON THEM, PUT THE BOOK COVERS, THOSE TYPE THINGS IN TERMS OF MAKING THEM SHELF READY. SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, CAN WE BRING THAT IN- HOUSE, RECOUP THAT COST, MOVE IT OVER TO LABOR AND THEN POSSIBLY DO IT IN- HOUSE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING -- PROCESSING MATERIALS THAT COME INTO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, PHYSICAL LIBRARY MATERIALS THAT COME INTO THE
[03:20:02]
SYSTEM. >> AMAZING. THANK YOU. AND I'LL USE MY REMAINING TIME TO PUT ON THE RECORD I THINK THE LIBRARY, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, HAS THE BEST LIBBY COLLECTION OF ANY OF THE OTHERS.
WAIT TIMES ARE NOT AS BAD AS CITY OF HOUSTON OR OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP AND INVESTING MORE INTOINTO IT.
THANK YOU. >> YES, AND WE ARE THE -- WE'RE IN THE TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND WHEN WE THINK OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, I THINK LIBRARIES ARE THE FIRST TO REALLY SERVE AS ANCHORS FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS, SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARIES TO DATE. ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING LIBRARY STAFFING AND TURNOVER.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR AVERAGE TURNOVER RATE AND -- YEAH, AND HOW LONG YOUR VACANT POSITIONS HAVE
BEEN VACANT. >> TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE ABOUT A 32% VACANCY RATE, SO THE TURNOVER, IT CAN HAPPEN FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. I MEAN, WE'RE IN A COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE COMPETING LIBRARY SYSTEMS, WHETHER IT'S HOUSTON PUBLIC, WHETHER IT'S MONTGOMERY COUNTY, FORT BEND, WE'RE COMPETING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPENSATIONAL SALARY. I THINK SOME OF THAT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED WITH THE COMPENSATION STUDY, BUT THEN ALSO, WITH OUR STAFF, WE DO HAVEHAVE RATES, AND IN THE PAST, IN TERMS OF POSITIONS THAT WERE -- THOSE THAT WERE MAKE LESS THAN THAT -- THE BASELINE OF $20 PER HOUR. I THINK SINCE THE COUNTY RAISED THAT MINIMUM WAGE TO $20 AN HOUR, I THINK WE'LL SEE LESS TURNOVER. BUT WE DO CARRY, TYPICALLY, 32% VACANCY RATE. AND SO, EVEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HIRING, POSSIBLE HIRING FREEZE FOR A YEAR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY 130- PLUS POSITIONS. IF YOU CALCULATE THAT AT THE MINIMUM WAGE OF $20 PER HOUR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $9.2 MILLION. SO, THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPACT THE LIBRARY IF WE WERE TO HAVE THAT HIRING FREEZE LIKE THAT. BUT I'M CONFIDENT IN OMB AND OCA THAT WE'LL WORK OUT A PROCESS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS AND KEEP OUR OPERATING HOURS AS CURRENT.
>> THANK YOU. AND FOR OMB, JUST TO CLARIFY, AS CURRENTLY STANDS, THE HIRING FREEZE DOES NOT HAVE AN EXEMPTION FOR LIBRARIES, DOES IT?
>> THE DRAFT DOES NOT HAVE A BLANKET HIRING FREEZE.
>> OKAY. AND SO, THEY'RE NOT --
MY OTHER QUESTION IS -- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YEAH, I THINK THAT TURNOVER RATE IS -- I THINK IT WILL BE ADDRESSED, BUT I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU COMPOUND THE IMPACTS WITH A HIRING FREEZE AS WELL.
ONE OF MY OTHER QUESTIONS IS YOU HAD MENTIONED TESLAC EARLIER AND HOW IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COORDINATE AND REALLY AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE WITHIN THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ENTITIES LIKELIKE TESLAC, WHICH GIVES YOU ACCESS TO PROGRAMS LIKE TECH SHARE AND FEDERAL E- RATE PROGRAMS, GETTING AFFORDABLE INTERNET, TRYING TO EXPAND AND AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF YOUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES, BOTH DIJ TALLY AND IN PRINT, THAT'S CONTINGENT ON YOU BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR CURRENT LEVEL OF
THAT'S CORRECT. WE DO HAVE TO STAY ACCREDITEDACCREDITED PARTICIPATE IN THOSE TESLAC PROGRAMS AND OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY COME FROM THE STATE OR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND YOUR GENERAL FUNDING SOURCES ARE, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, SORT OF GENERALLY IN COORDINATION WITH MANY OTHER AGENCIES LIKE STATE FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING, IS THAT
BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING IS THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND. WE DO HAVE -- WE DO RECEIVE GRANTS FROM DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT -- THAT WE WILL BE DOING THIS NEXT -- THIS YEAR IS THAT LAST YEAR, WE CREATED A FOUNDATION. AND SO, THAT FOUNDATION WILL BE HAVING AN EVENT ON NOVEMBER 10TH, AND SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, DEFINITELY ATTEND.
BUT WITH THAT, THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THAT FOUNDATION FOR THIS YEAR IS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. AND SO, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RAISE -- DO SOME FUND- RAISING IN ORDER TO HELP US IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE CONTENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
TOP FIVE LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD. REALLY APPRECIATE
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD 1:02 REMAINING.
>> HI. MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE POSITIONS THAT YOU WANTED THEM ARE NOT APPROVED, BUT YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK OUT WITH
OMB. >> I THINK WE CAN WORK IT OUT WITH OMB AND OCA, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT APPROVED, IT WOULD IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO OFFER THE
[03:25:01]
HOURS THAT WE CURRENTLY DO.>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU HAD 2:04 REMAINING.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAD 1:31 REMAINING.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PRECINCT 4, YOU HAD 13 SECONDS
REMAINING. >> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAD 1:01 REMAINING.
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES. WITH THAT, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE GO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> AS HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH OMB AND OCA.
WE KNOW THIS IS A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE CAN WORK OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT AS POSSIBLE.
I'M CONFIDENT IN THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND SO WE PLAN TO CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE HIGH LEVEL OF STANDARD AS A 2024 IMLS MEDALIST THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MELTON. AND TO THE ENTIRE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY TEAM.
>> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME, COURT OFFICES, WE WILL NOW TAKE OUR AFTERNOON BREAK AND RESUME PRESENTATIONS AT 3:30 P.M.
>>> WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 3:30 P.M. , AND WE ARE PLEASED TO BEGIN OUR
[County Auditor]
FINAL SECTION OF PRESENTATIONS FOR THIS AFTERNOON. WE WELCOME THE HARRIS COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. TEAM, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR AN INITIAL PRESENTATION. THEN, EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 2, AND YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THE AUDITORS OFFICE BUDGET WAS APPROVED ON AUGUST 12, 2025, BY THE DISTRICT JUDGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $30.3 MILLION. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 3% OVER FISCAL YEAR '25. THE COURT ORDER WAS TRANSMITTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THE AUGUST 26TH AGENDA.
OUR BUDGET IS TYPICALLY 96 TO 97% SALARIES AND BENEFITS, SO THE INCREASE WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO BENEFITS AS WELL AS A NEW REPORTING SOFTWARE FOR THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THE DISTRICT JUDGES APPROVED AN ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE OF $2,500 FOR OUR EMPLOYEES MAKING LESS THAN $75,000 AS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR OTHER SIMILARLY PAID COUNTY EMPLOYEES. ONCE NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES FOR A REQUEST FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT TIME. AND JUST SOME KEY INITIATIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 FOR THE AUDITORS OFFICE IS THE PROMPT PAY IMPLEMENTATION. WE'RE WORKING WITH OCA, OMB, THE PURCHASING AGENT, COUNTY ATTORNEY AND U.S.
FOR ANTICIPATED ROLLOUT IN JANUARY 2026.
THIS INCLUDES CREATION OF A NEW ROLL FOR PROMPT PAY SUPPORT LIAISON. WE WANT TO FULLY AUTOMATE OUR MONTHLY AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN RFP OUT FOR THAT. AND THEN, WE'RE EXPLORING POSSIBLE EFFICIENCIES TO BE GAINED BY THE USE OF A.I. IN OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AREA, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH U.S.'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION ON THIS INITIATIVE.
SO, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 2.
>> OKAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY. COMMISSIONER ARCIA WANTED ME TO PASS ON HIS THANKS TO YOU. DESMOND SPENCER HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ARE THERE EXTERNAL RESOURCES, GRANTS, OR PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPLEMENT THE AUDITORS'
>> WE -- I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE ONE POSITION THAT'S GRANT-FUNDED. WHENEVER THERE ARE THE LARGE DISASTER GRANTS, WE WILL TYPICALLY GET A POSITION, AND THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH THAT GRANT, AND THEY'RE PAYING FOR SOMEONE IN OUR GRANTS ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT TO HELP WITH PROCESSING ALL THE FINANCIAL REPORTS OF THAT. WE DO ALSO STILL HAVE A FEW POSITIONS THAT ARE DOING ARPA GRANTS, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE FUNDED THROUGH THE FLEX FUND.
>> OKAY. LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE THE GREATEST FINANCIAL RISKS TO HARRIS COUNTY THAT THE AUDITORS OFFICE IS MONITORING?
>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE. I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO
[03:30:02]
BE FINANCIAL RISKS WHENEVER YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE CHANGES IN LEGISLATION. YOU HAVE THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO PREPARE FOR, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND SO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST KEEP UP WITH WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THEM.AND YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF OUR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE USED TO HAVING, AND THEN SUDDENLY, WE DON'T HAVE IT, AND THEN WE SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST CHANGES COMING SOMETIMES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND BE PREPARED WHEN THOSE WINDOWS DO OPEN.
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN OUR GRANTS AS WE NEED
THANKS SO MUCH. I'LL RESERVE MY TIME FOR THE
FUTURE. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2.
PRECINCT 3, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THE BUSY YEAR-END SCHEDULE. SO, I MEAN, YOUR BUDGET IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, MOSTLY LABOR, 95% OR SO. MY QUESTION IS KIND OF DUAL OMB AND Y'ALL. THE PAY EQUITY, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE $75,000, UNDER $75,000, IS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT MOVING FORWARD, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT, LIKE, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE HAVE $50 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR PAY EQUITY. HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDITORS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT GOING IN THE FUTURE?
>> RIGHT. AND AS I MENTIONED, ONCE WE DO GET THAT INFORMATION FROM GALLAGHER, WE DO PLAN TO GO BACK TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES AND REQUEST OUR ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT TIME. BUT WITH OUR SCHEDULE BEING -- OUR BUDGET PROCESS BEING DIFFERENT AND US GOING TO -- THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE COUNTY, SOMETIMES THERE'S A CATCH- UP PERIOD THAT IMPACTS US. BUT DANIEL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO --
>> I MEAN, THERE'S NO -- OMB IS SUPPORTIVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PAY PARITY. WE DON'T JUST MEAN FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO TAKE A COUNTYWIDE APPROACH TO COMPENSATION. THE REAL CHALLENGE HAS BEEN THE LOGISTICS OF GETTING A QUORUM OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES IN A ROOM TO VOTE BECAUSE THAT ADJUSTMENT CAN'T BE MADE UNILATERALLY.
>> WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THAT $50 MILLION THATTHAT IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE JUDGES THEN SO THE HARDWORKING AUDITORS ARE INCLUDED.
>> AND THEN, SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT JUST THE INCREASED SCRUTINY IN THE PAYABLES PROCESS WITH THE PROCURATIVE PAY. I KNOW YOUR TEAM WORKS REALLY HARD. WE SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEM TO FIND OUT -- THEY PROCESSED THOUSANDS OF INVOICES A DAY FOR 80- PLUS HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AND I'LL TELL YOU THE VENDORS DON'T THINK OF 80 DEPARTMENTS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY THINK OF HARRIS COUNTY. SO, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING JOB.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE GETTING -- YOU'RE CREATING A NEW POSITION.
>> CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT? AND JUST LET US KNOW HOW COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN SUPPORT YOUR OFFICE AND THE INCREASED EXPECTATIONS OF THE PAYABLES.
>> YES. WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THIS NEW POSITION THAT WILL -- THEY'RE A COMP PAY SUPPORT LIAISON, AND SO THEIR WHOLE JOB WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO MONITOR THE DASHBOARDS, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM WHEN THEY SEE THAT THE KPIS ARE TRENDING THE WRONG DIRECTION. SO, THE TIME IT'S TAKEN THEM TO GET THEIR INVOICES REVIEWED THROUGH AIP AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT'S REALLY THE KEY. THE ONE THING THAT DETERMINES, YOU KNOW, OUT OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS, THE ONE THAT WILL GET THE VENDOR PAID THE FASTEST IS WHEN THE DEPARTMENT HAS THAT QUICK REVIEW TIME AND AIP.
SO, WHEN THINGS STACK UP THERE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT IF WE CAN REACH OUT TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS, HELP THEM, MAYBE IT'S A TRAINING ISSUE, MAYBE SOMEBODY'S OUT, AND SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T KNOW TO MONITOR THAT QUEUE. BUT IT'S REALLY JUST REACHING OUT. AND THEN THAT WAY, WE'RE NOT -- RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE SEND SOMEONE TO ANOTHER OFFICE, IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM INVOICES GETTING PROCESSED. SO, THIS PERSON WILL BE DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH OUR 80-PLUS DEPARTMENTS IN A SUPPORT ROLE. MAKING SURE THAT THOSE INVOICES KEEP MOVING.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND RESPONSIVENESS. WE KNOW THAT WE WORK WITH THE AUDITORS OFFICE AND IT'S SUCH A CRITICAL DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REGARDING PROMPT PAY, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND OTHER PROCURE TO PAY INITIATIVES, AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING RESPONSIVE, AGAIN, AND COLLABORATING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THAT.
CAN YOU, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO PROTOUR TO CURE
[03:35:02]
TO PAY, HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THESE EFFICIENCIES, MANY OF THEM COMING FROM PROMPT PAY ACT AND THOSE INITIATIVES, HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THESE EFFICIENCIES WILL IMPACT OPERATIONS AND POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS FOR THE AUDITORS OFFICE OR COUNTYWIDE?>> AS FAR AS COST SAVINGS, I DO THINK THAT HAVING A -- SOMEONE DEDICATED TO THIS PROMPT PAY SUPPORT ROLE WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT THE COUNTY WOULD INCUR, BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING THOSE INVOICES MOVING FASTER.
>> AND ACCORDING TO THE LAST KPIS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OCA, FROM THEIR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM, ON THE PROGRESS OF PROCURE TO PAY, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 23 DAYS TO PROCESS AND PAY AN INVOICE, AND WE'RE TRACKING ABOUT 70% OF DEPARTMENTS ARE REVIEWING INVOICES WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.
HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THESE METRICS, AND WHAT IS THE AUDITOR'S KEY AREAS FOR GROWTH AND SUPPORT IN THIS AREA?
>> SURE. WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT OUR AP TEAM DOES IN GETTING OUR INVOICES PROCESSED AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE, AND WE DO KNOW THAT ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO -- THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESS IS JUST THE TAIL END OF THE OVERALL PROCURE TO PAY PROCESS, AND SO WE KNOW THAT WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS CAN SPEED THINGS ALONG, IT'S GOING TO JUST -- THE WHOLE -- THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECT OF THAT MEANS THAT OUR PROCESSORS CAN GET THROUGH THOSE INVOICES A LOT FASTER, AND SO, AGAIN, ONCE WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S ABLE TO HELP MONITOR AND FIND OUT WHERE THINGS ARE GETTING STUCK ALONG THE WAY IN THE PROCESS, AND WORK WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES THERE. BUT ALSO, IN TERMS OF WHERE THERE CAN BE GROWTH FOR THE AUDITORS OFFICE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IN THE REDUCTION RATE. WE WANT TO MONITOR HOW MANY OF THOSE INVOICES ARE GOING TO THE WRONG DEPARTMENT? AND A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE VENDOR MAY NOT BE PUTTING THE RIGHT PURCHASE ORDER ON THE INVOICE OR THEY DO BUSINESS WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, AND SO WE CAN'T REALLY TELL WHERE THAT INVOICE NEEDS TO BE ROUTED, SO THERE'S SOME BACK-AND-FORTH. THE SOLUTION TO THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET STRICTER ON GETTING OUR VENDORS TO GET THAT INFORMATION CORRECT THE FIRST TIME, BECAUSE THEN IT WILL ROUTE AUTOMATICALLY.
SO, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, I THINK IS MAKING SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THEIR PART ON WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR PART.
>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED BY THE AUDITORS OFFICE? SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT INTERNAL AUDITS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FORFOR OR COURT
I'LL START WITH THE ACCOUNTING DIVISION.
THAT'S 142 PCNS IN OUR OFFICE, AND AS WE MENTIONED, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESSES 30 TO 40,000 INVOICES A MONTH.
WE HAVE OUR PAYROLL DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'RE PROCESSING PAYROLL FOR 19,000 EMPLOYEES EVERY TWO WEEKS. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING, THEY MAINTAIN THE GENERAL LEDGER AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT PREPARES OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS WELL AS OUR ACT FIRST FOR HARRIS COUNTY, FOR CONTROL DISTRICT AND FOR THE TOLLTOLL ROAD.
REVENUE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS.
I HAVE JALANDA SMITH WITH ME HERE, SHE'S OVER THAT GROUP AND THEY PUT TOGETHER THE ANNUAL ANNUAL REVENUE ESTIMATE, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY'S BUDGET IS BASED ON, AS WELL AS RECONCILE OVER 300 BANK ACCOUNTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, THE BANK RECS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A VENDOR VERIFICATION GROUP, WHICH VETS -- INDEPENDENTLY VETS ANY CHANGES TO THE VENDOR MASTER FILE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT PAYMENT DIVERSION ATTEMPTS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT HER TEAM, I MEAN, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS GROUP, HAS STOPPED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PAYMENT DIVERSION ATTEMPTS. SO, HATS OFF TO THAT TEAM.
WE ALSO HAVE SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, THEY MAINTAIN ALL THE COUNTY'S ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES AND FORMS. THEY MONITOR THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY'RE IN SESSION. AND THEY ALSO HANDLE ALL OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS.
>> CAN I ANSWER THE INTERNAL AUDIT QUESTION VERY BRIEFLY?
>> OKAY. SORRY. SO, OUR INTERNAL AUDIT DIVISION, THAT'S 49 PCNS AND THEY DO STATUTORY AUDITS, RISK- BASED AUDITS, TECHNOLOGY AUDITS.
THEY MONITOR THE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE HOTLINE.
THEY HAVE A DATA ANALYTICS TEAM WHO CREATE AND MAINTAIN OUR DASHBOARDS. THEY ALSO DO OFFER CONSULTING SERVICES, SO IF YOU WANTED TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO MAYBE LOOK
[03:40:03]
AT A PARTICULAR AREA, IDENTIFY THE RISKS WITHIN A, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS PROCESS AND YOU COULD REACH OUT TO THEM AND THEY CAN HELP IN THAT AREA. THEY ALSO HAVE, TWICE A YEAR, THEY'LL HAVE MEETINGS WHERE THEY GO OVER THEIR ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN.THE RESULTS OF ANY AUDITS, FOLLOW-UPS AND SO FORTH, AND SO I BELIEVE EACH OF YOUR OFFICES PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> YEP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT I JUST MET WITH AUDITOR POST RECENTLY AND WE HAD A GREAT MEETING, SO AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH TO YOUR OFFICE.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY LIMITING FACTORS FOR COMPLETING AUDITS? IF SO, WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT LIMITING FACTORS? SO, TALKING ABOUT STATUTES, TECHNOLOGY, STAFF, ANYTHING.
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY. I'M OVER THE ACCOUNTING DIVISION, AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY FOR INTERNAL AUDIT. BUT I CAN HAVE THEM -- THE DIRECTOR, GLENN HOLLOWAY, REACH OUT AND GO OVER THAT WITH
PERFECT. GLENN AND I TALK ONCE A WEEK AT THIS POINT, SO I CAN ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH HIM. SO, THE PERCENT OF VACANT POSITIONS AT THE AUDITORS OFFICE IS AT 5%. I KNOW YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT PCNS EARLIER.
HOW WOULD A POTENTIAL HIRING FREEZE IMPACT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND OVERSIGHT?
>> THE AUDITORS OFFICE BUDGET IS APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT JUDGES, AND OUR COURT ORDER DOES STATE THAT THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND 214 ASSISTANT AUDITORS ARE TO BE PAID OUT OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE FOLLOW.
>> RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE NOT EXEMPT FROM A HIRING FREEZE. SO, THE VACANT POSITIONS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE, SO WOULD THAT IMPACT --
>> FUNCTIONALLY, THEY ARE, BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET IS -- EVEN THOUGH IT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, IT'S INDEPENDENT OF COURT APPROVAL.
>> OKAY. SUPER. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO, ANOTHER QUESTION, THIS FOLLOWS UP ON A CONVERSATION THAT I KNOW OUR OFFICE AND I THINK ALL COURT OFFICES HAD WITH AUDITORS OFFICE, WHICH IS, ARE THE CURRENT CUTS BEING DISCUSSED AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S RADAR FOR THE UPCOMING RISK ASSESSMENTS THAT YOU'LL BE DOING IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR?
>> AGAIN, THAT WOULD FOLLOW UNDER INTERNAL AUDIT, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO EACH OF YOUR OFFICES TO GO -- TO VISIT WITH AS PARKING LOT T OF THAT RISK ASSESSMENT, BUT IN TERMS OF THEIR OVERALL AUDIT PLAN AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THAT, WE WOULD NEED TO MEET WITH INTERNAL AUDIT TO DISCUSS THAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. I'LL RESERVE MY
TIME. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH THE AUDITORS OFFICE. AS A FORMER PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL MYSELF. JUST÷÷ THREE QUESTIONS.
HOW MANY STAFF WILL RECEIVE THE $2,500 PAY EQUITY INCREASE?
>> OKAY. AND SECOND QUESTION, HOW DID THE AUDITORS OFFICE JUSTIFY A COLA FOR ITS EMPLOYEES GIVEN THE COUNTY'S CURRENT BUDGET ISSUES?
>> WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A COLA. THE COUNTY DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE COLA -- I'M SORRY, THE AUDITORS OFFICE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE COLA THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTY RECEIVED.
>> WE HAVE -- OUR REQUESTS FOR ANY INCREASES WILL GO BACK TO THE÷÷THE DISTRICT ONCE WE HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM GALLAGHER.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CONTEXT.
THE THIRD QUESTION IS, HAS THE AUDITORS OFFICE WORKED WITH OMB TO IDENTIFY COST SAVINGS IN GENERAL?
>> SO, THE COUNTY AUDITOR WAS PART OF THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP DEVELOP THE FIVE- YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US IMPLEMENT THINGS LIKE THE OVERHEAD RATE FOR GRANTS, SOME CONTROLS AROUND PROCUREMENT, AROUND I.T. , SO THEY ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED ON A COUNTYWIDE, AGAIN, FROM A COUNTY AUDITOR PERSPECTIVE, AS LONG AS THEIR BUDGET GROWTH IS LESS THAN 5%, THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES VOTE ON IT, AND THEN THAT'S THEIR BUDGET.
NOBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN ADJUSTADJUST THAT -- CAN IT FROM THAT POINT ON. SO, THAT WAS A DIFFICULTY IN IMPLEMENTING THE COLAS BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET GETS APPROVED BEFORE THE COUNTYWIDE BUDGET GETS APPROVED. SO, WHEN WE'VE, YOU KNOW, DONE COLAS, PARTICULARLY ONES WHERE THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED LATER IN THE YEAR, OR LIKE THE $2,500, WHICH HAPPENED IN YEAR, THEY HAVE TO GO AND GET A QUORUM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
WHICH IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO GET THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ALL IN ONE PLACE TO DEAL WITH COUNTY AUDITOR MATTERS.
>> OKAY. SINCE WE DON'T GO THROUGH THAT
[03:45:03]
REGULAR BUDGET EXERCISE, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, YOU KNOW, ANSWER IN TERMS OF GENERAL -- I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE AUDITORS OFFICE DOES LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF OUR PCNS EVERY YEAR AND IF THERE'S ONE THAT'S NOT BEING USED, WE'LL CLOSE IT.AND THEN, IF WE NEED NEW ONES, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR SOME ARPA AUDITORS, WE WENT BACK TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES AND ASKED THEM FOR THOSE PCNS. SO, WE DON'T, IN TERMS OF SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES, WE DO LOOK AT THAT EVERY YEAR. I THINK CURRENTLY, WE HAVE FIVE OPENINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 2, YOU HAVE 3:15 REMAINING.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST PER AUDIT? I KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT OF TYPES OF AUDITS YOU GUYS DO, BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE A BALLPARK OF THE AVERAGE COST PER AUDIT AND IF THERE'STHERE'S THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES WITH THOSE COSTS?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE AVERAGE COST.
WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT FOR YOU, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, FROM BEING A, YOU KNOW, AN AUDITOR FOR MANY YEARS, THE COOPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS, HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN PRODUCE THE INFORMATION, HOW MANY TIMES WE CAN REDUCE GOING BACK AND FORTH, THAT WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT IT TAKES TO GET AN AUDIT COMPLETE. AND SO, JUST THE OVERALL RESPONSIVENESS IN GETTING THE DATA THAT WE NEED.
>> I UNDERSTAND. WOULD YOU SAY THAT A TYPICAL MONTHS, YEARS?
>> I DON'T LIKE TO SAY YEARS. BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE SCOPE. I THINK WE HAVE TO -- IF YOUR SCOPE IS CLEAR AND CONCISE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT LESS TIME THAN A SCOPE THAT'S BROAD, SO THE KEY IS THAT OUR -- OUR AUDIT TEAM IS WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET A CLEARLY DEFINED SCOPE OF THAT AUDIT SO THAT THEY CAN RELY FOCUS MORE NARROWLY. BUT THE MORE BROAD IT'S GOING TO BE, THE LONGER IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET IT
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2.
PRECINCT 3, YOU HAD 1:34 REMAINING.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, LESLIE AND JOLANDA AND JUSTIN BACK THERE. APPRECIATE IT.
I LIKE WORKING WITH Y'ALL. THANK
THANKS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3.
PRECINCT 4, YOU HAD NO TIME REMAINING. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAD
2:45 REMAINING. >> NOTHING FURTHER.
PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD 2:17 REMAINING.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES, AND SO AT THIS TIME, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
I KNOW THAT -- I MEAN, WE JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO HERE, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, AND WE'LL MEET WITH YOU, SPECIFICALLY ON THE INTERNAL AUDIT QUESTIONS. I CAN HAVE GLENN HOLLOWAY REACH OUT TO YOU, TO PRECINCT 2, AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE TO ANSWER ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN THAT AREA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE HARRIS COUNTY AUDITORS OFFICE.
>> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER.
[Engineering ]
[03:50:29]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE OUR FINAL ONE FOR THE AFTERNOON. AND AS A REMINDER ON THE FORMAT, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING REMARKS. THEN, EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU. IS IT TIME ALREADY? GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MILTON RAHMAN, COUNTY ENGINEER.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COUNTY ENGINEERS BUDGET AND THE THINGS THAT WE TO.
DO. BUT BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT FOR EMPHASIZING ON INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AS HARRIS COUNTY, A LOT OF FOLKS TALK ABOUT COUNTIES, BUT HARRIS COUNTY, UNINCORPORATED AREA, IS BIGGER THAN MANY CITIES SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE CARE OF, SO THANK YOU.
AND THE SECOND THING IS, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF, WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED, PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUDGET AND AREAS OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE TAKE CARE OF.
SO, TO BEGIN WITH, I'LL START WITH OUR PROJECTS, SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENT. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 603 ACTIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT INCLUDES FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO ROADS, DRAINERS, PARKS, BUILDINGS, AND EVERYTHING VALUED AT $3.5 BILLION, AND OUR OFFICE MANAGES THOSE PROJECTS FROM DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE SPENT $512 MILLION IN PROJECTS TO DATE. THAT HAS BEEN PAID RECEIPTS.
$300 MILLION OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WITH OUR PRECINCT PARTNERS 1, 2, 3, 4. THAT'S JUST PROJECTS. AS I MENTIONED, OUR PORTFOLIO OF $306 BILLION PROJECTS, THAT IS ALSO ACROSS THE DOMAIN OF ROADS AND BRIDGES, DRAINS, PARKS, BUILDINGS.
SO, I'LL START WITH, YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS ON OUR BUDGET.
IT'S FIRST TO HAVE A RELIABLE AND WELL- MAINTAINED INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS YEAR ALONE, IN ORDER TO MAKE AA AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE ADOPTED -- THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS ADOPTED TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY, A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED, A COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT IS UNDER WAY, AND WILL BE DONE AND COMPLETED BY 2026. WE HAVE COMPLETED 583 TRAFFIC STUDIES IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF AN AVERAGE.
WE DO EVERY YEAR ON THE TRAFFIC SIDE.
1,100 TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND 1,700 SCHOOL ZONE FLASHERS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
IN TERMS OF SAFETY, WE ALSO HAVE IMPLEMENTED A VISION ZERO STEERING÷÷STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF FROM EACH COURT OFFICES. THAT IS ONE OF OUR KEY PRIORITIES. THANK YOU.
SO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE A LITTLE FAST.
INCLUSIVITY IS ONE OF OUR KEY GOALS.
THIS YEAR ALONE, AGAIN, WE HAVE, FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT, 58% OF OUR FUND, OUR CONTRACT, WENT TO MINORITY AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. FROM OUR STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, I'LL SAY 79% OF OUR STAFF IS EITHER MINORITY OR FEMALE. AND 25% OF OUR LEADERSHIP IS FEMALE. FROM THE DISASTER RECOVERY PERSPECTIVE, THIS YEAR ALONE, OUR ORGANIZATION, WE DON'T HAVE STAFF, BUT DURING A DISASTER, OUR ORGANIZATION ACTS AS A RECOVERY ORGANIZATION.
BASED ON THE DISASTER, WE HAVE 50 TO 100 STAFF THAT BECOME A DISASTER RECOVERY ORGANIZATION.
THIS YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, WITH HURRICANE BILL AND DERECHO, WE HAVE COLLECTED 1.8 MILLIONMILLION CUBIC DEBRIS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMPLETED
[03:55:01]
THE RECOVERY WITHIN 90 DAYS OR LESS FOR MANY OF OUR AREAS. WHICH DID IMPACT SOME OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. BUT LIKE WITH HOUSTON, WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON. WE ARE STAND PREPARED THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL TO ADDRESS ANY DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORT. FROM THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE COMPLETED 40 PROJECTS, AND ONCE THIS PROGRAM IS DONE, WE'LL HAVE 20,000 RESIDENTS OUT OF HARM'S WAY.AND BASED ON OUR SCHEDULE, ALL THE PROJECTS FROM RECOVERY SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MAY 2027. FEW HIGHLIGHTS ONON OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE MANAGED 48,000 PHONE CALLS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS YEAR.
SUPPORTED 6,500 WALK-INS. PERMITTED 58,930 -- SORRY, 52,000 PERMITS THIS YEAR. FROM THE BUILDING OPERATIONS SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS, THAT'S ONE OF OUR CORE OPERATIONS. WE MAINTAIN ALMOST 11 MILLION. WE'VE RECEIVED 25,000 TICKETS, WHICH IS SERVICE REQUESTS, AND WE COMPLETED 23,257 TICKETS ALREADY, WHICH IS A 93% COMPLETION.
SO, THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR BUDGET. WE LOOK FORWARD THIS YEAR TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU.
DR. RAHMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM THAT IS JOINING YOU THIS AFTERNOON. AND I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON ALL THE WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE NOTE ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY IS ONE THAT RESONATES WITH ME, SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
IF YOU COULD QUICKLY TELL US -- I'LL GIVE YOU FOUR PARTICULAR QUESTIONS, AND IF YOU CAN HELP TO RESPOND TO THOSE.
FIRST IS, YOUR TOP PRIORITIES IN THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. SECONDLY, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHICH INFRASTRUCTURE OR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS ARE TO BE FUNDED FIRST? THIRDLY, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET THAT IS ALLOCATED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT WE MAY BE DOING IN OUR RESPECTIVE ROADWAYS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE -- YOUR LONG-TERM VISION AND APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE URGENT REPAIR NEEDS OF -- IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. AS YOU CONTEMPLATE THESE, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH WITH GHB ON THEIR LIST OF REQUESTS. NUMBER ONE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPROACH WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING THEM.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AND COMMON GROUND THAT YOU ARE ACHIEVING WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IF THIS COURT DECIDES TO APPROVE THE FEE STRUCTURE THAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED TO HELP TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE GHB, I WILL BE A STRONG VOTE FOR MAKING SURE THAT MONEY GOES BACK TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SO IT CAN BE INVESTED BACK INTO THIS PERMITTING PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE THE RESPECTIVE GOALS AND PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR RESPECTIVE STAKEHOLDERS.
IF THERE IS ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THAT, THEN DON'T TAKE MY "NO" VOTE AS A DISRESPECT TO YOU, BUT I JUST THINK THAT IF WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THOSE KIND OF BENCHMARKS, YOU NEED THE RESOURCES TO GET THE JOB DONE AS WELL.
ALSO, THE -- I JUST APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION THAT YOU HAVE HAD, AT LEAST WITH OUR OFFICE.
YOUR TEAM AND HELPING US DEAL WITH ALL THE RESPECTIVE CHALLENGES THAT WE COME UP AND GETTING OUR PROJECTS DONE, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE MOST PART, MY ENGINEERING TEAM WHO YOU KNOW WELL, IS -- APPRECIATES THE COLLABORATION THAT YOU HAVE AND APPROACH THE WORK WITH.
AND THEN, LASTLY, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
[04:00:06]
GOALS OF THE -- OF THIS COUNTY IN TERMS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IF YOU COULD ALSO GIVE US US APPROACH THAT YOU WILL TAKE. YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED IN OUR CONVERSATION, HOUSTON HAS A LOT OF HUMIDITY.THE MOLD ISSUES THAT YOU'RE CONFRONTING. I THINK PART OF MY SINUS PROBLEM IS THAT I GOT MOLD ALL OVER THE DAMN PLACE, AND SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW TO US, SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS THAT AND DEAL WITH IT EFFECTIVELY. HOWEVER, I APPRECIATE THE THE THE ADJUSTMENTS YOU MADE TO WORK -- TO HELP OUR CLEANING SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE AT NIGHT, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THIS BUILDING OR ANY OF OUR OTHER BUILDINGS TO WARM UP QUICKLY WHEN THE AC IS SHUT DOWN.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADJUSTMENT IN THAT REGARD.
BUT OVERALL, DR. RAHMAN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.
DR. SANTAMARIA HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL TO WORK WITH. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND IN SPITE OF THE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE COMING UP, I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN A VERY DELIBERATE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THE RESPECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE VISION ZERO, WHETHER IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECTS, OUR ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, OUR SIDEWALK PROJECTS, OUR CURB AND GUTTER PROJECTS. I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND IF YOU CAN RESPOND TO THOSE BRIEF QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I'LL START WITH THE FOCAL AREAS OF FOCUS IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE FIRST IS, COMMISSIONER, ONE OF THE THINGS IS WE PRIORITIZE BASED ON THE PRIORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND SAFE, RELIABLE, RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH POLICY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH WHAT WE BUILD, THAT IS THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING.
SO, I WILL START -- THE SECOND ONE IS, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION OF FLOOD RESILIENCY. THAT IS THE SECOND MOST PRIORITY. HOUSTON IS -- WE ARE FLOOD- PRONE, NOTHING TO HIDE, AND WE NEED A LOT OF WORK IN THAT AREA, AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AS A WHOLE FOR PROVIDING US THE FUNDING AND PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS THAT IT IS.
THE THIRD GOAL, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE, IS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS, WE CAN DO BETTER, SOME OTHER AREAS DOING BETTER, WE'RE TRYING TO ADOPT SOME OF THOSE AND MAKE USUS EFFICIENT IN MANY AREAS OF BUSINESS, WHETHER IT'S PERMITTING, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING OPERATIONS, WHETHER IT'S THE WAY WE DELIVER A PROJECT.
AND THE FOURTH ONE IS, COMMISSIONER, AS WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH FUNDING, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TO SAY, WE REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON FUNDING OPTIONS FROM AGENCIES LIKE HGSC, LAST YEAR ALONE, COMMISSIONER, THE HELP OF OUR OFFICES, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE $300 MILLION OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT. WE GOT THREE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS, ONE RAIL CROSSING GRANT, ONE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE GRANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE. SO, ONE OF THE AREAS WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS THIS YEAR TO SEE IF WE CAN SECURE SOME MORE MONEY FROM FUNDING, THAT'S FROM A STATE OR HGSC. WE DO KNOW THE FEDERAL FUNDING MAY BE DRIED OUT IN TERMS OF GRANT, SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS A LOT MORE ON THE LOCAL LISTED GRANT. SO, IN TERMS OF, COMMISSIONER, A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, IN TERMS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO DEPLOY AND ADJUST, AND I KNOW WE ARE ABLE TO SAVE $1.6 MILLION THIS YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS NUMBER BIGGER AND BETTER. AND THEN, CHIEF, WHO IS LEADING SOME OF THE ALLERGY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING SOME OF THE SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION FROMFROM PRECINCT OFFICES, I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT FACILITIES WHERE WE ARE INSTALLING SOLAR PANEL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON A SCHEDULE, ON BUDGET, AND BE ABLE TO DELIVER WHILE THIS ADDITIONAL ENERGY THAT WE'RE GENERATING CAN SUPPLEMENT OUR ENERGY USES FROM THE GRID. SO WITH THAT SAID, IN TERMS OF PERMITTING, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE VOLUME OF PERMIT IS INCREASING. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE COUNTY. BUT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GO THROUGH THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. SO, THE THINGS WE PROMISED WITH GHBA, ONE, TO ENSURE THAT 90% OF OUR PERMITS GETS APPROVED
[04:05:05]
WITHIN THIRD SUBMITTAL.THAT WILL NEED TRAINING OUR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING USING CONSISTENT REVIEWERS. WE HAVE PROMISED THEM A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT THAT WE THINK WE CAN KEEP WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
WE HAVE ALSO ENSURED AN ESCALATION PATH WHERE AN ENGINEERING FIRM, THEY SUBMIT THE PERMIT, AND THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS, RATHER THAN GOING BACK AND FORTH NINE TIMES.
WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP STAFF THAT CAN DIRECTLY CALL AND ESCALATE IN TWO CALLS WITH COUNTY ENGINEERS DIRECTLY.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WITH ALL THE OFFICES AS WE GET THROUGH SOME OF THESE AREAS OF BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. NEXT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS WILL HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DR. RAHMAN, THANK YOU.
JUST GIVE ME A QUICK SENSE OF WHERE YOU WILL MAKE MOST OF THE CUTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO MAKE. >> SO, COMMISSIONER, I'LL SAY, THE MOST OF THE CUTS THAT WE HAVE HAS BEEN PROPOSED, BASED ON THE BUDGET, IS RENOVATION, BUILDING RENOVATION WORK THAT WE DO FOR MANY OFFICES. THAT'S ABOUT $4.6 MILLION, AND THEN SOME OF THE SERVICES. THAT INCLUDES OUR JANITORIAL SERVICE, OUR MOWING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREAS. CHIEF PENA, DO YOU WANT TO ADD MORE DETAILS?
>> YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER. SO, ON THE CUTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE, THE IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE, IN TERMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION ASPECTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEFERRING FOR BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WE'RE GOING TO SUSPEND OR DEFERDEFER REQUESTS FOR ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE NOT EMERGENCY NEEDS.
SO TO SPEAK, OR SAFETY ISSUES. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DEFER SOME BATHROOM RENOVATIONS THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS IN ORDER TO MEET THAT TARGET. AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE ONLY FOR THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, THAT'S THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION.
ON THE BUILDING OPERATIONS ASPECT, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME CUTS IS ON THE OFFICE CLEANING. WE ARE PROPOSING A 40% CUT IN THERE, SO GOING FROM CLEANING THE OFFICES FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO THREE DAYS A WEEK.
THAT WILL SAVE SOME MONEY. THE LANDSCAPING WILL BE CUT BACK TO A MONTHLY BASIS FROM A BIWEEKLY BASIS.
AND AGAIN, ON THE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO A MORE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, SO WHEN THINGS BREAK. AND SO, THOSE ARE THE HIGH- LEVEL IMPACTS.
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IMPACT IT COULD HAVE ON OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. I KNOW I ASKED AT THE LAST COURT ABOUT THE MOLD ISSUE.
I'VE DONE A LITTLE MORE DIGGING, SO I'M TOLD THAT SOME OF THE BUILDINGS WHERE THE AIR WAS OFF, OLDER BUILDINGS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MOLD.
SOME DID. SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES -- YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD BUILDING, ALL THIS HAS BEEN DONE OVER.
BUT IF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM COULD LEAD TO ISSUES.
I JUST LIVE IN AN OLD HOUSE, SO I KNOW THE ISSUES SOMETIMES WITH THE AIR DUCTS, WHERE YOU CAN GET THE CONDENSATION. WHAT IMPACT WILL THESE CUTS HAVE ON YOUR ABILITY TO MONITOR THAT ISSUE?
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN REALLY QUICKLY, OF THE $11 MILLION CUT BEING PROPOSED FOR THE COUNTY ENGINEER, ABOUT $8 MILLION, WE BELIEVE, WE CAN BACKFILL WITH COMMERCIAL PAPER.
VERY CAPITALIZABLE COSTS. >> SO, IT'S GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH $3 MILLION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. COMMISSIONER, AGAIN --
>> SO, WHERE WILL THE 3 COME FROM? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CUT FOR THE 3?
>> THAT'S ON THE SERVICE SIDE.
>> YEAH, SO, COMMISSIONER, IF THAT'S -- WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE RENOVATION WORK, SOME OF THE WORK THAT CAN BE CAPITALIZED MOSTLY, THE RENOVATION WORK, THAT WILL LEAVE US WITH THE SERVICE SIDE WITH, YOU KNOW, OFFICE CLEANING AND MOWING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT WILL HAVE MARGINAL IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, BUT IT WILL HAVE SOME AESTHETIC IMPACT IN TERMS OF --
>> SO, YOU FEEL CONFIDENT ANY OF THESE ISSUES RELATED TO MOLD WON'T COME UP? IF WE GOT OLD VENTILATION SYSTEMS, YOU DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A PROBLEM?
>> COMMISSIONER, AGAIN, WE DO OFTEN ADDRESS MOLD ISSUE IN OUR BUILDING, AND SOMETIMES, THE CAUSES COULD BE DIFFERENT. LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A WATER LEAK, THAT CAN CAUSE MOLD IF IT'S NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
SO, IF THERE IS A SITUATION LAST YEAR, DURING WINTER STORM, WE HAD A WATER LINE BREAK IN THE FAMILY LAW CENTER.
[04:10:03]
IF IT'S A SITUATION LIKE THAT, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING TO TAKE CARE OF ISSUES LIKE THAT SO MOLD DOESN'T GROW. BUT IN TERMS OF DEPLOYING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO RATHER THAN DEPLOYING IT GLOBALLY, COUNTYWIDE, WE'D RATHER TO DOIT -- >> SO, YOU DON'T MIND, OTHER THAN SOME MINOR MAINTENANCE ISSUES, YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU CAN STILL DO THE JOB THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHEN YOU WERE GIVEN YOUR ORIGINAL BUDGET AS AN EXAMPLE?
>> IF WE DO GET THE $8 MILLION BACK, COMMISSIONER, YES.
>> AND COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY ADD, AND JUST TO ADD SOME CLARITY AND SOME ASSURANCE TO YOU, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTING ARE THE LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS. THOSE WILL NOT BE DEFERRED OR IGNORED. SO, ALL EMERGENCY NEEDS, FIRE SAFETY, SECURITY, THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS LIKE THE HVAC, THE PLUMBING, THOSE WILL RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS NEEDED.
>> OKAY. >> SO, THOSE WILL NOT BE DEFERRED.
>> I JUST LIKE GETTING IT ON THE RECORD.
>> BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY COMES BACK CRYING SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, I WANT TO REMEMBER THIS DAY.
SOME THINGS, I DON'T REMEMBER. SOME THINGS, I DO.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> BRENDAN COOK WITH PRECINCT 3. GOOD AFTERNOON, DR. RAHMAN.
THE FOCUS OF TODAY'S MEETING IS THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSED $81.2 MILLION FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT THERE ARE MANY AREAS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE A $0 PROPOSED BUDGET WHILE STILL BEING CRITICAL FUNCTIONS. CAN YOU BREAK DOWN YOUR TOTAL 2026 BUDGET THAT BREAKS DOWN COSTS THAT WILL FUND THOSE CRITICAL AREAS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO, IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED MOBILITY FUND, I AM GOING TO DEFER THAT QUESTION TO DIRECTOR RAMOS. OUR ASSUMPTION WAS THAT WE WILL BE FUNDED THE AMOUNT WE GET FUNDED EVERY YEAR SO THAT WAY OUR OPERATION WILL NOT BE IMPACTED.
>> SO, WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT IN MOBILITY FUNDS?
>> IT'S ABOUT $35 MILLION IN PERSONNEL AND NONCAPITALIZABLE COSTS AND THEN WE'LL BE BACKFILLING WITH OTHER DEBT SOURCES FOR THE CAPITAL COSTS. I BELIEVE IT'S MOSTLY THE OUTFALLS AND THE NEW POLES,
CORRECT? >> WE HAVE SOME OPERATIONAL COST AS WELL, OTHER THAN THE LABOR COST, THAT IS THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM OPERATIONS. WE HAVE TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AND, OF COURSE, THE SIGNAL FUND THAT WE DO FOR PRECINCT.
SO, THAT WILL BE 57 TO $60 MILLION.
THAT IS THE RANGE OF FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR FOR THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE. $5 MILLION FOR OUTFALL, 16-SOMETHING MILLION DOLLAR FOR SIGNALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE AMOUNT, THEN DEFINITELY THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT, BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. SO, WITH THAT NUMBER, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A RISK TO CRITICAL MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS?
>> IT'S ABOUT $38 MILLION WORTH OF NONCAPITALIZABLE COSTS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 16 TO 20 OF THINGS WE BELIEVE CAN BE HOW MUCH CDBG MITIGATION ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE YOU RECEIVING FROM HCD IN SUPPORT OF THOSE PROJECTS?
>> WE ARE -- WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED FUNDING FROM HCD DIRECTLY. THAT'S A COST THAT WE RECEIVEDRECEIVED OMB. IT'S ABOUT -- IS THAT $19 MILLION?
>> IT WAS $19 MILLION THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF MOBILITY FUND INTEREST.
>> OKAY. AND HOW -- WHAT'S THE DOLLAR FIGURE FOR EXPECTED 2022 BOND ADMINISTRATIVE OR DELIVERY COSTS FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR?
>> ONE QUICK NOTE. THAT $19 MILLION WAS FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM, I BELIEVE.
THAT'S NOT AN ANNUAL -- THAT'S
NOT AN ANNUAL NUMBER. >> OKAY.
>> SO, TO -- THANK YOU. TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM, WE ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT FOR 10% OF PROPOSITION A, B, AND C, BUT THE WAY THAT PRECINCT WORK, AND YOU KNOW THAT, AS PROJECTS GET INITIATED, IN THE BEGINNING, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW ARE THESE GOING TO BE FUNDED BY BOND OR MOBILITY OR METRO? SO, AS WE GET THOSE PROJECTS AND PRECINCT IDENTIFIES THE FUNDING SOURCE, IF THEY SAY 2020 BOND, THOSE WILL GO ON THE
[04:15:03]
AREAS WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE THAT FUNDING FOR PROJECT DELIVERY. PROJECT DELIVERY COSTS, ON A STANDARD AVERAGE COST, FOR ADMINISTRATION TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, RANGES FROM 22 TO 30% OF THE SOFT COST OF THE PROJECT. SO, A LOT OF OUR STAFF THAT ARE FUNDED BY MOBILITY SUPPLEMENTS SOME OF THIS WORK, INCLUDING OUR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS AND WHATNOT. SO, THAT 10% IS NOT ITSELF GOING TO BE TURNKEY DELIVERY FOR PROGRAMS. WE CAN'T DELIVER THAT WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.>> OKAY, THANK YOU. SO, NEXT QUESTION.
THE BUDGET PROVIDED IS BASED ON THE CONTINUING LEVEL OF SERVICE. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS DIVISION DUE TO HIGH EMPLOYEE TURNOVER WHILE THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
RECENTLY, MANY STAFF AUGMENTATION PERSONNEL HAVE ALSO BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM. IF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS $0 IN THIS CATEGORY, HOW IS THIS CRITICAL FUNCTION BEING FUNDED AND WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION AND PLAN TO IMPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION LEVEL
OF SERVICE? >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING OF MY STATEMENT, WE HAVE DELIVERED $512 MILLION WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LAST YEAR, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LEVEL OF SERVICE HAS BEEN DECREASED, I BEG TO DIFFER. NOW, THE QUESTION IS, IF WE HAVE MORE PROJECTS AND OFF OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER, WE HAVEN'T INCREASED OUR STAFFING, YOUR EARLIER STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS -- LAST YEAR ALONE, WE GOT $800 MILLION OF PROJECTS GETS INITIATED. HOW DO WE DELIVER THAT IF NUMBER OF STAFFING IS NOT INCREASING? SINCE I STARTED THIS AS COUNTY ENGINEER, WE GOT EIGHT STAFF MEMBERS JUST FOR TWO NEW BUILDING.
SO, OUR STAFFING LEVEL REMAINS THE SAME WHILE THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS HAS INCREASED. SO, YES, IF WE GO THERE, AT SOME POINT, WE'LL HAVE A CAPACITY CONVERSATION OF HOW QUICKLY WE CAN DELIVER, HOW MANY PROJECTS A PROJECT MANAGER CAN MANAGE, OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER IN CASES WE HAVE 18, 19 PROJECTS MANAGED BY ONE PROJECT MANAGER.
SO, THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT IF WE HAVE TO LOSE PEOPLE OR NOT BE ABLE TO HIRE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.
>> ON THAT TOPIC, WITH THE IMPENDING HIRING FREEZE, HOW WILL THAT IMPACT YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR?
>> THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE QUICK ANSWER IS, IT WILL IMPACT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
THE BIGGEST RISK WE HAVE IS IS WE, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL TRY TO GIVE A SIMPLE EXAMPLE. EACH PRECINCT FROM THE DESIGN PROJECT MANAGEMENT SIDE, I HAVE 4:00 TO 6 OF P.M. WORKING ON.
EACH OF THEM HAS 20 PROJECTS. 15, 20, 10, VARIOUS NUMBER BUILT ON THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT, COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT. SO, WHEN I HAVE, IN A SIMPLE FORMAT, IF YOU HAVE ONE OF PRECINCT 3 PROJECT MANAGER, LEFT, GOT A NEW JOB OR IS NOT PERFORMING OR RETIRED AND IF I'M NOT ABLE TO FILL THAT, THAT WILL PUT THE LOAD ON SOMEBODY ELSE, SO THERE WILL BE DELAY IN SERVICE, DELAY IN PROJECT DELIVERY. NOW, ONE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, IF THE FREEZE IMPACTS THE POSITION THAT WE HAVE VACANT, WE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE WE ARE DELIVERING, BUT IF IT DOES IMPACT ANY PEOPLE LEAVING, ANY PEOPLE RETIRED, I NEED A MONTH OR TWO TO JUSTIFY WHY I NEED THE POSITION, THERE WILL BE A SERVICE LEVEL IMPACT.
ONE LAST QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED THE GOAL OF ISSUING PERMITS BY THE THIRD SUBMITTAL. WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING TO TRAIN THE PERMIT FOLKS IN THE MEANTIME? TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE REVIEW ON THE FIRST SUBMITTAL, AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SEE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN REVIEW TIMES?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, WE TRAIN OUR STAFF AT THE SAME TIME THE INDUSTRY.
TWICE A JEER TO ENSURE YEAR TO ENSURE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN A SUBMITTAL, WHAT FORMS THEY NEED TO FILL OUT AND HOW EFFECTIVELY WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS THE INDUSTRY SEES. SO, IF YOU ARE ENGINEERING FIRM ONE, IF YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT HARRIS COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR, FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH OUR RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THAT HELPS A LOT, TO SEEING FIVE-PAGE WORTH OF COMMENTS. THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE WORKING.
EVERY YEAR. WHAT WE ARE THINKING THAT WE MAY
[04:20:01]
HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR TRAINING LEVEL MORE, WE ARE IN COORDINATION WITH GHBA. WE HAVE BIMONTHLY MEETING WITH THEM. WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH SCEC AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADD SOME MORE TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SUBMITTAL. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING TO INITIATE A TRAINING, OUR ON-BOARDING TRAINING, FOR ALL OF OUR NEW EMPLOYEES THAT JOIN OUR PERMITS DEPARTMENT. SO, FROM DAY ONE, BECAUSE EVERY AGENCY TO AGENCY, PERMITTING IS DIFFERENT. RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE DIFFERENT. SO, WE'RE GOING TO DO AN ON- BOARDING TRAINING TO ENSURE OUR PERMITTING STAFF ARE READY FROM DAY ONE OR PRODUCTIVE FROM DAY ONE. WITH THAT SAID, ARE WE GOING TO WORK WITH THE PRECINCT STAFF AS WELL? BECAUSE THE REVIEWERS AND THE -- SOME OF THE PERMITS, THE WAY IT GETS ROUTED, IT'S -- DIFFERENT PRECINCT HAS DIFFERENT CHOICE IN HOW DETAILED THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED, AND NOT -- THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STANDARDIZE SO THAT OUR PERMITTING HAS AN EXPECTATION.THANK YOU. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER
SUCCESSFUL YEAR. >> THANK YOU.
PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DR. RAHMAN AND TEAM, FOR BEING HERE. STARTING WITH YOUR OFFSETS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE MAJORITY IF NOT ALL OF THEM WERE ONES THAT Y'ALL PROPOSED AS PART OF THE 10% CLS EXERCISE. SO, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW YOU ARRIVED AT THOSE OFFSETS AND NOT AT OTHERS? GIVEN VACANT POSITIONS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WHY THESE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT THROUGH AN EXAMPLE. WHEN WE STARTED -- WHEN WE GOT THE REQUEST FROM THE BUDGET DIRECTOR THAT I GOT TO CUT 10%, WELL, 7%, THEN 10%, WE STARTED LOOKING AT OUR CRITICAL SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
SERVICE THAT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MOST OF OUR GENERAL FUNDS GOES TO OUR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND PERMITTING. SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, IF WE GET A CALL THAT, HEY, MY BUILDING -- MY ROOM HAS HIGH TEMPERATURE, IT'S 85 DEGREES, I KNOW I NEED TO ADDRESS IT RIGHT AWAY.
WHEN WE GET A CALL THAT THE BATHROOM IS LEAKING, I KNOW I GOT TO FIX IT IMMEDIATELY.
OR I HAVE A WATER LINE BREAK. SO, WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SERVICES THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS AND I HAVE NOT, AND SHOULD NOT, OUT OF THOSE 35,000 CALLS WE RECEIVE TO, TAKE CARE OF. WE WENT BACK, LINE BY LINE, TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, IF I DON'T DO YOUR CARPET CLEANING EVERY DAY, MAYBE THAT'S A THING THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT.
SAME THING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT MOWING.
YOU KNOW, WE DO MOWING BIWEEKLY, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON SOMETIMES. WE MAY BE ABLE TO NOT DO BIWEEKLY. YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT TALLER GRASS, BUT IF IT'S TOO TALL, WE'LL GET A CALL AND TAKE CARE OF IT. THEN, IN TERMS OF RENOVATION WORK, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE SOME OF THEM ARE CRITICAL RENOVATION, AND THE REASON WE PUT RENOVATION FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON DIRECTOR RAMOS MENTIONED, THAT WE MIGHT GET THE NEW REGULATION ON WHAT WE CAN FUND THROUGH CIP. WE HAD AN EXPECTATION WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FUND MANY OF THEM THROUGH RENOVATION WORK.
THAT'S THE BASIS OF HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE CUTS.
>> AND JUST TO JUMP IN, OMB WASN'T COMFORTABLE MAKING THOSE CUTS WITHOUT KNOWING AND HAVING SOME ASSURANCE OF LOOKING THROUGH WHAT'S ELIGIBLE AND WHAT WE CAN MOVE TO OTHER SOURCES.
>> I THINK ON THAT NOTE, IF YOU CAN SPEAK, DR.
RAHMAN, TO OTHER POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPITALIZE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN YOUR BUDGET, OTHER FURNGSDS NOT FUNDS, NOT JUST CIP.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DISCUSS EARLIER IN ONE OF OUR CALL, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL LABOR COSTS THAT WE CAN DEFER TO GENERAL FUND TO OTHER FUNDS LIKE MOBILITY. WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GETTING, THERE'S A LOT OF MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT WE CAN DO.
BUT THEN IT'S LIKE ROBBING PAUL TO PAY PETER.
THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE US A BIGGER ALLOCATION FROM THE MOBILITY SIDE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FROM THE GENOCIDE BUT -- GENERAL SIDE BUT THAT HAS AN EXERCISE WE DO BELIEVE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
>> WE DO A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN HIGH ON HIS LIST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING THE WORK IN. I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO EXHAUSTED IN TERMS OF, LIKE, IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD CAPITALIZE.
WE'VE ALSO DID OUR BEST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN COORDINATION WITH DR. RAHMAN TO MAXIMIZE ALL OUR SPECIAL FUNDS. IF YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES, WE CONTINUALLY ADDED COST INTO THE FIRE CODE FUND, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WAS A FUND THAT HAD LARGELY GONE UNUTILIZED.
[04:25:02]
SO, I THINK WE REALLY -- AT LEAST FOR THE COUNTY ENGINEER, ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO, LIKE, THESE ARE -- WE'RE GOING TO START IMPACTING SERVICES IF WE DIG ANY DEEPER.>> THANK YOU. FOR SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU MENTIONED, LIKE LANDSCAPING AND JANITORIAL SERVICES, ARE THOSE MOSTLY DONE ON CONTRACT AND IS THERE ANY POTENTIAL EFFICIENCY TO MOVING THOSE IN- HOUSE OR VICE VERSA?
>> THE JANITORIAL SERVICES AND THE MOWING OR LANDSCAPING SERVICES IN DOWNTOWN AREAS, IT IS CONTRACT SERVICES. IT CAN BE MOVED TO IN-HOUSE.
OF COURSE, THERE IS A CHALLENGE WHERE YOU WILL HAVE SOME UPFRONT COSTS LIKE WHEN YOU DO LANDSCAPING SERVICES. I GOT TO BUY A TRUCK.
I GOT TO BUY ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
WE GOT TO HIRE PEOPLE. IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO BUILD UP THOSE CREWS OVER THE YEAR. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND, CHIEF? ABOUT $1.5 MILLION FOR LANDSCAPING.
IF WE DO ENOUGH FUND INVESTMENT, PROBABLY WE CAN SAY 3 OR $400,000 IF WE KIND OF OWN THE SHOP. AND I KNOW MOST OF THE PRECINCT HAS IN- HOUSE AND CONTRACT BOTH FROM OUR OFFICE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. IN-HOUSE AT THE TIME.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'RE COORDINATING AND SUPPORTING DR. RAHMAN TO DO THE MATH ON IT AND SEEING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW LIVING WAGE POLICY, I THINK THERE IS SOME GREEN GRASS THERE FOR US TO EXPLORE. BUT IT DOES -- IT WILL TAKE TIME. THERE IS KIND OF AN OVERHEAD EXPENSE OF STANDING UP THESE UNITS. THE QUALITY ASSURANCE, THE HIRING, ET CETERA.
>> YEAH. AND PRESUMABLY THE EQUIPMENT COULD ALSO BE CAPITALIZABLE.
>> THE EQUIPMENT WOULD BE BUT OUR BENEFITS ARE VERY LUCRATIVE HERE. BOTH OUR PENSION AND OUR HEALTHCARE, SO WE'RE JUST HAVING TO DO THE MATH AGAINST WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR
AND KUDOS FOR THE GREEN GRASS PUN THERE.
ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT SINCE THE COMMISSIONERS ALREADY SPOKE TO A GREAT DEGREE ABOUT IT BUT THERE'S A VERY HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT THERE. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HAD AT THIS COUNTY THAT DOES BOTH A GOOD THING AND SAVES US A LOT OF MONEY. SO, YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MOVING TO A PILOT MODEL, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GROWING THAT IN THE LONG RUN? WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GROW THOSE KINDS OF UTILITY EFFICIENCIES, MAYBE NOT JUST ENERGY BUT OTHER COSTS AS WELL, AND WAYS THAT WE CAN MODEL AFTER THE REECHLT
REEF. >> SO, AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS -- JUST TO START WITH, I'M NOT AN ENERGY EXPERT, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONTRACTS WHICH IS DIRECTLY VENDOR- LED THAT DOESN'T ADD COUNTY -- ANY COST TO THE COUNTY. PERFORMANCE-BASED CONTRACT, IF YOU WILL. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PRETTY SURE OUR OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY EXPLORING.
AND ONCE WE GET SOME THERE, WE STAND READY TO WORK ON SOME OF THOSE AND DEPLOYING SOME OF THOSE.
>> YEAH. WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THAT WORK AND EXCITED TO SEE IT GROW. OBVIOUSLY, THOUGHTFULLY WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN MIND, BUT IT'S A PHENOMENAL PROJECT, SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH OCA SO CLOSELY ON THAT.
AND LAST, IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '26, IF YOU HAD TO NAME KIND OF TOP THREE THINGS THAT YOU THINK ENGINEERING SHOULD BE WORKING ON AND PRIORITIZE, WHAT WOULD THOSE BE?
>> LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, SAFETY, RELIABILITY, AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
FLOOD RESILIENCY IS ACTUALLY 1- A IF NOT ALSO 1. WE HAVE 20 ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, FLOOD SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT'S ONGOING AT THE TIME OF ALMOST $300 MILLION. THAT IS A KEY PRIORITY. VISION ZERO AND, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS WE ARE WORKING ON GEOMETRIC DESIGN DETAIL. WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON, AS SOON AS FEMA ADOPTS THE MAP NEXT MODEL, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT ONE WE'LL BE WORKING ON A REGULATION DEVELOPING OUR COUNTY'S NEW FLOOD REGULATION, WHICH WILL BILLION A BIGGER TASK IN THIS YEAR, AND DEFINITELY MAKING SURE OUR FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S ROADS AND BRIDGES AND PARKS OR BUILDINGS, THEY'RE ALL WELL MAINTAINED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
>> YEP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, YOU HAD SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT MOVING ENGINEERING EXPENSES FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO CIP OR FIRE CODE FUND, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH HOW YOUR FINANCE TEAM TYPICALLY EVALUATES WHETHER TO JOURNAL AN EXPENSE TO GENERAL FUND?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO, A LOT OF THEM, YOU
[04:30:01]
KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, THE FIRE CODE FUND IS ONE ELIGIBLE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON FIRE SAFETY- RELATED ITEMS. WE CANNOT FUND A CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER USING THE FIRE CODE FUND. A LOT OF THE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS. SIMILARLY, PARKING FUNDS.I GOT THREE PEOPLE WORKING ON PARKING.
THAT'S THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO FUND.
SO, WE LOOK INTO IF THERE IS AN ELIGIBLE FUND.
WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS IN THERE, NOT A LOT.
YOU KNOW, FACILITY FUNDS, THOSE FOLKS, THEY WORK ON FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S THE GENERAL FUND BUT IT'S A LITTLE FLEX. SO, MOBILITY FUND IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST SUPPLEMENTSUPPLEMENT OUR FUNDING IN TERMS OF LABOR THAT WE GET. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT WE WENT THROUGH AA MICROSCOPE THIS YEAR WHERE WE LOOKED INTO EVERY EXPENSE THAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, FOR MOBILITY- RELATED WORK.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO FUND WHERE I CAN DO SOME SUPPORT SERVICE AND ON MY CONTRACT MANAGER THROUGH MOBILITY FUND IF THEY'RE SERVING MOBILITY PROJECTS. BUT I CAN NOT FUND A FACILITY MAINTENANCE CREW USING MOBILITY FUND, SO THAT WOULD BE NONCOMPLIANT.
TYPICALLY, IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WHEN WE LOOK INTO CAN WE SUB THE FUNDING FROM ONE POSITION TO THE OTHER ONE, WE GO TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, THEY RUN THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE IT'S COMPLIANT.
THAT'S HOW WE DO OUR FUND MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
SO, ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO THIS APPROACH WITH MOVING SO MANY EXPENSES TO OTHER SOURCES? I KNOW YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT COMPLIANT -- BUT RISK IS DIFFERENT FROM COMPLIANCE.
>> YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS REVENUE SOURCE AND WE PROJECT THAT THAT REVENUE IS GOING TO COME FROM THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERMIT FEE, WE LOOK AT THE TREND. THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHAT DID WE SEE IN TERMS OF PERMIT REVENUE? WE SAW ABOUT $14 MILLION.
SO, WE MITIGATEMITIGATE RISKS. WE DO THINK THAT DEVELOPMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT SLOWING DOWN SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO GENERATE THE $14 MILLION. PARKING FEE, WE HAVE GENERATED ABOUT, LAST TWO YEARS, OVER $5 MILLION, AND DIRECTOR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE RISK IS MINIMAL.
NOW, YOU KNOW, ONCE -- THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS.
ONE IS, THE LEGAL PART OF IT. IS IT ELIGIBLE USE FOR THE PARTICULAR FUND? AND THE TWO IS, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, THE PROJECTED FUND? IF WE SEE THAT, FROM THE MOBILITY FUND, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE X MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, I DON'T SEE NO RISK.
>> THE LEGAL RISK IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORK -- AND I AM HEARING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE PROJECTING, WHERE WE'RE BETTING ON, HEY, WE HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PARKING, EVERY YEAR WE GET IT. SO, I THINK --
>> IF I COULD JUST ADD REALLY QUICKLY, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK DR. RAHMAN AND I STARTED ABOUT A WEEK APART FROM EACH OTHER.
OVER THE LAST FOUR BUDGET CYCLES, WE'VE REALLY WORKED TO CREATE CONTROLS.
I WOULD SAY PRIOR TO US COMING HERE, THERE WAS A LOT MORE RISK, BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T SO MANY EYES ON THIS. THERE WAS SOME KIND OF SHUFFLING OF COSTS ACROSS VARIOUS FUNDS. BUT WE'VE BUILT -- I FEEL VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO BUILD IN A PROCESS WHERE THERE'S AN INITIAL, YOU KNOW -- THE INITIAL PROJECT GOES TO THE COUNTY ENGINEERING.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST -- I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE. OKAY. I'M GOING TO JUMP TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC, WHICH IS, ARE RENOVATION REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENTS USUALLY SCREENED BY ENGINEERING TO EVALUATE THEIR NECESSITY? FOR EXAMPLE, HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS, ADA COMPLIANCE?
CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT?
>> SO, THERE'S TWO TYPES OF RENOVATION PROJECTS.
SO, THE ONE IS SOMEBODY CALL US AND SAY, I NEED A CONFERENCE ROOM. SO, THE QUESTION IS, WHY? AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. LAST YEAR, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE CALLED US AND SAYS, WE GOT AUTHORIZED FOR 50 POSITIONS THIS YEAR. SO, WE NEED A SPACE, AND FIND US A SPACE. WE FIND A SPACE, BUT THE SPACE ALSO NEEDS TO BE MODELED TO FIT THEIR NEEDS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER OF OFFICE, X NUMBER OF DEALS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOES TO A PLANNING COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGETING THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND EACH OFFICE HAS A MEMBER SITTING IN THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
SO, ONCE THE PLANNING COMMITTEE APPROVES, WE GO THROUGH THE FINAL INVESTMENT MEMO. THAT, IN TURN, GETS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT BEFORE WE START THE PROJECT.
[04:35:02]
SO, THAT'S HOW THE PROJECT IS BORN.AND TYPICALLY, SOME OTHER RENOVATION WORK, LIKE WE NEED TO RENOVATE THE BATHROOM, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF WHAT YOU HEARD ABOUT BATHROOM RENOVATION, WE LOOK INTO TWO THINGS.
ONE, THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE ARE GETTING TO FIX THAT BATHROOM. YOU KNOW, HOW MANY WATER LEAKS WE HAVE? HOW MANY ISSUES WE HAVE THAT WE ARE FIXING THERE.
AND THEN, SECONDLY, WE LOOK AT THE NEEDS AND URGENCY AND FINALLY, CAPACITY. OUR BUDGET IS USUALLY IN THAT PARTICULAR POT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AROUND 20 TO $23 MILLION. SO, BASED ON THE MONEY WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.
SO, THAT'S HOW WE LOOK AT, OKAY, IS THAT A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE? IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, OKAY, FIRE PANEL IS DAMAGED, THAT'S AN IMMEDIATE FUNDING THAT WE USE FROM THOSE FUNDING SOURCES. NOW, IF YOU'RE TELLING THAT, OKAY, IT'S AN ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUE, AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE TRY TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.
SO, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, WHICH IS, I KNOW ENGINEERING CURRENTLY HAS OVER FOUR MILLION IN VACANCIES.
WHAT EFFORTS HAVE YOU MADE TO IMPROVE TALENT ACQUISITION AND RETENTION?
SANTAMARIA -- SHE LEADS OUR TALENT AND ACQUISITION. SHE'LL BE A BETTER PERSON TO TALK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BUILT WITHIN THE THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER UNDER DR.
RAHMAN'S LEADERSHIP, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP VARIOUS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, TRADE SCHOOLS, SO MUCH IN THAT WE WERE VOTED EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR WITH ONE OF THE TRADE SCHOOLS HERE IN HOUSTON. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE SOME FOLKS FOR OUR BUILDING OPERATIONS SERVICES TEAM UNDER THOSE UMBRELLAS.
WE ALSO DO OUR BEST TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAD OVER 600 EMPLOYEES THAT ACTUALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT. WE HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT WE SUPPORT WITH OUR GYM. WE LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEE, AGAIN, AS I SAID LAST YEAR IN OUR BUDGET HEARING, BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT.
SO, WE LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEE AS A WHOLE. SO, THAT'S REALLY -- WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN DOING THAT. ONE OTHER THING IS THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO IDENTIFY TALENT THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR TEAM TO PROMOTE THEM. WE WANT TO KEEP THEM, AND WE FEEL THAT BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN IS ONE OF OUR TOP RECRUITMENT POINTS.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION, AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR FOLLOW- UP ON IT, SEEING AS HOW MY TIME IS EXPIRED. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BUILDING OPERATION SERVICES AND THAT STILL HAS A BUDGET OF $46.5 MILLION.
SO, CAN YOU FOLLOW UP OVER EMAIL WITH WHAT YOU GENERALLY SPEND IT ON AND WALK US THROUGH THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
A LOT OF THE SPENDING IS ON LABOR COST.
WE HAVE THE STAFFING. WHAT WOULD BE THE -- 43-SOMETHING MILLION IN LABOR COSTS. THAT IT'S SALARIES.
AND THEN, YOU HAVE SERVICE COSTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE PROJECT COSTS. SO, THE SERVICE COST WOULD BE THE JANITORIAL SERVICES, THE MOWING, WE DO THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE WOULD BE SERVICES WE PROVIDE?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW UP NOW. AGAIN W WITH TIME, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TOTO SOMETHING ITEMIZED AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.
WE WILL NOW CYCLE BACK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME.
THE ONLY COURT OFFICE TO HAVE REMAINING TIME WOULD BE PRECINCT 1. YOU HAVE 2:34 REMAINING.
>> OKAY, WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. I DO HAVE A FOLLOW- UP QUESTION.
I KNOW YOU LISTED SAFETY AND I NOTICE THAT EIGHT POSITIONS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE ELIMINATED.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR SERVICE DELIVERY?
>> ABSOLUTELY, IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT THAT POSITIONS THAT IS RELATED TO SAFETY, AND WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, AND RESILIENCY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO DIRECTOR RAMOS TO GET EXEMPTION FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE SAFETY-RELATED, SAFETY- RELATED SUCH AS EVEN IN OUR DISASTER RECOVERY. THAT'S A CONVERSATION I'M HAVING, TO ENSURE THOSE POSITIONS DON'T
THANK YOU. WE WERE JUST LISTENING TO DISCUSSION ABOUT OFFSETTING USING COMMERCIAL PAPER OR OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS. IS THERE A PLAN TO MITIGATE THESE RISKS FOR LONG-TERM DEBT? USING THIS METHOD?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY A MORE APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?
>> SURE, DIRECTOR. SO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT USING THE STRATEGY OF CAPITALIZING PERSONNEL INTO CIP.
[04:40:04]
SO, ARE THERE LONG-TERM RISKS USING THAT METHOD OF COMMERCIAL>> SO, FOR CONTEXT, WE USE FOUR CENTS OF THE 80 CENTS WE'RE ALLOWED TO UNDER STATE LAWLAW IN OF DEBT.
SO, WE DO THE COMPARISONS WITH OTHER, YOU KNOW, LARGER COUNTIES IN TEXAS. WE LOOK AT -- AND IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MODEL FOR EVERY STATE, BUT WE LOOK AT L.A. WE THINK OUR DEBT PROFILE KIND OF FITS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHERE IT IS.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU USE DEBT, YOU HAVE TO PAY IT BACK EVENTUALLY, AND SO THERE IS A BURDEN TO OUR TAXPAYERS.
BUT IT'S A SYSTEM THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS PUTS US IN WHERE WE HAVE DRACONIAN REVENUE CAPS ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE ON OUR DEBT SIDE, SO WE THINK THAT IT'S THE APPROPRIATE USE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS ARE CAPITAL IN NATURE.
THEY'RE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR CIP FUNDING BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPORTING CIP PROJECTS.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON VISION ZERO AND THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM. WILL ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS FACE CUTS, AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THESE CUTS ENTAIL AND HOW THEY WILL AFFECT THE PUBLIC?
>> YEAH, FIRST OF ALL, ON THE SUBDIVISION PROGRAM, BASED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, IT IS NOT IMPACTED. AND THE VISION ZERO INITIATIVE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FUNDED. NONE OF THEM HAS BEEN IMPACTED AT THIS TIME. THE VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COURT THAT WILL ALSO HAVE RECOMMENDED CORRIDOR THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THOSE FUNDING, IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENT, IT COMES FROM PRECINCTS ALLOCATED MOBILITY, PRECINCT'S ALLOCATED BOND AND OTHER FUNDS BUT FROM ENGINEERING'S PERSPECTIVE, OTHER THAN THE FREEZE, WHICH WILL IMPACT THE DELIVERY OF SOME OF THE PROJECT, THE SPEED OF DELIVERY, GOING BACK TO THE EARLIER QUESTION, I DON'T SEE ANY RISK OF, LIKE, WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING -- THERE IS NO RISK OF LOSING FUNDS OF ANY OF THOSE AREAS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WE HAVE.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. ARE YOU ABLE TO QUANTIFY THE IMPACT÷÷IMPACT INCREASED PERMIT FEES -- PERMITTING FEES ON ROADWAY OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO, BASED ON THE CURRENT MODEL, WE ARE $4.5 MILLION, THERE IS A GAP OF REVENUE VERSUS THE FUNDS WE CAN GET. MAXIMUM. NOW, STATE LAW PROHIBITS US THAT WE CANNOT CHARGE MORE THAN WHAT IT COST US TO DO THE PLAN, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING, AT HIGHEST, 95% OUT, RATHER THAN GOING TO 100%.
IF WE ARE TO, BASED ON THE PROPOSAL, WE HAVE THAT WE INSTEAD OF INCREASING IT ONCE, WE DO A THREE- PHASED APPROACH, WHICH IS, AGAIN, SINCE 2011, THE PERMIT FEE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO AS WE KNOW IS CHANGE THE FEE. I DON'T RECOMMEND CHANGING THE FEE FROM -- TO 200% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT.
OR IT CAN MAKE DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE.
SO, TO THAT EXTENT, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS 25%.
WE'LL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY, AGAIN, THIS IS A PROJECTION, BECAUSE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WE RECEIVE, THAT'S HOW WE COLLECT THE FEE, IS ABOUT 700 TO $800,000 ADDITIONAL FEE.
>> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. AND WITH THAT, CONCLUDES THE QUESTIONS FROM COURT OFFICES SEGMENT, AND SO DIRECTOR, YOU WILL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY, JUST ONE FOLLOW-UP REAL QUICK QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU. DR. RAHMAN, JUST WANTED TO -- I MUST HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION EARLIER. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO ALL THE QUESTIONS. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN NAGGING AT YOU ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A.I. FOR OUR PERMITTING PROCESS TO EXPEDITE THAT AS POSSIBLE.
MY VISION IS THAT WE NOT IMPROVE BY DAYS OR MONTHS BUT BY DRAMATICALLY BY MONTHS.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH MULTIPLE FOLKS, MULTIPLE VENDORS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR FOR ENGINEERING, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF, OUR STAFF ACTUALLY, WE ARE DOING AN ENGINEERING INNOVATION SERIES.
SO, WE ARE INVITING ANY VENDORS TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT IS MODERN THAT IS NEW THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE.
SO, WE WANTED TO BE CHAMPION OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
AND WE ALREADY HAVE, ACTUALLY, A PRESENTATION AND A
[04:45:02]
VENDOR COMING IN TO TALK TO US ABOUT HOW A.I. CAN BE USED. ONE OF THE THINGS -- AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO BRING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO COUNTY, AND SO WE CAN START DOING SOME PILOT. WE ALREADY USE A.I. , SOME LEVEL OF A.I. , TO REVIEW OUR ELEVATION CERTIFICATES. THAT TELLS US THAT, THE FLOODPLAIN, HOW WE CAN DO IT. A LOT OF THAT IS AUTOMATED.THAT HELPS US IN TERMS OF SPEED OF PLAN REVIEW.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT A FULL-FLEDGED REVIEW. SOME OF THE VENDORS WE HAVE MET, LAST YEAR'S COMMISSIONER, I'LL TELL YOU, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH IN THEIR MACHINE LEARNING. THEY HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH IN THEIR STORE TO REVIEW, SO THE COMPLEXITY AND OTHER THINGS, THAT IS NOT THERE.
BUT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY EXPLORING THAT MODERN TECHNOLOGY LIKE A.I. OR SURVEY USING DRONE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AGAIN, DIRECTOR, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO START THANKING ALL MY STAFF WHO HAS BEEN WORKING TO FIND FIND EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE AREAS OF BUSINESS, AND CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING TO OPTIMIZE OUR OPERATIONS. WITH THAT SAID, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PRECINCT OFFICERS AND ALL THE COURT OFFICERS IN TERMS OF WORKING TOWARDS SETTINGSETTING UP REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR TOMORROW. WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUIDELINES FOR GEOMETRIC DESIGN MANUAL, WE ARE DOING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WE HAD FROM COURT OFFICES. IN TERMS OF VISION ZERO, OUR STEERING COMMITTEE IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY ELIMINATES THE NUMBER OF DAYS ON THE STREETS BY 2030. I'LL ADD ONE OF THE BIGGER QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE NOT ADDRESSED EARLIER, COUNTYWIDE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN. WE HAVE LAUNCHED A COUNTYWIDE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH EVERY PRECINCT. THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BE PRIORITIZING THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN EACH AREA OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE PROJECTS? WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE, EACH OF THE OFFICES, TO COME UP WITH THE PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA THAT IS FAIR, THAT IS EQUAL, AND WE CAN HAVE -- AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO SAY THESE ARE THE 200 PROJECTS WE HAVE IN COUNTY AND RANK 1 TO 200 THAT IS PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS AND THESE ARE THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HIGH-RISK.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO -- I WANT TO TELL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR PRIORITY IS OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLANNING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS ALL THE -- EVERYBODY AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH THEM TO KNOW WHAT IS THE TWO- YEAR, FIVE- YEAR, TEN-YEAR NEEDS FOR SPACE AND WHERE DO WE GO? SO, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE, OUR SPACE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WITH THAT SAID, FINALLY, I DO NEED TO THANK DIRECTOR RAMOS FOR COLLABORATING WITH OUR BUDGETS AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR BEING THE REFEREE EVERY NOW AND THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DR. RAHMAN, AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
SO, THAT CONCLUDES OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR THE DAY. THESE PROCEEDINGS WILL RESUME TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M.
FOR OUR FINAL DAY OF BUDGET HEARINGS FOR FY26.
THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.