Jan 28, 2020 Budget Presentation Special Meeting

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>> IT'S 9:03 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO

ORDER. COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> TODAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE INTRODUCING PASTOR LEMALLE. EVERYBODY WHO KNOWS HIM CALLS HIM AVERY.

IT IS AN A AND A CAPITAL M. BUT PASTOR AVERRI IS ONE OF THE PASTORS AT CHAMPION FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH WHICH, JUDGE, AT THE TIME WE WERE WANTING TO BRING HIM DOWN HERE, THIS WASN'T TRUE, BUT TECHNICALLY SPEAKING HE IS MY SPIRITUAL FATHER RIGHT NOW.

AND I GO TO HIS CHURCH. SO PLEASE DON'T ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS, AND YOU MAY WANT TO BE PRAYING FOR HIM AT THIS TIME, BUT I WANT TO MENTION THAT NOT ONLY IS HE A GREAT LEADER OF -- A MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT CHAMPION FOREST, BUT THAT ALSO HE IS AN EDUMACATED FELLOW IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGY AND GRADUATED FROM NEW ORLEANS WITH THEOLOGY AND A DEGREE FROM HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AND LIBERTY.

IN ADDITION TO BEING A SPIRITUAL MAN HE IS AN INTEREST LEBLGHT ACTUAL FELL -- INTELLECTUAL FELLOW. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR AVERRI-LEMALLE.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER. SHALL WE PRAY? HEAVENLY FATHER, IT IS UNDER YOUR GRACE THAT WE EVEN EXIST.

AND SO WE BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

A DAY THAT YOU'VE MADE, A DAY IN WHICH YOU ALLOWED US TO GATHER IN THIS PLACE.

WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY AND I THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU BLESSED THEM AND ASSIGNED THEM TO THE SPECIAL TASKS. THANK YOU THAT WE CAN CALL UPON YOU AND HUMBLY ASK FOR WISDOM AND DIRECTION. I ASK YOUR CHOICE OF BLESSINGS ON EACH PERSON REPRESENTED IN THESE CHAMBERS THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE AND -- GUIDE EVERY DECISION.

THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, AND THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ARE FILLED WITH YOUR GRACE AND MERCY.

SO ON THIS 28TH DAY OF JANUARY I HUMBLY ASK YOU CENTER THEM IN YOUR WILL.

WE LIVE IN YOUR WILL TODAY AND ALL THAT HAPPENS YOU BE GLORIFIED.

AND HELP WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE HERE AMONG YOUR PEOPLE.

I THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE AND THE COMMITMENT AND MAY YOU USE THEM ON THIS DAY AND IN THIS SPECIAL WAY THAT WE MAY KNOW THAT YOUR FAVOR RESTS UPON THIS BLESSED CITY OF OURS. IT IS IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO TODAY WE WILL START WITH OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION AND BUDGET HEARINGS.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR NOT ASKING THE PASTOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA. BEFORE WE START WITH THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT'S PRESENTATION OF THE LETTER THEY PROVIDED, I DO WANT TO MENTION -- OF COURSE WE HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS SO THE BUDGET.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN A LOT MORE INVOLVED, A LOT MORE RIGOROUS AND WITH MORE DETAIL IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM EACH DEPARTMENT. THERE IS STILL A WAYS TO DETERMINE HOW IT FALLS UNDER THE CIP AND HOW DO WE EVALUATE THE VALIDITY OF THE METRICS WE SELECT, AND WE ARE NOT ONLY QUESTIONING PROGRAMS GOING FORWARD, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR WORKS AND SO WE ONLY ASK QUESTIONS OF NEW THINGS.

AT SOME POINT WE WILL BE ABLE TO EVALUATE OUTCOMES AND WE HAVE METRICS AND PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND TO BUDGET FOR LEADING US ON THIS AND TO KNOW THAT IT'S STILL A ROAD AHEAD,

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BUT WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU.

THE PROCESS HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR. WE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIAL HAD AND WE REVAMPED IT.

IN EARLY DECEMBER WE HAD OVER 20 HOURS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH VERY DETAILED BOOKS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS WHICH WE REALLY THANK THE DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL OF THE EFFORTS THEY PUT IN THE BOOKS AND WE DID READ EVERY PAGE OF THOSE AND TO COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS IS AN INTERESTING YEAR FOR US.

WE HAVE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PRESSURES. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAP ON OUR GENERAL REVENUES. AND WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE TAX RATE CAP THIS YEAR. AND SO IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SUPPLY OF FUNDS THAT ARE

AVAILABLE. >> JUST ONE QUICK NOTE THERE BECAUSE I NOTICED ON THE LETTER AND FOLKS WILL REMEMBER BACK IN JANUARY, FIRST COURT OF 2019 WE ASKED FOR THE COUNTY WIDE REVIEW IS WHEN WE ÚFIRST BEGAN THAT PROCESS. EARLY ON, BEFORE THERE WAS A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT REVENUE CAP WE ASKED FOR METRIC.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A CAP OR NO CAP. THIS IS A MATTER OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS A MATTER OF RECORD AND CERTAINLY NOT IN FUTURE LETTERS THAT THIS WHOLE EFFORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY WAS TIED TO THE REVENUE CAP. IT WASN'T. GITE --

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE NEED METRICS AS MATTER OF COURSE.

>> WE START THEY HAD PROCESS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE MADE THOSE RULES.

AND SO IT WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF YOUR OFFICE AND OTHERS WE PUT THAT IN PLACE.

WITH THAT WE DID HAVE THE MEETINGS AND WE PUT ALL OF THE DETAILS ON THE INTERNET TO BE TRANSPARENT AND FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE UH DILTER -- THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS. ONE IS THE BEGINNING CASH BALANCE WHICH IS THE FUNDS THAT ARE IN THE BANK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR PLUS ALL OF THE REVENUES THAT HAVE TO BE ESTIMATED FOR NEXT YEAR. SO IT IS THOSE TWO COMPONENTS. IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS TO DO THAT. A LOT OF TIMES THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS, BUT WE TRY TO HIT SOME NUMBER AROUND ONE OR TWO PERCENT OF ACCURACY ON THAT. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL GET THERE. THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS PROBABLY A LITTLE CONSERVATIVE AT THIS POINT, AND IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL GET THE FINAL ESTIMATE. THAT CAN EVEN CHANGE AFTER THAT.

WE ARE ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF COLLECTING PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT NOW, AND THOSE COLLECTION RATES AND ALL OF THAT, WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE FINALLY ARE UNTIL AFTER MARCH 1ST. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT THAT HAS TO GO INTO THESE ESTIMATES AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE, THIS WILL BECOME MUCH EASIER WHEN WE CHANGE OUR FISCAL YEAR TO A SEPTEMBER 30TH FISCAL YEAR IN A YEAR OR SO. WE WANT PEOPLE SOFT WHICH IS OUR NEW FINANCIAL SYSTEM STABLE AND IN COURSE. THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE MAY BE DOING A SHORT BUDGET PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT YEAR-END SO I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT. NEXT YEAR, IF THINGS GO PROPERLY, WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET HEARING LIKE THIS, BUT THEN WE MAY HAVE ONE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS LATER. SO WE WORK WITH -- IN THE ACCOUNTING WORLD WE CALL THEM PRINCIPALS. THERE ARE GENERAL ACCEPTED COUNTY PRINCIPALS.

WE USE BEST PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE THOSE. WE HAVE LISTED HERE FOUR ITEM THAT'S ARE VERY IMPORTANT. ONE, WE WANT TO BE IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION.

AND THAT HELPS OUR DEBT RATINGS WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT WITH THE APPROXIMATE $5 MILLION DEBT WE HAVE OUTSTANDING. WE HAVE PUT ASIDE RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ONE MAJOR NATURAL DISASTER AND ONE ECONOMIC DISASTER AND THIS BUDGET WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH THOSE FACTORS IN MIND. WE MADE SURE WE COULD MANAGE THE DEBT AND THE DEBT DOES NOT GROW FASTER THAN THE POPULATION AND THE ABILITY TO RETIRE DEBT IN A TIMELY MANNER. FINALLY WE HAVE A PRINCIPAL

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THOSE ARE ITEMS AND PRINCIPALS THAT WE LOOKED AT IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

THE OTHER ITEM IS AS PART OF WHAT THE JUDGE SAID THERE ARE TWO MAJOR STUDIES BY PFM AND -- AN OUTSIDE CONSULTING FIRM. ONE STUDY IS LOOKING AT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS HEADED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE JUSTICE.

AND THIS STUDY, WE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS 20 YEARS AGO AND THE DEPARTMENT AREA WILL YIELD RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MAY NEED TO ADJUST SOME DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AFTER THOSE FINDINGS ARE FOUND. SOME MAY NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGET, BUT MANY WILL NEED TO BE BAKED INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP IS THAT AS NEW PROGRAMS ARE COMING ON BOARD WE WANTED SOMEWAY TO EVALUATE SOME OF THESE NEW SERVICES THE DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE PROVIDING , AND WE CAME UP WITH THE INTERNAL BRANCH PROGRAM. THIS IS TO COINCIDE WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS. THERE ARE ITEMS MENTIONED IN THE HEARING THAT'S PEOPLE LIKE TO DO. AND IN THE PAST WE CALLED THOSE PILOT PROJECTS.

WE WANT THOSE TO BE EVALUATED BASED ON WHAT WE DO WITH EXTERNAL GRANTS WHERE YOU COME IN AND STATE WHAT YOU WANT ACCOMPLISHED AND THEN THERE IS A FOLLOW-UP AT THE END OF IT.

COURT HAS THE ABILITY TO TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT OR NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL OR SAY WE WANT TO MAKE THIS A PROGRAM THAT IS PART OF THE REGULAR DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS KIND OF THE STEP TO GETTING DEPARTMENTS FAMILIAR WITH DOING IT IN THIS WAY, AND IT ENCOURAGES THAT THIS WILL BE FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICE SPECTRUM THAT DEPARTMENTS HAVE AS THE JUDGE HAS MENTIONED. WE THINK THIS IS A PHASE IN THERE.

AS FAR AS RECOMMENDATIONS GO WE HAVE TO BREAK IT INTO SEVERAL CATEGORIES AND THERE IS A CHART ON PAGE FOUR. WE HAD $113 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUEST IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS. IT WAS OUR JOB TO MEET WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE DEPARTMENTS AND DETERMINE HOW WE COULD GO ABOUT THIS AND FIGURE OUT PRIORITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IS THE CIP. SOME OF THE ITEM THAT'S WERE ASKED FOR WERE CAPITAL ITEMS AND A CAPITAL ITEM IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PHYSICAL ASSET THAT LASTS MORE THAN ONE YEAR. AND SO IN SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PAGES WE HAVE BROKEN OUT THE REQUEST , AND THOSE WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE CIP WHICH HAPPENS AT MIDYEAR. WE HAVE OTHER ITEM THAT'S WE BROKE OUT THAT WOULD PROBABLY FIT INTO THE ETERNAL BRANCH PROGRAM AND THAT NEED FURTHER ANALYSIS, AND AGAIN WE LISTED THOSE IN HERE. THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT REALLY NEED -- WE NEED POLICY DIRECTION FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

TO TELL US WHICH DIRECTION AND WE LISTED THOSE OUT. WE HAVE STUDIES UNDERWAY THAT ALSO WOULD GIVE US PRIORITIES, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THOSE STUDIES TO MAKE FURTHER ITEMS, AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER ITEMS THAT FOR INSTANCE IN THE JP AREA, THE LAW CHANGED ON THEIR -- I THINK THEY WENT FROM 10,000 TO 20,000 ON THEIR CASES AS FAR AS DOLLAR VALUE AND THAT WILL TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE IN THERE. SO THOSE ARE THE ITEMS, AND THAT'S HOW WE BROKE THAT DOWN. WE ORIGINALLY HAD SOME ITEMS LAST YEAR THAT CAME INTO EFFECT FOR A FULL FISCAL YEAR THIS YEAR, AND THAT CAME IN ABOUT $43 MILLION.

WE ALSO IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN A GOOD HEALTH CHARGE AND THAT'S $3 MILLION AND THERE IS SOME OF THE INCREASING COSTS AND WE NEED TO PUT THAT ON THE EMPLOYEES. PART OF THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE.

>> THE OTHER THING WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS 2% INCREASE TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION FOR EMPLOYEES. THIS WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT WOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OR THE ELECTED OFFICIAL.

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WE WORKED THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. OUT OF THE ADDITIONAL $113 MILLION THERE WAS 31 MILLION THAT WE SPECIFICALLY GAVE OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT. AND AGAIN THERE ARE THINGS I DETAILED IN THE CERTAIN AREAS. IN THE PAST THE TOLL ROAD PROVIDED SINCE FISCAL 09 APPROXIMATELY $120 MILLION AS A TRANSFER WHICH IS BASED ON A FORMULA AND WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE DIFFERENT PRECINCTS. EARLIER THIS YEAR IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE FORMULA WOULD BE 25% FOR EACH COMMISSIONER UNTIL IT COULD BE STUDIED AND LOOKED AT.

WE NEVER ADJUSTED THAT FROM INFLATION AND WHEN WE WENT BACK AND WORKED WITH HECTOR WE CAME UP WITH $159.6 MILLION WHICH CAN FIT INTO THEIR BUDGETING PROCESS.

AND SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT BE INCREASED TO THAT AMOUNT.

WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE SOME METHODOLOGY IN THE FUTURE OF KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION BUT IF THEY HAD A YEAR NOT DOING AS WELL AS OTHERS THE ADJUSTMENT COULD GO DOWN ALSO DEPENDING ON THAT. WITH THAT IN CONCLUSION, JUDGE, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO

YOU FOR ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK

COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD A COMMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, BILL. I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION ACTUALLY IS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ROBERT, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SETTING THE TAX RATE, YOU ADVISED US THAT -- WHAT THE PROCESS WAS.

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE ULTIMATE TAX RATE UNLESS IT WAS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

AND THAT WAS -- THAT ACTUALLY WAS INACCURATE. WE COULD HAVE CHANGED THE TAX RATE AT THE FINAL MEETING BESIDES GOING TO THE EFFECTED -- EFFECTIVE RATE.

WE COULD HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS. SECONDLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE RECEIVED SOME COMMUNICATION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT THERE WAS THIS UNIQUE LAW ABOUT THE QUAR RUM. IT WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON IT AND WE FOUND THAT OUT IN MIDSTRENGTH. IN THE FUTURE AS WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE AND IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE AT GOING -- AT DOING THE CHANGE OF LAWS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND ACTUALLY WHAT WE COULD DO AT THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THE TAX RATE. I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT OUT THAT IT IS STILL IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, AND AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS I LEARNED QUITE A BIT ON IT, AND IT WOULD HAVE WILL BE -- WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD. BILL, TO YOUR PRESENTATION, THE FIRST THING IS WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL, WE WERE BUDGETING MUCH THE SAME WAY. WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE AND THEN WE WOULD START TO REHASH THE NEW BUDGET CYCLE.

AND BILL WHITE ACTUALLY PUSHED FOR US TO GET TO A 10-YEAR BUDGETING CYCLE.

WE ENDED UP AT A FIVE-YEAR BUDGETING FORECAST. WE DON'T DO THAT HERE.

WHEN CAN WE START TO SEE SOME MORE MEANINGFUL FORECASTING SO THAT IT IS NOT EVERY YEAR OF REINVENTING THE PROCESS. FIVE YEAR AT MINIMUM IS A BEST PRACTICE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST GOVERNMENTS DO. DOES THAT REQUIRE A MOTION TO

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REQUEST A FIVE-YEAR FORECAST? >> I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THE FORECASTS WE HAVE TO DO IT WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

THAT'S WHERE YOU START. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT THE ACCURACY OF IT -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I MEAN, IT

IS A FORECAST. >> I UNDERSTAND. AND THEN THE DEPARTMENTS, I THINK WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND WE CERTAINLY COULD WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO HAVE THEM SAY WHERE THEY SEE THE FUTURE. SO I THINK WE CAN DO THAT, AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY DOES AND BRING SOMETHING BACK.

IF YOU Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, I CAN COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT. THE OTHER ITEM IS OUR DEPARTMENT IS ONE BEING STUDIED BY PFM, AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THEM AND SAY THAT IS

SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD.

GOOD. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE INTERNAL GRANT, I HEARD THE IDEA WHEN WE MET AND DISCUSSED IT, AND ON THE SURFACE IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

THE JUDGE HAD REALLY TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THE BUDGETING PROCESS IS THE BUDGETING PROCESS. WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO DEAL WITH THINGS THAT HAPPEN AS THEY HAPPEN, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BLAME ANY DIRECTOR THAT COULDN'T FORECAST A HURRICANE OR A TORNADO OR A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. IF THE DIRECTOR IS COMING UP OF A GOOD IDEA IN MIDSTRAIN IT IS GOOD FOR THE MIDYEAR OR GOOD FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGETING CYCLE. COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THE ROLL OVER WAS INTENDED TO BE THE INTERNAL GRANT PROCESS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS. IF ARE YOU DOING A PILOT PROJECT. THEY CAN USE IT FOR ONE-TIME EXPEPPED TOUR -- EXPENDITURES. THAT'S A PILOT PROJECT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ROLL OVER AS -- I STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROLL OVER ITSELF, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE INTER -- INTERNAL GRANT PROGRAM AND HAVE MORE CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

ULTIMATELY THIS BODY SHOULD BE EVALUATING AND PROVIDING THE RESEARCH AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE HEARING THE HIGH POINTS. AS THE JUDGE SAID WE NEED METRICS IN THE BUDGET. I'M CONCERNED WE DEVELOPED YET ANOTHER TIER OF POTENTIAL.

NOT SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE, BUT POTENTIALLY NONTRANSPARENT BUDGETING AND WHO EVALUATES THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS. I HAVE CONCERNS AND I AM NOT YET READY TO SIGN OFF ON A -- ON AN INTER GRANT PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE PROCESSES. WE HAVE TO CHALLENGE OUR DIRECTORS ON HOW TO LOOK AT THEIR OPERATIONS AND BE STRONG ENOUGH TO COME UP TO THE BODY AND SAY I NEED RESOURCES AND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT WORKING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS PROCESS OUGHT TO BE LIKE SO WE ARE NOT GIVING MONEY. THE WAY I PRESUMED THIS WOULD WORK IS SOMEBODY WOULD SAY I WACHT -- I WANT TO BUILD A PROJECT AND NOT GO TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES OF THE ROLL OVER ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WAS THAT THE ROLL OVER WOULD BE FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.

A PILOT PROJECT IS GENERALLY A ONE-TIME EVENT TO PROVE SUCCESS OR NOT.

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PROCESS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER EL -- COMMISSIONER EL LIGS? ELLIS? RODRIGUEZ

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT HAS BEEN THE PAY IN THE PAST 1234* I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT NOT WANTING TO LOSE GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE WE CAN'T PAY THEM, OR FOR THAT MATTER TRACK GOOD PEOPLE COMING. HERE IS THE HISTORY I HAVE IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TELL YOU CORRECT. IN 2019 IT IS 5%. 8 CORDING TO MY -- ACCORDING TO MY NOTES 2018 IT WAS 0 AND 2017 IT WAS 0. TWO YEARS WITHOUT A PAY RAISE. I ASSUME EACH TIME IT WAS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. THAT WAS TWO YEARS IN A ROW WITH NOTHING, AND THEN IN 2016

IT WAS 3% AND 2015, 1%. IS THAT PRETTY MUCH ACCURATE? >> YEAH.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT I WONDERING IS ARE WE KEEPING PACE I KNOW AT THIS TABLE AND THROUGHOUT THE THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT ENGINEERING AS AN EXAMPLE. OTHER COUNTIES ARE TAKING PEOPLE AND GRABBING THEM.

WE ARE WONDERING ON WHAT BASIS DID YOU ALL DECIDE THAT 3.2% WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

>> THIS YEAR WE RECOMMEND 2%. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE 2%, WHAT BASIS DID YOU FIND?

>> WE THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE COULD AFFORD WITH THE ALLOCATION OF 60 MILLION WE THOUGHT 2%. THIS DOES GIVE DEPARTMENTS -- THIS ISN'T INDIVIDUAL.

WE ARE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THIS IS MORE OF KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION

FOR EMPLOYEES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: HISTORICALLY IS THAT THE WAY THE COUNTY DID

IT IN THE PAST? >> THEY DID IT PRIOR TO ME BEING A BUDGET OFFICER.

IT WAS 3% EVERY YEAR. THE ISSUE WAS IT WAS ACROSS THE BOARD INCLUDING ELECTRO OFFICIALS AT THE TIME. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING 3% THAT MAY NEED EVALUATION PROCESSES AND ALL OF THAT AND THEY WEREN'T DESERVING OF THE 3%.

AND SO WE WENT TO GIVING THE DISCRETION -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO IT WAS A METHOD FINANCE. IF YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY HAD, YOU WOULD COME UP WITH SOME NUMBER AND JUST GIVE THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THEY COULD DECIDE IF THEY WANTED TO DO A PAY RAISE?

>> OR IF THEY WANTED TO ADD INDIVIDUALS OR KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I ASSUME YOU HAVE OTHER SPECIAL ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD FUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WE WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE UP THE LADDER. THAT'S THE ENCOURAGEMENT HERE. IF YOU LOOK WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS I BELIEVE 7,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE THAT WERE HERE FIVE YEARS AGO, THEY RECEIVED -- BECAUSE

THEY MOVED UP -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU CONCEDE THOUGH THAT WE HAVE A TURNOVER

PROBLEM AND CHALLENGES HOLDING ON TO PEOPLE. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WAS WHEN THE ITEM CAME ON THE AGENDA TO RAISE THE COMMISSIONER SALARIES? I ASSUME IT WAS MORE THAN 2%.

>> IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HADN'T HAD A RAISE IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M SURE GLAD WE DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE LOOKED PRETTY ODD TO COME IN AND WANT TO RAISE OUR SALARIES. I HEAR FROM SOME OF THE OFFICIALS WHO ARE UPSET, BUT IN MY JUDGMENT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOOL HEARTY TO RAISE OUR SALARIES AND THEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET PROCESS EVERYBODY ELSE IF THE DEPARTMENTS WE COULDN'T DO AS MUCH FOR THEM AS WE WANTED TO DO FOR OURSELVES.

IN TERMS OF THE FIVE-YEAR FORECASTING, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I KNOW THAT THE STATE DOES A TWO-YEAR BUDGET CYCLE. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT PERFECT, BUT IT GIVES SOMEBODY THE LATITUDE TO LOOK AT A LITTLE LONGER TERM THAN A ONE YEAR.

AND I ASSUMING THROUGH THE PFM PROCESS, MAYBE IT WOULD BE GOOD TO LOOK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT SURELY SOME OTHER COUNTY. I KNOW WHEN I GOT HERE THIS WASN'T -- THIS WAS A MUCH QUICKER PROCESS. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS DONE IN A BLACK BOX AND IT ROLLED ON THROUGH. I DO THINK, JUDGE, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN A LOT MORE DELIBERATE. IT IS NEVER PRETTY, BUT TO THE EXTENT WE DOO TO -- WE COULD FORECAST OUT AND IT MAY LET THE DEPARTMENT KNOW THROUGH

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DO WE KNOW HOW THE OTHER COUNTIES INTERPRET IT? THE STATUTE OUT IS PUTTING A CAP ON THE REVENUE INCREASE. DO YOU KNOW HOW OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE INTERPRET IT?

>> NOT SPECIFICALLY. I KNOW OUR INTERPRETATION IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER MAJOR COUNTIES AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT MORE. AIDE

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND SO NOW THAT WE ARE OUT OF THE DANGER PERIOD SO THAT IF WE TRY TO MAKE -- WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO ASK FOR THE OPINION AND THAT WOULD BE AN ADVISORY. IT WOULD ONLY BE AN OPINION.

IT WOULD AT LEAST CLEAR THE AIR BECAUSE WE COULD FACE THAT SAME SITUATION.

>> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AGAIN, WALK US UP WHAT OUR OPTIONS WERE IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE INCREASE THAT CAME UP. WE GOT MORE FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAN WE GOT MONEY. WHAT WERE THE FIGURES -- WHAT

ARE THE OPTIONS WE HAD? >> AS FAR AS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANTED AS FAR AS DEPARTMENTS

GO? >> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, GOING BACK TO WHEN WE SET THE TAX RATE. WE HAVE THE OPTION OF $185 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO INVEST IN THE REGION. MOST OF US WOULD ACCEPT THE FACT WE HAVE HAD DECADES OF UNDER FUNDING. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID AND HOW THEY DID IT, THE OPTION IS $185 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE,

IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE HAD AN OPTION THAT ALLOWED YOU TO GO FOR ONE YEAR

-- >> FOR ONE YEAR. >> TO GO UP TO THE MAXIMUM OF

8%. >> WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN $185 MILLION.

>> I BELIEVE SO. >> AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE BREAK DOWN OF WHERE THAT MONEY

WOULD HAVE GONE? >> AS FAR AS DEPARTMENTS? >> YEAH, SO I HAVE ABOUT 132

WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. >> SO THAT BREAK DOWN.

>> I DON'T HAVE THAT ONE. IT WAS $185 MILLION. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO CRITICISM, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN $185 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THE BREAK DOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN $12 MILLION USED FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

77.9MILLION FOR HOSPITAL DISTRICT. IS THAT PRETTY MUCH YOUR

RECOLLECTION? >> YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO LAY THAT OUT, AND I'M ASSUMING WHEN WEE COME TO THAT POINT THE NEXT CYCLE AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITH WHAT I ASSUME MOST OF THESE REQUESTS DO YOU FEEL THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE $132 MILLION, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH HAVING THE DISCUSSION ANYWAY?

>> I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THAT'S WHY IT IS A PUBLIC -- THE DEPARTMENTS WOULD COME AND ASK AS THEY DID.

THAT'S WHERE THEY GET ELIMINATED. >> SO YOUR OFFICE DOES NOT GIVE US ANY GUIDANCE. YOU JUST SEND OVER WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ASK FOR?

>> WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE. YOU CAN TWEAK THAT AND WE GIVE

A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON OUR -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO YOU DO

SOME REVIEW OF WHAT YOU THINK. >> YES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE COULD NOT HAVE A BUDGET. WE CAN LET THEM WALK THIS HERE. I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO JUST WALK IN HERE.

>> MY JOB IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU. >> SO SOME YOU LOOK AT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MIGHT I SUGGEST WE MOVE TO THE REVIEW GIVEN THE TIME IT IS IF THAT

WORKS FOR YOU GUYS. DOES THAT WORK? >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S ALL

RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: DID HE WANT

TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS FIVE-YEAR? >> YEAH.

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>> I GUESS I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MOTION WOULD BE.

I GUESS IT WILL DEPEND ON THE MOTION. IF IT DEALS WITH THE BUDGET IT

WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: A FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.

>> TO DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR BUDGETING -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: FORECAST.

>> A BUDGETING FORECAST. THAT WOULD BE PROP -- APPROPRIATE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE THE DOCUMENT WE RECEIVED ON THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, PAGE 15 HAS A CHART THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS EASY FOR STAFF IF WE GO DOWN THIS ORDER.

I JUST GOING TO CALL OUT THESE DEPARTMENTS AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES THAT THERE ARE COMMENTS ON. SO COMMISSIONER'S COURT ANALYST OFFICE.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS THERE ON THE RECOMMENDATION? >> [INAUDIBLE]

>> A BRAND-NEW OFFICE AND YOU FIGURE THEY ARE STANDING UP. >> I'M JUST SAYING YOU HAVE A

DEPARTMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THAT. >> JUDGE IF I MAY?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT IS A BRAND-NEW OFFICE. ACTUALLY JUST A FEW MONTHS OLD.

YOU MAY NOT BE HERE TO SEE IT BUT IT HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONVERSATION AND I THINK THE ANALYSIS THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE OFFICE WILL BE EARTH SHAKING BECAUSE IT WILL MOVE US INTO THE 21ST IF NOT 22ND CENTURY WITH THE PROCESSES THAT YOU HAVE BE THINKING ABOUT. BRAND-NEW OFFICE AND I EXCITED THAT KATIE HAS TAKEN ON THE

CHALLENGE AND I EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME. >> IS IT APPROPRIATE --

[INAUDIBLE] >> SURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT.

THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT IS LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS, AND I DO WANT TO COMMENT. THEY ADD RELATIVELY SMALL REQUEST.

I DO THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY'S INTERESTS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF. -- OF THE CONCERN WE HAVE WITH THE STATE NOT SENDING THE FULL FLOOD CONTROL FUNDS.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET WORKED OUT AND THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD AT THE RECENT CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES. THERE ARE SEVERAL CHALLENGE THAT'S OUR COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES CONTINUE TO FACE. SO I WOULD URGE THE COURT TO SUPPORT THE FULL AMOUNT, THE

$240 THOWDZ -- $240,000 FOR THE RELATIONS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT FOR TC REPRESENTATION OR AUSTIN REPRESENTATION? THE REASON I ASKING -- DO YOU

KNOW? >> YES, SIR. BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND THAT IS

FOR THE TC REPRESENTATION. >> -- DC REPRESENTATION. >> I WAS ARGUING FOR DC REPRESENTATION. WE DO HAVE SOME IN DC, BUT THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE AS YOU ELUDED TO IS MAKING SURE WE COME ALL RIGHT WITH THE STATE.

I MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE FOCUS ON AUSTIN AS OPPOSED TO DC.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUNT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE MORE AT THE GETTING OUR SHARE OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT GOES TO THE STATE AS OPPOSED TO GETTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GO BACK IN AND INTERCEDE. THE AMOUNT IS FINE.

MY PREFERENCE IS THAT OUR FOCUS IS ON BOOSTING OUR EFFORT IN TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE

RELATIONS AND STATE CAPITAL. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND IF THEY ARE HERE MAYBE TO CONFIRM --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: OR IF WE PUT THE AMOUNT IN -- >> LINA HIDALGO: AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THE FUNDS -- OH, CAN YOU CLARIFY ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN TERMS OF STATE REPRESENTATION? IS THIS TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH FEDERAL, OR IS

IT A ZERO SUM GAME. >> REID, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR.

[00:40:01]

BUT STATE WISE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE AN ARM AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR FOCUS. I THINK WE ARE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THAT IN TERMS OF

THIS BUDGET. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO BE CLEAR, JUDGE, IF I MIGHT.

AT LEAST FOR ME TO SUPPORT IT WE HAVE MR. PETERSON IN DC, AND WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE THOUGHT WE COULD GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE CLEARER ABOUT WHAT OUR PEACE WOULD BE. I WAS ADVOCATING IT AND IT WAS FOR DC REPRESENTATION. RIGHT NOW I THINK -- I HAVE TO COME BACK IF YOU COME UP WITH A FIRM, BUT AT LEAST FOR ME, MY PREFERENCE IS ON THE STATE LEVEL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE THAT IS GONNA HAPPEN UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER DISASTER AND ANOTHER PILE OF MONEY TO GO AFTER. AT LEAST WITH MY CONVERSATIONS I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO DO MUCH HEAVY LIFTING IN TERMS OF ISSUES BETWEEN WHAT

THEY GIVE US AND HOW IT IS DIVIDED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. >> I THINK THAT WHAT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO IS TO GET IN FRONT OF SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD.

AS DEPARTMENTS WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING EVENTS TO HAPPEN REGULARLY AND BE PREPARED FOR THEM. THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO GET THE RULES AND RIG LAYINGSES -- REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT THAT WE AREN'T BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. SO I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT -- WE HAVE DONE A REVIEW OF WHAT L.A. COUNTY HAS DONE AND MIAMI COUNTY AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THEIR FUNDING THIS WOULD HELP US TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THAT REALM, BUT ALSO GET IN FRONT OF THOSE ITEMS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO LEAVE IT UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER THAT IS STATE OR FEDERAL.

WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH A FIRM AND SOMEBODY. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE DON'T NEED

TO GO -- YES. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> I THINK THE DELEGATION LIKES TO HEAR WHAT THE COURT SAYS AND IT HELPS US COMMUNICATE WHAT THE COUNTY

NEEDS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I COULDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

IS YOUR MIC ON? >> MY QUESTION IS DOES IT INTERFERE WITH YOUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE AS -- AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ARE OUT BASHING THE GOVERNMENT? WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE

ANALYTICAL DEPARTMENT. >> I THINK IT GIVES US GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN FOR EXAMPLE WHEN THIS COURT SPOKE FAN -- FAN UNANIMOUSLY AND TALKED ABOUT GETTING THE RIGHT FLOOD FUNDING, IT WAS GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ALL STEPPED UP.

AS YOU KNOW WE GOT A LOT DONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DOES IT HELP TO FIGHT WHAT YOU NEED IF WE STAY QUIET?

>> YOU ALL HELP ME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WON'T PUT IT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, BUT AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE I NEVER HELD IT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

I WANT MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO ATTACK EVEN IF IT IS PERSONAL.

IT WILL LET THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE SAY FROM TIME TO TIME TO GET UNDER YOUR SKIN. YOU DON'T LAST IN THIS BUSINESS FOR AS LONG AS MANY

OF US HAVE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THICK SKIN. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THE FIRE MARSHALL REQUESTS CAME THROUGH AND WERE APPROVED AS PART OF THE GAP ANALYSIS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS ON INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.

>> I DO, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. >> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO COMMENT DR. SANCHEZ FOR HAVING DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN THAT AREA.

THE MAIN ISSUE WE SHOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES IS IN THE COLLECTION FOR PROPERTY FUNDS. THE PROJECT WAS SOMETHING I STARTED. IT WAS STOPPED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY. WHEN HE WAS DOING IT, WE WERE GETTING AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF HITS AND THERE IS PROBABLY NOT ONE CRIME THAT ISN'T A VIOLENT ONE AND US FROM -- AND

[00:45:04]

IT GOES ON -- IT GOES UNSOLVED. AND SO -- NOT THAT I THINK, BUT I KNOW TOUCH DNA PROJECT AND PROCESS WOULD HELP THE SHERIFF AND ALL OF OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES TO USE TOUCH DNA AT THE CRIME SCENES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE CLOSURE AND JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I SUPPORTIVE FOR A MILLION AND

ONE TO GET THE TOUCH DNA PROJECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I AGREE WITH THE CONCERNS RAISED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND I WOULD SAY TO THE EX -- EXTENT THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE TO WALK AWAY FROM $185 MILLION. WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT. I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE 2.8, COMMISSIONER, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO WITH THE MILLION THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW, BUT IT WOULD BE A BIG ISSUE FOR THE PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT THAT WAS ELUDED TO, THE RESEARCH OFFICE TO LOOK AND AT LEAST START HAVING SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THAT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT OR SOMEWAY IT NOT MERGE, BUT AT LEAST HAVE SOME CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY'S CRIME LAB. WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND IT IS SIMPLE. WE CAN CONTINUE TO UNDER FUND. YOU CAN LOOK FOR WAYS TO COLLABORATE, OR YOU CAN JUST PRAY THE MONEY IS GOING TO SHOW UP FROM HEAVEN OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE HAVE TO START HAVING THAT DIALOGUE IN THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

>> WONDERFUL. I AGREE. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU EXPWH THE -- AND THE JUDGE AND OTHERS AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE CRIME LAB MAY BE ONE EXAMPLE. WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR EITHER ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND KEEP TRYING TO WHIP OUT THE CREDIT CARD IN A CREATIVE WAY WHICH I THINK HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN DONE OR YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. >> I AGREE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT, COMMISSIONER. I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK .ED OUT THE CRIME LAB.

THAT'S SOMETHING IN MY MIND TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE TALK TO THE CITY IS MAKE SURE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVE BENCHMARKS WE DO QUITE WELL, AND SO I WOULD HATE TO COMPROMISE ANY QUALITY, BUT I ON BOARD FOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW MICHAEL BROMOWICH IS DOING STUFF FOR THE COUNTY.

HAVING CHAIRED THE BOARD FOR 14 YEARS, EVERY CRIME LAB WE DEALT WITH AROUND THE COUNTRY SAID THEY HAD A STYL -- STELLAR PERFORMANCE UNTIL WE GOT ONE AND THEN IT WOULD TRIGGER A HOST -- WITH THAT SAID HARRIS COUNTY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S ISSUE BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE ARE A GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AS OPPOSED TO SOME OTHER BODY THAT WILL BE INSULATED FOR WHEN FOLKS DON'T SHOW UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY. SOMETIMES THERE IS A

RELUCTANCE TO ASK FOR IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK IT MAKES SENSE,ING AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THE GRANT PROGRAM WAS MENTIONED, AND TO WHAT COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS SAYING THERE IS A CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE STAFF AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THE BEST VERSION OF AN EVALUATION MECHANISM AND WHO IT REPORTS TO AND HOW WE MAKE IT TRANSPARENT. THE IDEA IS GREAT.

I WOULD BE ON BOARD WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED FOR THE INSTITUTE.

CERTAINLY NOT THE FULL AMOUNT GIVEN -- GIVEN THE PRIORITIES AND GIVEN THE FUNDING LIMITATIONS. I THINK THE PROPERTY CRIME ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.

>> JUDGE, ON THAT THERE IS TWO PIECES TO WHEN YOU DO THE DNA TESTING.

THE OTHER PIECE IS TO MAKE SURE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TO TAKE THAT DATA AND EVALUATE IT. THAT'S BEEN IN THE PAST WE HAD HITS, BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN WE WERE BACKED UP FROM RESOURCES IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE IN THIS. IT IS A TWO-FOLD.

ON THE INTERNAL GRANTS PROGRAM LET ME JUST CLARIFY, THAT WAS NOT COMING FROM ME.

IT IS COMING TO A GROUP OTHER THAN MY OFFICE TO EVALUATE THOSE AND GIVE US DIRECTION.

[00:50:01]

>> JUDGE IF I MAY? >> IT HAS BEEN A FEW MINUTES SINCE I SPOKE, BUT --

>> LINA HIDALGO: YOUR MIC IS OFF, COMMISSIONER. >> ARE YOU ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO CHANGE THE ALLEGED ALLOCATIONS FROM 2.8 MILLION TO 1.7?

IS THIS A MOTION TO CHANGE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK TODAY IS JUST DISCUSSION, RIGHT? I WOULD JUST -- I WAS HOPING TO JUST HAVE DISCUSSIONS TODAY FOR THEM TO CIRCLE BACK, AND ALSO GET A LITTLE MORE DETAILS. I HAD NOTED HERE THAT THE TESTING IS 600,000. I WOULD WANT TO LOOK FURTHER INTO WHY A MILLION AS OPPOSED TO 600,000 AND ESPECIALLY WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE SHERIFF WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

I AM NOT SURE I READY TO MAKE A MOTION, AND PERHAPS I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST IT AND KEEP IT

AS A DISCUSSION SESSION OR WE MAY BE HERE ALL DAY. >> IN DEVELOPING THE BUDGET THAT'S APPROVD ON FEBRUARY 11TH, WE WILL CONSULT WITH YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH OPTIONS FOR BUDGET NEXT CONFERENCE. I WAS THINKING THIS DAY IF THERE IS STILL ADDITIONAL WORK, WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE OPTIONS WHEN THE BUDGET IS APPROVED SAYING THAT Y'ALL AGREE UPON AS A GROUP NEXT TIME.

WE CAN ADJUST THAT. >> SO TO THAT END, JUDGE, MY TWO CENTS IN THIS ONE AREA AND MY COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE IN CITY COUNCIL , A SIMILAR COMMENT WHEN I WAS A JUDGE, EVERYTHING IS ABOUT THE EVIDENCE. OUR INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SERVICES, SCIENCES ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE SCIENCES.

THE REASON THEY ARE NOT LOCATED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY ARE ABLE TO REPORTED -- REPRESENT INDEPENDENT DATA. THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS TO HAVE JUSTICE NOT BE DONE AND IT IS TWO SIDES. ONE IS BEING CONVICTED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE AND SOMEBODY CONVICTED AND RELEASED AND HOSPITAL BE ON THE STREETS.

>> MY TWO CENTS IS TO GIVE THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL -- THE EXAM -- THIS INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES THE TOOLS THEY NEED SO THE COURTS CAN RUN SMOOTHLY TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT, WHETHER IT BE THE INNOCENTLY FALSELY ACCUSED OR WHETHER IT IS THE INNOCENT WHO WILL SERVE THE VICTIM OF SOMEBODY HURT. AS WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION,

JUDGE, I'M ALL ABOUT THE EVIDENCE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THEY GOT 14% AND ABOUT ONE MILLION OF THIS REQUEST COULD COP FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. IS THAT A WAY TO TRY TO GET THE 600,000?

>> JOSH STUCKEY, BUDGET MANAGER -- >> YOUR MICK IS NOT ON.

>> [INAUDIBLE]. POSSIBLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS. JUST SO YOU KNOW THERE IS --

[INAUDIBLE]. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU SOME DIRECTION.

IT IS ONE LESS ITEM TO DEAL WITH. IF YOU CAN MOVE A MILLION TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT I THINK IT GETS US THERE. IT ACCOMPLISHES IT.

I AM NOT MAKING A MOTION ON. IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. BILL, BACK TO THE -- SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE INTERNAL GRANT PROGRAM, I GUESS CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE BRING US THE POLICIES THE PROCEDURES YOU DEVELOPED FOR THE INTERNAL GRANT? CAN YOU GET THAT TO US?

>> WE HAVEN'T DEVELOPED IT YET. WE WANTED TO MEET WITH YOUR

STAFF AND SEE WHAT THEY WANTED. >> GOT IT.

>> I WANTED THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET INTO THE MATRIX BUSINESS OF UNDERSTANDING THE MARGINAL,

[00:55:01]

AND THEN ONCE WE GET THAT WE GO BACK TO THE ENTIRE -- >> GOT IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS PUBLIC HEALTH. DO FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS ON THERE? MY QUESTION TO START OUT, BILL, IS JUST WHAT DO WE MAKE OF ITEMS REQUESTED BY PUBLIC HEALTH THAT CAN BE PUT ON CIP? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AT LEAST -- WAS IT MOBILE HEALTH CLEAN NICKS AND THE -- CLINICS AND

THE HEALTH HUBS COULD GO TO CIP? >> JOSH IS THE CIP EXPERT.

>> OUR CALCULATION -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER. >> I JUDGE, WOULD JUST SAY THAT IT IS ALL A MATTER OF PROCESS AND WITH WHAT RESOURCES WE'VE GOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE -- THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS COMMISSIONED A HEALTH DISPARITY STUDY.

IT IS WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN A VERY GOOD LOOK AT THE CHALLENGEDS -- CHALLENGES ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. IT IS WHY COMMISSIONER CAGLE CAN POINT TO THE FACT THAT FOLKS ON HIS SIDE OF TOWN HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN FOLKS ON MY

SIDE OF TOWN. >> IT IS THROUGH COUNTY PROVIDED SERVICES.

>> BUT IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE DATA.

AND NOT SUPPORT IT. I ALL FOR GIVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE WORKING ON. I KNOW IT IS WISHFUL THINKING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THAT STUDY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I MET WITH SOME FOLKS AT A PIP MEETING AND HEALTH, ACCESS TO HEALTH CLINICS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT CONSUMED A LOT OF TIME. WE NEED IT FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE BOLD LEADERSHIP ON OUR PART AND VISION RESOLVE AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WHICH I KNOW IS THERE TO PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCE THAT'S THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE AND THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR. I ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE

ISSUES THEY HAVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AGREE AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE MONEY TO DO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. THIS IS ONE YOU CAN'T GET CLEAR DIRECTION TODAY, I WOULD SUGGEST WE DON'T HAVE TO DRAG IT OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT WE NEED TO DRAG IT FOR TWO WEEKS. IF WE CAN PUT IT ON CIP, WE HAVE TO DO IT.

IN YOUR PRECINCT IT IS IMPORTANT. I THINK A GOOD PART IS PREVENTATIVE STUFF, AND THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO IN WHAT THEY -- WHY THEY ACTUALLY GET THE TREATMENT. THEY DIDN'T GET NEARLY THE KIND OF MONEY THEY NEED.

OBVIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD GET TO $26 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS, BUT IT IS AT LEAST FIVE OR SO IN MY MIND. IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CALLS FOR THE HEALTH CARE AND THE CHALLENGE IS OBESITY. SOME OF THESE OTHER ALLOCATIONS ARE SIDEWALKS, WALKING TRAILS, BIKING TRAILS, SOMETHING.

MAYBE IF MORE OF US EAT RIGHT, THAT'S WHY I STARVING RIGHT NOW.

I GET IN A BAD MOOD IF I DON'T EAT BY 11, JUDGE. THAT MAY BE ONE YOU HAVE TO CAN, BUT IN MY MIND I WANT TO GIVE MORE THAN THAT, ME PERSONALLY, MORE THAN A

MILLION, ARE BUT IT WON'T BE 26. >> I AGREE.

>> SO YOU DON'T GIVE US DIRECTION BEFORE? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE HAS A COMMENT AS WELL. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

24% OF THE COUNTY IS IMPOVERISHED AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST POPULATIONS THAT IS OUT THERE, AND YET WE HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF COUNTY PROVIDED PUBLIC SERVICES. JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE OF THE SERVICES DOESN'T MEAN YOU

[01:00:03]

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND I AGREED.

I THINK THAT COMMENT SHOULD RESONATE ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH, I MEAN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY.

YES, IT IS CHALLENGING, BUT I WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO CHALLENGE MY COLLEAGUES AND AS A COUNTY WHO IS IN PART RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING SOMEONE ON THE MOON, AND THAT WE CAN'T WORK TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, I WOULD SAY THAT PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL IS TO -- ON THESE BIG TICKET ITEMS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH TO HELP US IDENTIFY HOW MUCH CAN GO ON TO CIP, AND THEN IT WILL HELP US WITH DECIDING WHAT THE SUBSEQUENT IN -- INFUSION WOULD NEED TO BE. THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES.

I LOOKING AT THE VET -- AT THE SERVICES. YOU CAN GET A FEEL FOR WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS AT AND WHERE THEY ARE WHEN LAST NIGHT FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT WHY AREN'T WE DOING MORE TO DEAL WITH THE STRAYS AND THE -- IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ISSUE THAT'S DO IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE AND ULTIMATELY THE HEALTH OF THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET REQUEST AND IT IS ALL VALUE LADEN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE NEED TO PUT MONEY. ALTHOUGH I AGREE THAT MONEY IS NOT THE -- THESE RESPECTED ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T EVERYTHING WE HAVE AN

OBLIGATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, I THINK -- I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING BEING SAID. WE CERTAINLY CAN'T AFFORD THE 26 MILLION.

I KNOW WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MY TEAM ABOUT WHAT COULD BE THE ABSOLUTE UTMOST NECESSITY. THE NUMBER THAT CAME OUT WAS CLOSER TO THE $5 MILLION LEVEL. BUT THAT'S THE QUESTION I BROUGHT UP BEFORE WE EVEN DELVED INTO THE BUDGET HEARINGS. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT AS UNCLEAR TO US ON THIS TABLE. WHAT QUALIFIES THE CIP AND WHAT DOESN'T? A, IT WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT FALLS UNDER CIP. AND SO SOME OF THE MOST KEY SERVICES THAT WERE DISCUSSED WERE THE MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS AND THE DENTAL MOBILE TEAM AND DIABETES PREVENTION AND HEALTHY AGING, SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SOME OF THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION. AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAYS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT FALLS UNDER CIP.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A MYSTERY. THIS IS SOMETHING FOR PROBABLY NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, BUT IT IS A

WEAK POINT I THINK FOR THIS YEAR. >> I THINK WE CAN GET YOU SOMETHING ASAP ON THIS. AND WE CAN GET YOU THAT TODAY.

I CAN DO IT WITHIN AN HOUR. 30 SECONDS. >> I JUST -- SEND IT TO US.

I THINK I SAW IT YESTERDAY, BUT PUT A PIN BY IT. I CAN'T THINK OF AN AREA, JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION MAYBE WITH HARRIS SALES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WHETHER WE DO IT BEFORE OR AFTER, BUT IT IS AN AREA WE NEED TO PUT A NOTATION AND ASTERISK WHERE WE SAY IT OUGHT TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE OUGHT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT TRYING TO MERGE LOCAL OR SOMETHING. THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE CHARGED WITH HEALTH PREVENTION IN THIS REGARD. AND THEN THE COUNTY TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE AND ACTUAL TREATMENT FOR THE INDIGENT AND THE FEDERAL CLINICS DO A GOOD PART OF IT.

[01:05:06]

IN A REGION BIGGER THAN 26 STATES, I GET THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TRAMPLING OVER ONE ANOTHER. THERE ARE A LOT OF EGOS INVOLVED, BUT IF YOU HAVE NO MONEY COMPLEX, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST BEGIN TO HAVE THAT

DISCUSSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY, SO WE'LL CIRCLE BACK ON THIS ONE

IT LOOKS LIKE? >> WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND GIVE YOU MORE ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S SEE IF YOU COME WITH AND WE CAN

DISCUSS IT ON THE 11TH. >> IT IS ALL COMING ON THE 11TH.

>> AS THIS IS UNFOLDING I THINK THE FORMAT FOR THE 11TH IS TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION EARLY IN THE MORNING AT 10:00 FIRST THING IF WE COULD, AND THEN WE GET AGREEMENT AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK AND TYPE UP THE FORMAL ADOPTION. IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, AND THEN YOU CAN DO THAT.

THAT GIVES US ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, BUT THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADOPT TOWARD THE END OF THE MEETING IF THAT'S OKAY. OKAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: BRING SOME

HEALTHY FOOD IN, YOUR HONOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: FOR SURE. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT IS PUBLIC LIBRARY. DO FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS THERE? ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. >> YOUR HONOR ON THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WE NEED TO OFFER UP OUR PRAYERS FOR OUR DIRECTOR. HIS WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT

THIS LAST WEEK, AND SO WE NEED TO BE LIFTING THE FAMILY UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER. COMMUNITY SERVICES, DO FOLKS

HAVE COMMENTS THERE? >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I KNOW WE HAVE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT MR. JACKSON, THAT DEPARTMENT WENT FROM OVERALL BUDGET OF HOW MUCH, 22 MILLION OR SO? WHAT WAS IT?

TWO EXTRA BILLION? >> THEY HAVE STANDARD OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. IT IS THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE OTHER PROGRAMS AND THEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT. AND WE HAVE ALL OF THIS OTHER INFLUX OF MONEY.

IT IS REALLY TWO SEPARATE ACCIDENT -- TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS AT THIS POINT.

THERE ARE A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MONEY, AND I ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT AS STANDARD OPERATIONS AND THEN THIS OTHER PIECE WHICH IS BECAUSE OF OUR --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: OVERALL MONEY WHAT WAS IT INCREASED FROM? A ROUGH IDEA.

I WON'T HOLD YOU TO IT. >> AS FAR AS STANDARD OPERATIONS ?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YEAH. AN OVER ALL BUDGET, AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL MONEY.

>> APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. [INAUDIBLE].

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MEANT OVERALL SPENDING. I KNOW WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO SPEND WHAT WE NEED TO SPEND IN GENERAL REVENUE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE SOME OF THE

BILLION DOLLARS. >> COMMISSIONER I AGREE WITH YOU, AND THAT'S WHY IN MY OPENING STATEMENT I SAID THAT WE HAD FUNDING IN THE PIT FUND FOR TWO EVENTS.

THIS IS JUST THE HOLDOVER FROM HURRICANE HARVEY. AND SO WE HAVE FUNDS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS DRAWING DOWN ON THIS FUND.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO WE HAVE TO TAKE IT AND IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL, SUPPORT AND STRIKE

TEAMS, WHATEVER. >> BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY I CLASSIFY THAT AS AN EVENT.

AND THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE PICK FUND WHICH WE HAVE OVER $210 MILLION.

>> THAT'S JUST A PLACE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FLY ON THE CHEAP.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS BUDGET HERE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE -- AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CLARITY, AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ASKED -- THE REST I WAS GENERALLY FINE WITH, BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT ISSUES IN THE DEPARTMENT I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO JUST HOLDING OFF ON

THIS ONE IF THAT'S WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WANTS ARE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF WE NEED

IT, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> BASICALLY STATIC RIGHT NOW, BUT THE FUNDS ARE THERE AT A LATER TIME IF YOU NEED IT TO INCREASE? THE NONHURRICANE HARVEY STUFF. OKAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THAT'S COMMUNITY SERVICES. UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

THIS ONE I HAVE A COMMENT AND IT IS JUST THAT THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT THE RANK ORDER OF THE

[01:10:11]

>> THESE ARE THE LARGE CAPITAL ITEMS DONE WITH CIP. FOR INSTANCE PEOPLE SAW ONCE YOU BUY IT, THERE IS A MAINTENANCE COST YOU HAVE TO PAY TO ORACLE TO MAINTAIN IT.

THOSE ARE THE ITEM THAT'S WERE BROUGHT IN HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE ITEMS

ARE ALL RELATED TO THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED? >> YES, THE MAINTENANCE

ITEMS. I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. >> THERE IS A GAP SO I WILL

WALK OVER HERE. BRUCE, HI, UNIVERSAL SERVICES. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE FUNDING

REQUEST FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. >> YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M WONDERING WHAT PROJECTS ARE THOSE TIED TO, OR WHEN WERE THOSE PROJECTS APPROVED THAT THOSE ARE TIED TO? HAVE THEY BEEN APPROVED OR

SOME OF THESE INCREASES ARE TIED TO IT. >> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION I EXCITED TO ANSWER AND EVERY ONE OF OUR PROJECTS INCLUDES A -- AN OWNERSHIP, AND WITHIN THERE AND I ASKING YOU THIS BECAUSE I HOPING FOR SUPPORT, WHEN WE ASK FOR THAT WE LAY ALL OF THAT OUT, ALL THE WAY TO SETTING THE PCN'S THAT WE NEED AND SOMETIMES THREE YEARS BEFORE THE PROJECT IS EVEN LAUNCHED. WHAT'S REFLECTIVE IN THIS GROWTH IS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN FRUITION AND IN PRODUCTION.

IT IS THE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT SIDE WHICH IS WHAT WE PAY THE COMPANIES TO KEEP US RUNNING, AND THEN ALSO THE PERSONNEL THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THAT AREA.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IN THIS -- IT MOVES FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TO

OPERATIONAL BUDGET AT THAT POINT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

BRUCE OR BILL, WHO IS THE DEFINING LEADERSHIP FOR PEOPLE'S SOFT IMPLEMENTATION?

IS IT YOU OR YOU? >> IT'S A WORKING GROUP THAT WAS AGREED -- AIDE

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO, THERE HAS TO BE SOMEBODY IN CHARGE. >> OKAY.

I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TECHNICAL SIDE. THE AUDITOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE AUDITED SIDE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE SOFTWARE LIMITATION --

>> THAT WOULD BE ME. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT WOULD BE ALL YOU.

>> YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE HISTORICAL DATA ON PEOPLE SOFT AND THE TIMELINE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET MEETING MINUTES AND WHAT THE PROJECTED

COSTS WERE. >> SURE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT THE PROPOSED MODULE PURCHASES WERE FOR PEOPLE SOFT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET ALL THAT DATA. IF YOU CAN GET THAT TO MY OFFICE THIS WEEK THAT WOULD BE

GREAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE MAJORITY OF IT IS IN THE MISCELLANEOUS SECTION UNDER ALL OF THE COMMUNITY -- WHAT IS IT THEY CALL IT?

>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE WE ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK WE CAN. IT ALL RELATES TO BUDGET. IT IS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

THERE IS NO ACTION BEING TAKEN AS I HEAR. >> THANK YOU.

SO YES IT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET FOR THE COMMITTEES THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED. IF IT IS NOT, I WILL FILL IN THE GAPS.

>> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE IN

ROLL OVER? >> BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT MILLION.

WITH NEW INITIATIVES COMING IN THIS LAST YEAR, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO -- LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, IT IS ONE-TIME COSTS THAT I IS DESIGNED FOR.

IF WE DON'T GET THE BUDGET WE NEED WE WILL HAVE TO USE THAT TO RUN OUR OPERATIONS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I ASKING BECAUSE IT IS A TOUGH YEAR. IT IS WHAT IT IS.

WE DIDN'T BRING ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE. THAT MAY HAPPEN THE NEXT CYCLE. I KNOW ENGINEERING AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SOME THINGS YOU

[01:15:03]

HAVE TO DO. >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THERE IS A MISNOMER ABOUT WHAT MAINTENANCE MEANS WHEN WE BUY SOFTWARE. WHAT MAINTENANCE MEANS IS LIKE WHEN YOU BUY A CAR AND YOU HAVE A WARRANTY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO DROP IT OFF AT 7:00 ON A FRIDAY AND GET SOMEBODY TO RUSH IN AND FIX IT. WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR IN MAINTENANCE ARE THE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO ALLOW US TO MAKE THE CALLS AT 7:00 AND SAY WE HAVE AN ISSUE AND THEN WORK ON IT ALL WEEKEND TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES. IT ALSO GIVES US PATCHES FOR SECURITY AND ANY ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE -- THEY DEEMED NECESSARY TO PUT OUT OR FIXES THAT THEY DEEM TO PUT OUT.

THE PROBLEM IS IF WE DON'T PAY FOR THAT SUPPORT, WE DON'T GET THE SUPPORT, AND WE DON'T GET THE MAINTENANCE. THAT MAKES US VULNERABLE ON THE SECURITY SIDE AND IT MAKES US VULNERABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT TO GET THIS PLACE UP AND RUNNING.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER.

>> I HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE COMMENTS ABOUT NOT INCREASING OUR TAXES UNTIL NOW.

IT IS 10:19 AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF LITTLE BARGE ACROSS THE DESK.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHEN MY COLLEAGUE SAYS IT IS A TOUGH YEAR BECAUSE WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE TAXES SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE REVENUE WE WANTED, JUDGE, WE ARE HAVING 120 PLUS MILLION NEW DOLLARS THAT WE ARE SPENDING THIS YEAR WITHOUT RAISING THE TAXES ON THE PUBLIC. I WOULD SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IF WE HAD RAISED THEIR TAXES TO THE MAXIMUM THAT IT EVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED IN OUR COUNTY. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT IT IS A TOUGH YEAR.

I THINK WE IN THE COUNTY ARE DOING THE SAME THING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE WHICH IS TO TRY TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET, AND WE WORK BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCES OF WANTS AND NEEDS AND I THINK THAT, YES, WE ARE DOING A TOUGH JOB THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS YEAR WHICH IS DECIDING WHERE THE MONEY GOES, AND WE ONLY ARE SPENDING 120 MILLION, BUT I WOULD SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT TOUGHER ON THE PUBLIC AND ON OUR CONSTITUENTS IF WE HAD INCREASED THEIR TAXES BY THE 8 SLASH 12%. I JUST FEEL LIKE SINCE THE BARBS HAVE BEEN FLYING ACROSS, IT IS TIME TO PICK UP ONE AND THROW IT BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> JUDGE CAN I RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE PRIORITIES? PRIORITIES HERE, EVERY ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES ARE BUSINESS DRIVEN. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE WHO ARE THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES THAT COME TOGETHER OR WHO DRIVE OUR PRIORITIES. FOR ME TO GO BACK TO PICK OUT ONE, EVERY NEED THAT COMES TO US WE TRY TO ADDRESS. TO ESTABLISH THOSE PARTIES WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO YOU TO WORK WITH US AND LET -- LETTING US KNOW THE PROJECT AND THE PROGRAM AND THE INITIATIVE IS NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I ONLY MENTION IT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM GOING FORWARD. IT IS IMPORTANT CERTAINLY FOR THE DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD AND I WOULD HOPE FOR MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL TO SEE THAT CLARITY, AND SO WE NEED DEPARTMENTS TO

MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND NOT AWAY FROM IT. >> IF I WAS TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT HERE, IT IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE SECOND THING IS THE SECURITY OF THE SYSTEMS. THAT'S NOT REFLECTIVE. THAT'S THROUGHOUT EVERY ONE OF THE PROJECTS. THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T -- WE PURPOSELY DID NOT RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GOING TO PUT ONE ABOVE THE OTHER. THERE IS NOT ONE ABOVE

ANOTHER. >> LINA HIDALGO: AFTER REVIEWING EVERYTHING WITH YOU GUYS AND MY TEAM, MY SENSE IN THIS, AND I HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE IS WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WEAKNESSES IN TERMS OF CONSISTENCY OF SERVICES. I ALWAYS USE THE WEBSITE AS AN EXAMPLE AND KIND OF A SYMBOL, RIGHT, THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE URL FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WITH A FORWARD SLASH LIKE EVERY OTHER ENTITY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE BAILIFF LIMITATION GROUP AND CGCC, SO I HESITANT TO INVEST IN NEW PROGRAMS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SINK THE MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT FULLY ON BOARD WITH THE CONSISTENCY PRINCIPAL AND WITH GETTING ALL OF THE PLAYERS TO THE TABLE.

>> GOOD. >> LINA HIDALGO: MY TENDENCY WOULD BE TO LEAN TOWARD THE

[01:20:02]

AND THEN FOR THE REST I WOULD URGE -- THERE IS SOME THOUGHTFUL DESIGN AND DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE WILL FUNDAMENTALLY RE-DO THE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS OF THE COUNTY. THEY ARE EFFECTIVE AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE AS WELL AND IT IS AS SECURE AS THEY CAN BE. THEY ARE EASY TO ACCESS. THEY ARE EASY TO ACCESS.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO HARRIS COUNTY.GOV OR WHATEVER AND HEY, WHAT DO YOU WANT? I WANT A BOOK, AND THEN THAT SENDS YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY.GOV/. OR I WANT A PARK AND IT SENDS YOU TO PRECINCT THREE TERRY HERSHEY PARK OR THAT KIND OF THINK -- KIND OF THING.

>> I AGREE. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TOO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> AND ANY SUPPORT WE CAN HAVE ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE IT IS

STUFF WE PLANNED ON. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS MENTAL HEALTH. YES, THE HARRIS CENTER. DO FOLKS HAVE ANY COMMENTS

THERE? >> JUDGE, I THINK THEY ARE BEING INCREDIBLY HONEST IN THEIR REQUEST, ALTHOUGH I RESPECT IT, BUT AGAIN WITH TEXAS BEING 49TH IN THE NATION IN PER -- PER CAPITA SPENDING WE NEED TO DO MORE. IF THIS IS WHAT THE DIRECTOR NEEDS TO DO, I RESPECT IT, BUT I WOULD CHALLENGE HIM TO MAKE SURE THAT, LOOK, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE BITES OF THE APPLE WE ARE GOING TO GET. I CAN SEE THE SHERIFF, AND HE IS WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO SERVE THOSE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE NAVIGATION CENTER THAT WILL PROVIDE A GREAT CHANGE FOR THE COMMUNITY. MENTAL HEALTH CARE. IT IS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE. IT IS LIKE THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT NEEDS ALL OF THE SUPPORT NECESSARY.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I HUMBLED BY HIS REQUEST, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY TO MAKE SURE

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED. >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

COMMISSIONER. >> I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO SPABD -- EXPAND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I WORRIED IF THEY WILL RETAIN SOME OF THE WORKERS WITH WHAT THEY WILL GET FOR A PAY RAISE. I ECHO THE COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IF ALONG THE WAY THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY WILL COME BACK.

>> THIS REPRESENTS THE HARRIS CENTER. IT HELPS THEM GET ABOVE THAT

AND WE WATCH WHAT THE STATE IS DOING. >> IF OBAMACARE GETS AN EXTENSION IT WOULD HELP. IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THEY WILL GET CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF

ONE-EXPENDITURES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT -- >> AND THE STATE THAT DOES A GREAT SERVICE BY DOUBLING THE SIDE -- [INAUDIBLE] THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE LAST

YEAR. >> ARE YOU GETTING A SENSE THAT -- I MEAN I'M SUPPORT --

SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT DO YOU GET THAT SENSE? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO CONSTABLE PRECINCT 2.

DO FOLKS HAVE ANY COMMENT ON PRE SINK 7? PRECINCT 7?

>> YES. >> I THINK OUR COUNCIL ON SEVEN IS DOING A FABULOUS JOB AND WE NEED TO GIVE HER THESE EXTRA TOOLS SO SHE CAN HAVE THAT EXPANDED SERVICE.

>> I ONLY ADD THAT PRE SINK HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDER WE SOURCED.

AND IF ALONG THE WAY THERE IS SOME LATITUDE, WE WANT TO HELP WHERE WE CAN.

I KNOW THE COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT SOME PRECINCTS IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE ISSUES AND I HAVE LET GO AT THAT POINT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE POOR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE MORE

[01:25:01]

WE DON'T LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF PRECINCT, BUT YOUR PRECINCT GETS THE AIR OF WHAT FUELS THE ECONOMY. THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND HEALTH CRISIS, BUT WE OUGHT TO -- AND WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE CONSTABLE OPERATIONS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DISCREPANCY THERE, AND SOME INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE

DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THE CONSTABLES GOING TO BE PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REVIEW, DO YOU GUYS KNOW? DO YOU KNOW, JOSH? AND THE ONLY REASON I BRING THIS UP IS IN THINKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT -- THE MORE SIGNIFICANT LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUEST, THE PUBLIC DA AND THESE ARE MUCH SMALLER, BUT MY THINKING IS WE ARE IN A PERFECT TIME TO GET THE RESULTS OF THAT.

I THINK THIS CERTAINLY IS THE EQUIPMENT IS NECESSARY, SO FIVE VEHICLES, CAMERAS AND IF THEY NEED TWO DEPUTIES AND AS YOU HAVE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SORELY UNDER FUNDED, BUT TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE MAY HAVE MENTIONED THE UNDER FUNDING, WATT -- BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA BROUGHT IT UP DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS. WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHY SOME CONSTABLES GET HOW MUCH AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MODEST INCREASE THAT PRECINCT SEVEN IS REQUESTING.

>> YES, JUDGE, WE ARE LOOKING AT SCOPING OUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS A STUDY GOES AS TO THE HISTORICAL WITH WHAT THEY GET. WHY THEY GET WHAT THEY GET AS FAR AS THE -- WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER THE BASE BUDGET AT THIS POINT.

FOR EXAMPLE THE REQUEST FOR A POSSIBLE PRECINCT WAS FOR A TOTAL OF 471,000 -- 471,933.

HOWEVER BUDGET MANAGEMENT AFTER WORKING AND TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IS $277,000. SO FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AND Y'ALL SAY HEY, I THINK THAT REQUEST IS GOOD. IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE REQUEST THEY MADE OR WHAT BUDGET MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS SO WE CAN CLOSE EACH DEPARTMENT FOR THE ACTUAL BUDGET WE COME INTO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M EASY ON THIS ONE. THE DIFFERENCE IS 100,000, AND IT IS SMALL ENOUGH THAT I'LL GO WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ONE.

>> OKAY. >> AND JUDGE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THAT STUDY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO MY NOTES THIS PRECINCT HALL -- HAS BEEN UNDER RESOURCED.

THE BUDGET PER CAP TAU IS LOWER THAN HALF OF ALL OF THE PRECINCTS AND IT IS NOT THE LOWEST. THEY GET LITTLE FROM CONTRACT PATROL REVENUE.

WE LOOK AT IT WHEN IT COMES BACK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE OTHERS AS WELL, BUT CLEARLY

WITH THIS ONE I HOPE WE MOVE FORWARD. >> THE ISSUE IN THE PAST WITH CONSTABLE SEVEN WAS IT WAS PRIMARILY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

WE WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET THAT UP. EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT WAS STILL A PROBLEM. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FORMULA THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON

THAT MAY BE HOW WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT. >> WHEN THE STUDY COMES BACK, WHEN IT IS ALL TRANSPARENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE PRESSURE IS, IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT HELP ANY OF US WHO REPRESENTS -- WHO REPRESENT PARTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON

OR ANY OTHER CITY TO SAY THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU LAY IT OUT AND THEY CAN DECIDE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO GIVE THIS CAREFUL THOUGHT. LOOK, WE'RE GROWING.

THE CRIME RATE AND WHETHER PEOPLE'S CASES ARE BEING SOLVED AND HOW IT IS BEING MEASURED AND WHAT THE RESPONSE TIMES ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS ONLY ONE AGENCY THAT IS REALLY SUBJECTED TO THE SCRUTINY OF THE MEETING AND THAT'S THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

[01:30:03]

I THINK THE SHERIFF HAS A NUMBER OF OPEN PCA'S, BUT ONLY A FRACTION ARE FUNDED THAT LIMITS HIM ON HIS ABILITY TO FILL THE POSITIONS IN AN ACTIVE WAY.

AND THEN I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDED POSITIONS TO THE NECESSITIES THAT ARE EXISTENT REGARDING OPERATIONAL AND STATE MANDATES AND FEDERAL

MANDATES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD,

JOSH. >> SORRY. JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, IS IT THE 470,000 OR 277 AS BUDGET MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT?

>> 470. THE ORIGINAL REQUEST. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT WAS CONSTABLES. MOVING ON TO THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

DO FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS THERE? NEXT IS COUNTY ATTORNEY. DO FOLKS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?

COUNTY CLERK. >> SO THAT IS FOR DEPARTMENTAL CASE LOAD?

THEY COULD CONSIDER THE ACTIONS OVER THE WEEKEND. >> JUDGE ON THIS I HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LOOKING INTO THIS. I THINK ROCK HAS LET ME KNOW HE IS LOOKING FOR LESS STRESSFUL DAYS WHERE HE IS NOT RUNNING INTO A FIRE, BUT MAYBE STARTING ONE SO HE CAN BARBECUE. IN THAT REGARD THIS ORGANIZATION, I AM NOT SURE HOW IT IS CURRENTLY DEFINED, ROBERT, BUT WITH THIS -- WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE -- ACTUALLY THIS BUDGET ITEM PARTICULARLY, WOULD IT BE POSTED ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WEBSITE SO THAT -- I KNOW ROCK HAS DONE A NUMBER OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, BUT WHO THEY CAN REACH OUT TO AND FIND THE PEOPLE AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES. WE CAN'T -- THE COMMUNITY WAS JUST -- EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE WERE TALKING TO WERE INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THERE WAS -- THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WAS A REOCCURRING THEME LAST NIGHT.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE WHO THEY COULD PROVIDE QUESTIONS TO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO REACH A COMMISSIONER AND FIGURE THAT OUT.

WOULD THAT BE AVAILABLE? WOULD THEY BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE?

>> YES, SIR, WE CAN DO THAT. OUR WEBSITE DOES FEATURE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THE

ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT. >> BUT THE STAFF. >> MAYBE WE CAN BE MORE PRO

ACTIVE. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS AND THEN CAGLE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I HOPE YOU CAN FIND SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CAPACITY BUILDING WITH CONTINGENT FEES AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE BUILDING THEY ARE DOING. I SAW THE SUCCESS ON THE ROCK CRUSHING SITE THE OTHER DAY WHICH WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS AND I HEARING FROM MORE PEOPLE ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN THE CITY LIMIT. IF THERE IS AN ANGLE I KNOW I CALLED ONE ATTORNEY, BUT THEY WANTED US. IF YOU FIND A CONTINGENT FEE OPERATION WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T

TAKE A RISK. >> AND I WOULD SAY THAT OUR OFFICE, VINCE RYAN HAS BEEN PRO ACTIVE WITH REACHING OUT AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH THOSE KINDS OF WAYS TO

[01:35:07]

>> WOULD IT MONITOR? >> THAT WOULD BE POLLUTION CONTROL.

>> BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND. WE KNOW THE NUMBERS.

>> EXACTLY. THAT WOULD BE THE PRIMARY CLIENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP. ONE REASON WE ADD IS POLLUTION.

IT FOCUSES ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. >> YOUR HONOR, WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS I THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME AS REFERENCED BY MY COLLEAGUE TO MENTION THAT AMY PECK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN THIS EPISODE OCCURRED WAS IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN 27 DAYS AND DID A FABULOUS JOB IN TERMS OF COORDINATING AND DEALING WITH THE CRISIS. ALSO, WE NEED TO BE VERY PROUD OF OUR LLOYD CHRISTIANSON, OUR FIRE MARSHALL, STEPPING INTO THE GAP AND DOING ALL SHE CAN THERE TO HELP. COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD HOW THE COUNTY IS RESPONDING AND NOT GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON OPERATIONS AT THAT TIME.

I SO EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR FIRE MARSHALL. EVERY CRISIS BRINGS LESSONS.

WE GOT TO VISIT ON THIS AND IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS THAT WE WILL VISIT SLIGHTLY WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE. I KNOW BRUCE HYDE WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS, BUT APPARENTLY IF WE STOOD ON THE READY AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING YOUR CREWS AND EQUIPMENT, WE GOT THE CALL AND WE WERE READY. APPARENTLY OUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS WERE ASKED TO COME TO A FIRE STAND AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FIRE PEOPLE SAID YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN HERE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD TRAINING. OUR BULLDOZER CREW IS SAYING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A BULLDOZER. IF YOU GET ON THIS THING YOU WILL KILL SOMEBODY.

THERE IS SORT OF A STANDOFF BETWEEN THOSE WITH THE EQUIPMENT THAT COULD ADDRESS THE CRISIS WITH THOSE THAT HAD THE TRAINING TO BE IN THE CRISIS, BUT WOULD HAVE HURT SOMEBODY IF THEY GOT ON THE EQUIPMENT AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.

OUR FIRE MARSHALL IS WORKING WITH US TO GET OUR CRANES READY TO PICK UP STUFF AND BULLDOZERS INVOLVED SO WE CAN TAKE AN ELITE CREW OF OUR FOLKS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO GET THAT TRAINING OR NOT, BUT I'M DEFINITELY WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE CREW IN THE COUNTY THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO THE EMERGENCY STUFF SO THEY CAN GO INTO THESE CRISIS SCENES AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF HAVING PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE ON A HEAVY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR EQUIPMENT NOT BEING USED IN THE CRISIS. THAT'S A LESSON THAT WAS LEARNED OUT OF THE CRISIS, JUDGE. YOU WILL SEE ME MOVING FORWARD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE A FISCAL NOTE TO. IT BUT THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE MAY NEED A LITTLE ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT TRAINING, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOUR OF US NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CREWS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHERE IT IS IN THE COUNTY OR THE

SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO HELP. >> I UH TBREESH -- I APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW THE FIRE MARSHALL HAD ANOTHER RESPONSE NEAR GRANT PARKWAY.

WE VISITED WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THE EX -- EXPLOSION.

WE WILL COVER IT IN THE AGENDA. WE HAVE SOME DOLLARS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND AIR MONITORS AS WELL AND THEY WERE MONITORING THE EQUIPMENT TODAY. WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN AND I SUPPORTIVE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REQUEST FOR MOREEN VIERN -- FOR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT.

WE NEED LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HAVE A GOOD BALANCE AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WAS COUNTY ATTORNEY. NEXT IS COUNTY CLERK.

DO FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS? I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND I ON BOARD WITH SUPPORTING THEIR ELECTIONS-RELATED REQUESTS. COUNTY TREASURER IS NEXT.

[01:40:02]

VOTER REGISTRATION. >> WHAT IS THE ROLL OVER TO THAT PART?

>> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> JOSH STUCKEY, TAX COLLECTOR FISCAL YEAR AND TAX ROLT -- ROLL OVER WAS 5-POINT 32 -- 5.32 MILLION.

>> SO THIS COULD COME OUT OF THAT. >> ANY OPERATIONAL ISSUES LIKE

THAT. >> I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE -- >> FROM YOUR AMOUNT.

THEY COULD DO A ROLL ANYWAY. LINE

>> LINA HIDALGO: DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? >> OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION

IS 559,000 -- SORRY 459,000. >> I COMFORTABLE WITH THAT COMING OUT OF ROLL.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMING OUT OF ROLL OVER AND THAT IS FOR VOTER SERVICES?

>> THEY CAN DO THAT TOO. >> THAT'S FINE. >> I SAYING FOR THE 459.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE STILL ON TAX ASSESSING. >> SO BASICALLY THE DISCUSSION WAS THE AMOUNT THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR WANTED IN TOTAL THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT LOANS TO TAKE

CARE OF THE REQUEST. >> WHICH ITEMS? >> IT IS ALL OF THE ITEMS.

>> SO INSTEAD OF THE 6.8 MILLION THAT IS REQUESTED, YOU ARE RECOMMENDING?

>> 0. >> AND THE ITEMS RELATED TO THE VOTERS, THEY COULD TAKE OUT OF THEIR ROLLOVER. THEY HAVE BUILT UP A SIGNIFICANT ROLLOVER.

>> COMMISSIONER THEY REQUESTED 3.741 MILLION AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT 3.741 WE RECOMMENDED INSTEAD OF THAT THAT WE GIVE THEM $459,000 AS TO TAKE CARE OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION.

>> ALMOST SOUNDS PUNITIVE TO ME -- [INAUDIBLE] >> LINA HIDALGO: I -- I LEAN ALT BIT -- I LEAN A LITTLE BIT -- HOW DO I PUT THIS? SAY THAT AGAIN?

>> IT IS JUST 159,000. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE 459 IS FOR THE VOTING, AND WE HAVE ALL DISCUSSED PUBLIC HEALTH IS A HUGE PRIORITY ESPECIALLY THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT'S KEEP HITTING US. THAT'S BIG. AND THEN VOTING WITH ELECTIONS COMING UP THIS YEAR. I WOULD HATE TO PUT THEM IN THE POSITION TO FORCE THEM TO USE THEIR ROLL OVER ON THIS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO VISIT FURTHER.

>> I ALL RIGHT WITH THE 459. NOT THE 3.7. >> THE TAX OFFICE IS MOSTLY PAYROLL. AGAIN, A 2% INCREASE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT ON THERE ALSO. ON VOTERS FOR THE COUNTY CLERK AND FOR THE TAX OFFICE, THEY MAY COME TO US DURING THE YEAR AND NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS THIS ROLLS OUT.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IN THE VOTER REGISTRATION AREA PEOPLE LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THE WHOLE ROLE TURNS OVER EVERY FIVE YEARS. WHEN PEOPLE IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR THEY START TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO VOTE IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS. THERE IS A HUGE HILL TO CLIMB AT THE END.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS REGISTERED TO VOTE THAT WANTS TO REGISTER, AND WE DO IT IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER. THIS COULD BE A LOW NUMBER AND

[01:45:04]

AS THIS THING PROGRESSES -- >> LINA HIDALGO: WE NEED TO AND AS WE GO ALONG WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED IS IDENTIFYING FOLKS WHO CAN VOTE AND WHO ARE REGISTERED AND HOW DO WE TARGET THEM.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU HEAR FROM THE DIFFERENT INTELLECTUALS WHO STUDY THIS KIND OF THING. THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE DOING THE MATH.

IF THE QUESTION IS -- IF THE REQUEST IS FOR VOTING I'M ON BOARD.

>> I ALL RIGHT WITH THAT. AND THE PFM PROCESS THAT IS PART OF THE REVIEW.

>> ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT PART OF THE VIEW. >> I KNOW AT SOME POINT WE

OUGHT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION SO THERE IS SOME METRICS. >> THE OTHER HAD TO DO WITH MORE PEOPLE ON THE LINES. WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY WINDOWS. JUST TO ADD PEOPLE --

[INAUDIBLE] >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS TAX ASSESSOR.

NEXT IS SHARE. >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

COMMISSIONER. >> I WILL DEFER TO COMMISSIONER CAG LE -- CAGLE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 260 ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES.

I IN FAVOR OF ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF THE DEPUTY THAT'S WE HAVE. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE CONSIDERING SOME OF THIS FUNDING, AND I IN FAVOR OF THE -- I IN FAVOR OF THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO NEW DEPUTIES, BUT TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE. IT IMPORTANT FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO RETAIN OUR GOOD SHERIFFS IF WE CAN COMPENSATE THEM ADEQUATELY.

IN TERMS OF THIS PROCESS, AND SHERIFF GONZALEZ YOU HEARD ME SAY IT FOR YEARS AND THEN BACK WHEN YOU WERE THE SHERIFF I SAID IT AS WELL, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS GOING TO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO TAKE CARE OF IT, ALL THE REST WILL FALL APART. I DON'T NEED A LENGTHY DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE HAD BUDGET HEARINGS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF THE ONES WE GOT BEFORE

WE START ADDING EXTRAS. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THANK YOU FOR THAT POINT. WHEN I WAS ASKED DURING THIS PROCESS WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WOULD BE IN THIS BUDGET REQUEST MY ANSWER IS IT IS ALL IMPORTANT.

IT IS A FOCUS ON CRIME REDUCTION AND CRIME PREVENTION WITH AN EYE TOWARD VICTIMS AS YOU HAVE ADVOCATED FOR. MY PRIORITY IS TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPENSATING OUR EMPLOYEES AS BEST WE CAN FOR RETENTION AND MAKING SURE WE ARE STAYING IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE SURROUNDING AGENCIES. PARITY ISSUES AND THINGS HAVE COME UP AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND. WE HAVE INCREMENTAL INCREASES, BUT WE WOULD LIKE A PLAN GOING FORWARD SO OVER THE YEARS WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED. I KNOW THERE ARE STUDIES TO SEE FAIR MARKET VALUE, BUT WE OPERATE A CLINIC WHERE WE HAVE TO ATTRACT NURSING PERSONNEL AND OTHERS AND THE MARKET PLACE IS DICTATING WHAT THE COSTS ARE.

IT IS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY. WE WOULD LIKE IT, AND THEN AGAIN WE HAVE OPERATIONAL NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET WITH GROWING COUNTIES SUCH AS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND FATALITIES AND MAJOR CRASHES AND IMPAIRED DRIVERS. WE NEED MORE OF AN EXPANSIVE APPROACH TO DO THAT. WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CONSTABLES AND

OTHERS. >> WHAT IS MY INFORMATION ON THIS?

>> THE PAY RAISE. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA

AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY PAYING EMPLOYEES IS CRITICAL. AND I WOULD -- IT JUST REMINDED ME THAT AN ITEM THAT I DID PUT BEFORE THIS BODY THAT WASN'T SUPPORTED WAS A THREE-YEAR PLAN TO GET HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BACK UP TO 12%.

PAY INCREASE. I WOULD LIKE TO LET MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT THAT.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE WE DO AS YOU ELUDE TO, DEVELOP A PLAN TO MAKE SURE YOU REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND IT RESPECTS YOUR STAFF AS WELL.

THE CHALLENGES WE NEED TO GROW YOUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL IS YOU CAN ONLY RUN YOUR HORSES SO HARD FOR SO LONG. WITH THAT IN MIND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HISTORICALLY

[01:50:06]

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BUDGET REFLECTS ALSO GIVING YOU INCREASE ACADEMY CLASS CAPACITY SO YOU CAN GROW YOUR ORGANIZATION AHEAD OF THE ATTRITION RATE AND SO YOU CAN STAFF YOUR INVESTIGATIVE AREAS. I KNOW IT IS A PRIORITY FOR YOU. I KNOW YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR ACCIDENT UNIT AND DWI ENFORCEMENT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK SO YOU CAN GROW YOUR ORGANIZATION EFFECTIVELY AND SERVE THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS YOU CAN.

MY PRIORITY IN THIS BUDGET IS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A THOUGHT AND CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE -- PROPOSE A MULTI-YEAR PLAN TO RAISE SALARY LEVELS. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADD THREE MORE -- YOU HAVE TWO IN THIS BUDGET AND I WANT TO ADD THREE MORE SO YOU CAN GROW YOUR ORGANIZATION EFFECTIVELY WHICH KIND OF GETS ME BACK TO THE FUNDED VERSUS UNFUNDED POSITIONS. I THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 400PCN'S, BUT ONLY A

HUNDRED OR SO OR LESS -- >> APPROXIMATELY. >> AND THEN IF THERE ARE OTHER PCN'S AROUND WE SHOULD LOOK HOW TO MIGRATE THOSE TO THOSE AREA THAT'S ARE OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE. ONE MORE THING THAT DID GET MY ATTENTION, SHERIFF, AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT -- I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH YOU, BILL, THE ALARM PERMITTING PROCESS. I KNOW WE HAD GOTTEN AWAY FROM PAPER AND GOT TO AN ONLINE SYSTEM TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT. I THINK THERE ARE AREAS THAT STILL NEED TO BE IMPROVED.

YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND GROW THE OPERATION AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY GROW THE REVENUE TO HELP YOU PROVIDE THOSE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS OUT OF

THE COMMUNITY. IS THAT ACCURATE? >> YES, COMMISSIONER.

THEY ARE LATE TO OUR ALARM DE -- LINKED TO OUR ALARM DETAIL OPERATION.

LAST YEAR WE COLLECTED 2.9 IN REVENUE. THAT DOESN'T COME TO US.

IT GOES TOWARD THE GENERAL FUND, I BELIEVE, OR TO THE COUNTY.

WE BELIEVE IF WE CAN CAP THAT AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT WHERE THE COUNTY WOULD STILL RECEIVE THAT REVENUE, BUT THERE COULD BE THE INCENTIVE THAT AS WE COMMIT TO RESOURCES TO BETTER SERVE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY, BETTER RESPONSIVENESS AND NOT HAVE A BACKLOG, THEN IT IS A WIN/WIN BECAUSE WE COULD MAKE SURE WE CAN REINVEST THE NEED OF RESOURCES. THE COST RECOVERY WOULD COME BACK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAP REVENUE AND IT WILL COME BACK TO US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROPERLY STAFFING THAT AS WELL. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES, AGAIN DO SMES -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRIORITY, THAT'S THE FIRST LINE ITEM WE ARE REQUEST -- REQUESTING AND OTHER CRIME REDUCTION SERVICES WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO GROW WITH THIS.

TO YOUR POINT OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNITS WERE VERY FLAT AND SO WITH THE GROWING COUNTY AND POPULATION WE HAVE AS MUCH. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROPER'S ALLOCATION, I KNOW WHEN WE WERE ON COUNCIL IT WAS AROUND 700 PLUS BILLION. NOT ONLY -- NOT COMPARING NECESSARILY, BUT I SAYING A GROWING REGION NEEDS MODERN DAY POLICING WITH THE LATEST EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES SUCH AS WHAT YOU MENTIONED WITH TOUCH DNA AND THOSE THINGS AND THEY SIMPLY COST MONEY.

IT IS TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE APPROACHES TO THINGS.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THE FRED HARTMAN BRIDGE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT THAT REQUIRED DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES ALL DAY, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR TRAINING AND PERSONNEL ARE KEEPING UP WITH THE NEEDS OF A

GROWING HARRIS COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: SHERIFF, HOW MANY DEPUTIES IS IN AN ACADEMY

[01:55:03]

CLASS? >> BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE LIMITATIONS, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WE ARE CRAMPED IN THE CURRENT FACILITY.

A TIGHT CLASS WOULD BE 60. YOU LOOK AT HPD AND THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE 75 PER CLASS.

WE CAN PRETTY MUCH RUN ONE AT A TIME. THE COURSES ARE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TOTAL. SO IT DOES PUT A STRAIN. WE HAVE DONE IT FROM OUR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GROWING THE NEW INFUSION INTO OUR AGENCY AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. TO THE COMMISSIONER'S POINT TO KEEP UP WITH ATTRITION ON A CLASS LIKE THAT AND SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE MARKETPLACE WE ARE PULLING FROM THE TENSION OFFICER WHEEZE CURRENTLY HAVE.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY FEELING IT ON THE DETENTION SIDE AND THEN THROUGH ATTRITION WE ARE FILLING IN PEOPLE. WE HAD TWO MAJOR WAVES OF HIRING IN THE SHERIFF'S HISTORY 20 PLUS YEARS AGO. THEY ARE REACHING THE AGE OF RETIREMENT.

IT IS NOT NEW TO US THAT WE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION. AT SOME POINT THEY ARE MOVING

OUT AND WE NEED TO KEEP ABOVE ATTRITION. >> --

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND WHOEVER WE BRING IN, YOU MENTIONED THE MARKET AND TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S POINT THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE TO NOT ONLY KEEP THE PEOPLE WE HAVE, BUT TO RECRUIT THE BEST PEOPLE. I'M SURE THAT BRINGS THE BEST RESULTS FOR THE COMMUNITY MORE BROADLY. I THINK YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR VEHICLES WHICH I BELIEVE IS CIP, RIGHT, BILL? AND THERE IS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION FROM BUDGET MANAGEMENT ON 5% SCALL -- SALARY INCREASE WHICH IS WHAT COMMISSIONERS GARCIA AND CAGLE WERE SAYING WHICH IS IMPORTANT. BUT IN TERMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPUTIES, THE WAY I THINKING ABOUT THIS WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THIS EVALUATION.

IT MAY BE THAT AN INCREASE IS NEEDED IN HOWEVER CLASSES WE NEED.

IT MAY BE ONE AND IT MAY BE THREE, AND IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THESE NEW PEOPLE WE HIRE WITH CERTAIN INCENTIVES. I HESITANT TO SAY AS WE DID LAST YEAR AND WHAT MY POSITION WILL BE FOR THE D.A. AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THE STUDY IS UNDERWAY AND THE FIRM HAS BEEN RETAINED. THEY ARE WORKING ON HOW WE CAN BE AS SMART WITH OUR DOLLARS WITH THESE MASSIVE INCREASES. AS IT PERTAINS TO NEW PEOPLE, PERHAPS WHAT WE DID IS SHE GOT A SMALL NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS FOR ANEN VEURN MENTAL UNIT AND -- FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT AND THE HARDING STREET RAID.

YOU CAN BUILD A NEW -- AND WE DISCUSSED IT EARLIER, BUT YOU CAN BUILD A SMALL GROUP FOR THIS TRAFFIC YOU WANT TO SEE. THE FIRM CAN VEIL WAIT THAT AND WE CAN DECIDE LATER ON WHETHER A SUBSTANTIVE INCREASE IN NEW PEOPLE IS VISIBLE. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ONCE THEY ARE HERE SHOULD WE GO TO THAT OR SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASES OR SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASES OR OTHERS EQUIPMENT. THAT'S WHERE I ONNESS -- ON THESE BIG ONES. I WITH YOU ON THE VEHICLES AND THE 5 -- OR DISHT 5 -- ADDITIONAL 5% RAISE SO IT PUTS US AT 7. AND I ON BOARD WITH TRYING A

SMALLER INCREASE ALONG THE LINES OF THE D.A. >> JUDGE, ULTIMATELY WE WILL SUPPORT THE WISHES OF THE COURT AND I CAN RESPECT THE NEED FOR DELIBERATIONS AND CAREFUL REVIEW TO GET TO A BUDGET PROCESS. WE CAN DO THE ANALYSIS AND CIRCLE BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER SO WE CAN LOOK AT THESE INITIATIVES AND JUDGE THEM BASED ON THE MERITS. WE MAKE SURE WE ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING TOWARD THAT.

OUR 8 -- OUR APPROACHES HELP ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE PRECINCTS.

WE ALSO KEEP IN MIND TO RAMP UP IF WE GOT AN ALLOCATION OF AN ACADEMY CLASS, IT IS SIX MONTHS BEFORE THEY EVEN HIT THE STREETS. IT IS A LARGE RAMP UP SO WE WON'T SEE THE BENEFITS UNTIL THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. WITH THAT RESPECT -- IN THAT

[02:00:01]

IF THEY ARE A LIEUTENANT, THEY ARE A LIEUTENANT. THEY SHOULD CONSOLIDATE THE STEP INCREASES AND GIVE THEM MORE UP FRONT INSTEAD OF PHASING THEM OUT.

>> I AGREE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M SO SORRY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK AND PUT IT ON YOUR RAY --

>> RADAR ABOUT HOW THIS UH -- ABOUT HOW THIS ALARM PERMITTING IN THE SHERIFF

SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD LOOK LIKE. >> I ALL FOR.

IT IT GIVES THEM INCENTIVE, AND WE CERTAINLY -- I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALLOCATING ALL OF THE FUNDS TO THEM. IT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND. HERE IS THE ISSUE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS CHANGED. THERE ARE SO MANY FALSE ALARM THAT'S IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCE WHEN'S SOMEBODY FORGOT TO PUNCH THE NUMBERS IN. THERE IS A PENALTY FOR THAT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENFORCING THE PENALTY PEOPLE ARE LAX ABOUT IT. WE WILL GET BACK THE FUNDS

MANY TIMES THAT ARE IN THERE. >> CAN I CORRECT SOMETHING, PLEASE?

>> YES. >> JUDGE, I MISS WROTE SOMETHING ON THIS AND I APOLOGIZE AND IT CREATED CONFUSION. BUDGET MANAGEMENT'S RECOMMENDATION IS WE FUND ONE-THIRD OF THE POSITIONS SO WE CAN ASSIST THEM TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF RECRUITING AS THEY LOSE 120, 150 OFFICERS EVERY YEAR.

THAT COULD INCLUDE CREATING A CLASS OR ADDITIONAL CLASSES AND STAFFING THOSE POSITIONS FOR CADETS. WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT AND BE CAREFUL WITH LOSING DETENTION OFFICERS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND NOT DO THOSE OPERATIONS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE SHERIFF KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS AT 5% ON TOP OF THE ONE-THIRD PERSONNEL, SO FOR EXAMPLE IF WE RECOMMENDED $8 MILLION FOR PERSONNEL, RECOMMEND 400,000 DOLLARS FOR RECRUITMENT SERVICES OR TO GO INTO THE ACADEMY.

WE DID NOT RECOMMEND 5% FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE 400,000

FOR RECRUITMENT -- THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT I SAYING WHAT GOES TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, I FINE WITH.

WHAT GOES TO A CERTAIN SMALL PILOT SIZE OF STUFF I FINE WVMENT THE ENORMOUS --

>> THE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS IT SEEMS LIKE WE GOT THESE FOLKS ON BOARD WHO ARE STARTING THEIR EVALUATION AND I -- FOR MY PART I FEEL I NEED TO BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT THAT'S ARE PART PATING IN THE EVALUATION.

>> YES, MA'AM. AND TO BE CLEAR OUR RECOMMENDATION AS IT RELATES

-- >> LINA HIDALGO: CRIMINAL JUSTICE, NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> AS IT RELATES TO THE SALARIES FOR THE SHERIFF'S IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD, 2%.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I SEE. BUT IF THAT 400,000 -- IF THE SHERIFF NEEDS FUNDS TO INCREASE SALARIES OR, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

IF THE FUNDS NEED TO GO TO SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN RETENTION.

>> LET ME POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS HERE. ONE, THE ACADEMY IS A REAL, REAL PROBLEM AND HERE IS THE REASON WHY. SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS --

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE BEEN HANGING ON TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS WANTED TO MAKE A

COMMENT FOR AWHILE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE NUMBERS

RIGHT. THEY ASKED FOR 19.9 MILLION? >> RIGHT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT IS RECOMMENDING 8.3?

>> YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME SENSE OF WHERE YOU THINK WE ARE. I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF'S COMMENT.

FOR MY NOTES THE PATROL BUREAU FALLS BELOW -- UNDER NATIONAL AND STATE AVERAGES WITH JUST 3.0 PATROL OFFICERS IN COMPARISON TO THE TEXAS AVERAGE OF 2.2 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 2.4. AND THERE IS MORE MONEY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU SOME SENSE OF HOW MUCH WE CAN DO NOW IF WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ALONG THE WAY AND I GET IT.

I GET THE GROWTH, SHERIFF. I GUESS WE WILL GET TWO MILLION IN 2020 IN

[02:05:01]

UNINCORPORATED? >> AT THE END IT IS ABOUT PRIORITIES.

WHAT KEEPS ME UP IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES THAT ARE BECOMING DEADLY EVERY DAY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I TOLD GROUPS WHO COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT. IT WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON THE MONEY IT WAS ON A SHORT FUSE.

I CHATTED THE OTHER DAY WITH THE JAIL POPULATION GOING UP INCLUDING US HOLDING THE STAKES FOR THEM AND IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. I SYMPATHIZE.

I WILL BE HERE CASTING HARD VOTES AND SHOWING UP EVEN A YEAR FROM NOW IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY. I WANT TO LET YOU DECIDE ON WHETHER YOU DO IT AS A NEW CLASS, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH -- WHAT IS THE LATITUDE DWEN -- BETWEEN THE 19.9 YOU ASKED FOR AND THE 8.3 BUDGET MANAGEMENT IS RECOMMENDING. DO WE GO WITH THAT? DO WE DO ABOVE IT?

IF SO HOW MUCH AND HOW DO WE DO IT? >> A COUPLE POINTS ON THIS.

I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR CLASSES A YEAR AND GRADUATE 200 TO 250 PEOPLE. HERE IS THE ISSUE. IT IS THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE MARKET. WE HAVE THESE SMALLER JURISDICTIONS THAT IN CALIFORNIA THEY CALL IT WALLET WHIPPING. THEY OFFER INDIVIDUALS A SIGNIFICANT MORE MONEY TO COME OVER. SO WE TRAIN THEM AND THEY GET TRAINED UP, AND THEN THE SHERIFF LOSES THEM BECAUSE WE ARE NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS THOSE HIGH ONES. RIGHT NOW TWO CLASSES AND WE JUST BARELY KEEP YOU THERE.

IF WE WERE KEEPING -- PAYING THE SAME. I RECOMMEND FOUR CLASSES AND MAYBE FIVE JUST BECAUSE OF THE MARKET SITUATION. THE OTHER THING IS INCLUDED IN THE ONE-THIRD OF WHAT WAS REQUESTED, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE INVESTIGATORS.

THE AVERAGE INVESTIGATOR IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT HAVE BEEN THERE 35 YEARS.

THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE. APPARENTLY THEY JUST NEVER LEAVE.

THE PROBLEM IS, IF WE PUT THE MONEY IN THE TOUCH DNA WE NEED THE INVESTIGATORS.

THAT WAS THE 8 MILLION WE CAME UP. JUST A 2% INCREASE IN THE SHERIFF SHERIFF'S OFFICE AMONG ALL THREE DIVISIONS IS ABOUT 8.5 MILLION.

THE TOTAL INCREASE IS 16 MILLION. THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH, BUT CONSIDERING LOOKING AT 60 MILLION IT IS ABOUT 25% OF THE ENTIRE 60 MILLION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. IN RELATION TO THE NUMBERS DISCUSSED, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

WHEN WE VISITED WE TALK ABOUT CAPITALIZING THE SHERIFF'S CARS.

I THOUGHT I SAW IN MY NOTES THAT THE COST OF THE CARS WAS ROLLED INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT AND THAT IT WHIM -- IT WILL BE CAPITALIZED AND THE SHERIFF GETS ACTUAL DOLLARS FOR HIS OPERATIONS AS PER

CONVERSATIONS. >> CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. IT WILL BE TRANSPARENT TO THE DEPARTMENT HOW WE ACTUALLY FINANCE THOSE VEHICLES. WE DON'T WANT TO ALL OF A SUDDEN GO WE'LL PAY FOR YOUR VEHICLES AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE MONEY TO DO THAT. THE QUESTION WILL BE WHICH CARS WHEN THEY GO TO SELL THEM, WHEN WE SELL AT AUCTION, WHICH ONES DO THE MONEY GO BACK FOR.

TO NOT CONFUSE THE SYSTEM WE WILL TRY TO MAKE IT TRAINS -- TRANSPARENT.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S BREAK FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL 11:25.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 11:31 AND LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE DISCUSSION.

SO WE WERE ON SHERIFF AND THEN DID WE FINISH THAT DISCUSSION, Y'ALL? YEAH. SO I THINK IT WAS -- REMIND ME.

YOU PROPOSED THE -- YOU CLARIFIED THE 2% WITH 5% MINT AND THEN THE 8% -- 8 MILLION

-- >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: OH YEAH.

[02:10:01]

THE BIGGER INVESTMENTS I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO LOOK SO THAT WE ARE RETAINING PEOPLE AND SO WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF CLASSES WE NEED AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO

FIGURE THAT OUT UNTIL WE FIGURE IT OUT THOROUGHLY. >> I THINK, COMMISSIONER, IF I'M CORRECT, WE ARE PAYING THE PEOPLE IN THE CLASS. IN ORDER TO HAVE TWO MORE CLASSES YOU HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER FULL TIME PAY OF 60 PEOPLE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES SHOULD GO AS PART OF THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION.

IF WE ARE GOING TO INVEST THESE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, THEY GO TO THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF SALARIES PLUS INCENTIVES AND PLUS ACTUAL MORE PEOPLE OR IS IT THAT WE NEED -- WHAT IS THE BALANCE OF RETENTION VERSUS RECRUITING NEW PEOPLE AND THEN FOR NOW WE DO A SMALLER AMOUNT, 30, 30 DEPUTIES AND 20 DEPUTIES FOR THE TRAFFIC PILOT HE WANTS TO DO, AND THE VEHICLES HE NEEDS AND THE 5% ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES HE NEEDS FOR THE

CURRENT EMPLOYEES. >> ANYTHING IT DOES WITH A DWI PROGRAM HAS TO BE GOTTEN A STYE -- STYE -- STIPEN FORM THOSE CASES TOO. WE WILL COME BACK TO THOSE.

I DO THINK WE CANNOT WAIT ON THE CLASSES. WE CAN'T WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR THAT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE NOW BECAUSE HE IS LOSING

PEOPLE FASTER THAN HE IS ABLE TO REPLACE THEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: AGAIN, THAT'S YOUR OPINION. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AN EXPERT GROUP LOOKING AT THIS.

IF IT IS SUCH AN ENORMOUS -- I MEAN, YOU HEARD WHAT I SAID ALREADY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES. THAT'S JUST WHERE I STAND. YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- I MEAN IT IS JUST ME. WE MAY HAVE THE VOTES FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU ARE NOT GONNA CHANGE MY MIND BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF THIS MORNING, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE FUND MENTALLY -- FUNDAMENTALLY RE-DO WHAT RESOURCES HE HAS, AND HE CLEARLY NEEDS MAURY SOURCES AND CLEARLY -- MORE RESOURCES AND CLEARLY NEEDS US TO BE THOUGHTFUL ON THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO THROW IT AWAY WHEN THERE IS REVENUE CAP AND NOW WE NEED A 12% RAISE AND NOW WE CAN'T AFFORD IT BECAUSE WE HIRED ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. I WANT TO USE THE RESOURCES TO FIGURE OUT THE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF NEW CLASSES AND THE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF -- THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RAISES. I DON'T DO DECISION MAKING WITH JUST YOU TELLING ME.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THERE ARE -- THERE IS A REASON WE HIRED THE -- COMMISSIONER

ELLIS WANTS TO SPEAK. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS A LITTLE LATE COMING BACK AND I MISSED SOME OF IT. AS I POINTED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

THERE IS A TENDENCY I HAVE SEEN WITH MY CAREER FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING AND THEY FOCUS ON THE ONE ITEM. EVEN WHEN I WAS IN STATE GOVERNMENT. EVERY DEPARTMENT WOULD COME IN AND CERTAIN MEMBERS WOULD FOCUS ON ONE LITTLE ISSUE. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE TO BALANCE IT ALL.

IF THERE IS A NEED TO SPEED UP THE CONSULTANT STUDY IS COMING BACK, I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE CONSISTENT. WE ARE DEALING WITH THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND THE PD'S OFFICE AND THE WHOLE JUSTICE COMPLEX IN GENERAL, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE CHANGES. WE CAN PULL OFF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT PART OF THE MONEY. WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE NUMBERS AND I SAW THE NUMBER THEY ASKED FOR AND THE NUMBER YOU ALL ARE RECOMMENDING AND KNOWING THE CAP WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T GET AS CLOSE TO IT AS WE COULD HAVE GOT.

WE JUST DID NOT. I IN AGREEMENT AND IF SOMETHING COMES UP ALONG THE WAY, THE SHERIFF CAN CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE AND THERE ARE CHANGES, THEN I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH LATITUDE AND ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY TO BE ANYMORE -- NIMBLE ENOUGH TO MOVE MONEY IN

A CRISIS IF WE HAVE TO. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER RADACK.

>> STEVE RADACK: CAN YOU GO OVER WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE ACADEMY CLASS.

>> WE HAVE TWO. >> STEVE RADACK: I UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WE NEEDED TO GET STARTED, AND IT IS GONNA TAKE AWHILE.

>> IT TAKES SIX MONTHS. >> STEVE RADACK: SO YOU WERE SUGGESTING -- YOU POINTED OUT

[02:15:01]

WE COULD DO WHAT RIGHT NOW? >> HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO CLASSES SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF

FOUR CLASSES EVERY YEAR JUST TO KEEP UP WITH -- >> STEVE RADACK: AND I --

>> I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THIS. THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION.

>> STEVE RADACK: I MAKE A MOTION TO DO SO. I MAKE A MOTION.

I I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF THE EXTRA TWO ACADEMY CLASSES AND NOT WAIT FOR A STUDY. THERE ARE SOME EXPERTS AROUND HERE AND I AM NOT CLAIMING TO BE. WE HAVE A SHERIFF AND A FORMER SHERIFF, AND WE NEED TO GET STARTED. WE JUST FALL FURTHER BEHIND WAITING ON A STUDY THAT WE ALL

KNOW THAT WE NEED THE CLASSES. >> COMMISSIONER, MAY I?

>> SURE. >> I TEND TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RADACK BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO -- THANK YOU. IT TAKES TIME TO START THE WHOLE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO -- I INCLINED TO SECOND THE MOTION, BUT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE IN THE DISCUSSION PROCESS OF THIS PARTICULAR FORMAT.

ROBERT, I NEED GUIDANCE. >> I THINK THE APPROPRIATES MOTION WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET TO COVER THAT. THEN YOU CAN STATE YOUR REASON FOR IT IS TO HAVE THE CLASSES. THE BUDGET WOULD BE ADOPTED WHEN IT COMES BACK ON FEBRUARY 11TH, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION THAT YOU ARE MAKING.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL SAY AS WE DID WITH THE OTHER DISCUSSION EARLIER, MAYBE WE SAVE THE MOTIONS FOR THE 11TH. MAYBE FOLKS DON'T AGREE WITH MY POSITION, BUT I JUST THINK IF WE GET INTO MOTIONS RIGHT NOW, SEVERAL OF US WOULD LIKE

TO DO FOLLOW-UP ON THESE ITEMS. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE

DOLLAR AMOUNT IS. >> STEVE, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT YOUR MOTION, BUT I

WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING. >> THAT'S FINE.

BRING IT BACK THE NEXT MEETING. >> YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> AND SO THE BUDGET OUSTS IS CLEAR -- BUDGET OFFICE IS CLEAR WE ARE NOT DOING A MOTION. IF THIS WAS A MOTION AND THAT WAS A SECOND, I WOULD BE A

THIRD. >> WE'LL BRING IT BACK. >> BUT IT IS NOT A MOTION TO A SECOND. IT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO BRING IT BACK AS A

RECOMMENDATION. >> IT WOULD BE NICE TO MAKE THE MOTION WHILE WE ARE HERE,

BY THE WAY, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. >> LINA HIDALGO: I MEAN I DO THINK EVERY TIME -- IT IS IRONIC TO HAVE THE PERSON THAT WALKED -- WHO ASKED FOR MONEY, I DON'T -- I JUST DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT. IF Y'ALL DON'T -- IF Y'ALL DON'T MAKE THE MONEY AVAILABLE, HOW DO Y'ALL GET A SAY ON HOW TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY? IT'S CRAZY. IT IS LIKE YOU YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO. THE POINT'S BEEN MADE, BUT I THINK IT IS IRONIC ENOUGH TO OFFER IT UP. I DO APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.

>> MAY I RESPOND BRIEFLY, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: OF COURSE.

>> THANK YOU. THERE'S $120 EXTRA DOLLARS, MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS.

JUDGE, IT IS ALL ABOUT PRIORITIES. WITHIN THE REALM OF ALL OF US, HAVING A BIGGER BUDGET -- I HAVE A HOME BUDGET. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A HOME BUDGET. I PRESUME YOU HAVE A HOME BUDGET.

YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR PRIORITIES AND IT IS LEGITIMATE THAT WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THE BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT EVEN THOUGH I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC THAT HARVEY NEEDED THE INCREASED TAX BURDEN I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MEASURE OUT THOSE EXPENDITURES. AND I THINK HAVING AN EXTRA $120 MILLION IS NOT THE SAME AS HAVING CUT OUR BUDGETS. WE ALL HAVE MORE THINGS WE WANT. JUDGE, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE CHARACTERIZATION.

I DO THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO BE HERE. I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A HIGH PRIORITY. WHEN WE ARE PRIORITIZING WHERE THOSE THINGS GO OUT OF THE

SURPLUS WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. >> I WANT TO SAY THIS.

YOU AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ARE COUNTY, AS COUNTY JUDGE THAT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESERVES. A LOT OF FORE THOUGHT THAT HAD GONE IN FOR YEARS, YOU INHERITED IT. THE MONEY YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING IS THE MONEY -- THE MONEY THAT THIS COURT, RODNEY ELLIS WAS ON THIS COURT, TWO OF US WERE ON THIS COURT, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR YOU DIDN'T INHERIT SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE HOLE.

YOU INHERITED SOMETHING THAT WAS GOOD AND A PERFECT BOND RATING WE WORKED ON FOR YEARS. SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. SO DON'T ACT LIKE WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS MONEY. IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE

[02:20:06]

COMMISSIONER'S COURT YOU INHERITED. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONER RADACK, YOU DID INHERIT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH A PARTICULAR NUMBER OF RESERVES, BUT YOU ALSO INHERITED A COUNTY THAT FAILED TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COUNTY COULD HAVE IMPACTED BECAUSE IT VALUED CONCRETE AND OTHER FORMS OF IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE ALMOST TO THE DETRIMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLLUTION AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. MAYBE NOT ENTIRELY PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS. IT IS NOT ENTIRELY MEASURABLE IN TERMS OF SUCCESS AND HOW IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER. YOU DIDN'T INHERIT -- YOU DID INHERIT THOSE RESERVES, BUT AS WAS ELUDED, WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT YOU'VE GOT TO WRITE THE CHECKS, THEN THE PRIORITIES DO CHANGE, AND MAYBE WE ALL HAVE TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THOSE POCKETS THAT WE OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF POTENTIALLY MISPLACED

PRIORITIES. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO SAY I FOUND IT COMMON THROUGHOUT MY CAREER THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LEAST APT TO WANT TO TAKE THE HEAT ON REVENUE GENERALLY WERE THE FIRST ONES TO STEP UP WITH THE BRIGHT IDEAS ON HOW TO PAY FOR IT. THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS. IT IS CALLED POLITIC THAT'S WE ARE IN.

WE FROM IN A COUNTY THAT HAS SUFFERED FROM DECADES OF UNDER FUNDED BECAUSE IT IS JUST EASIER TO SAY NO THAN TO TAKE THE HEAT AND VOTE TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.

WE KNEW LONG BEFORE THAT STUDY CAME OUT THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF WE EVER HAD A STORM COME LIKE HARVEY. IT COULD HAVE RAISED THE STANDARDS FOR BUILDING A LONGTIME AGO. EVEN WHEN WE PUT THAT BOND PACKAGE AT $2.5 BILLION. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 10 BILLION.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE THE MOTION MYSELF TO SEE THE COLLEAGUE DUCK.

BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT. IT IS VERY SENSITIVE AND WHEN IT COMES TO PAY RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS ONE. YOU TWO ARE RUNNING.

I EVEN CAME ON THE AGENDA MIDYEAR. MR. JACKSON, I MAY HAVE THE NUMBERS WRONG, BUT IT IS $40 MILLION FOR A DEPUTY'S PAY RAISE?

>> IT WAS 18 AT THE TIME. >> SO ANNUAL LIESED IT WOULD HAVE -- ANNUAL LIESED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE THAT. NO QUESTION IN ANYBODY'S MIND THAT WAS A POLITICAL CALCULATION AT THE TIME. WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE AND EVERYBODY ON THE PREVIOUS COURT WERE AGAINST THE REVENUE CAP. GO BACK AND CHECK THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HAVE. EVERYBODY, WE WERE ALL AGAINST IT.

SETS YOU UP TO FIGHT AND THEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE GETS IT.

AND WHEN IT PASSED PEOPLE GET AMNESIA AND SAY IT IS WHAT I WANTY -- I WANTED ALL ALONG.

WE LIVE WITH THAT. WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL.

IT IS THE ONES WHO WOULD PROTEST THE LOUDEST AGAINST ADDITIONAL REVENUE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO RUN UP TO THE TABLE AND GRAB SOME RED HERRING ISSUE TO GET SOME POLITICAL POINTS AND SAY WE OUGHT TO DO THIS. IN MY OLD JOB IT WAS USUALLY FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. THEY KNOW THOSE WERE GROUPS THAT COULD SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. IN REALITY THEY SAY WE WANT TO INCREASE THE WICK PROGRAM, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE. I WON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL AND WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THE LONGER TERM, THE ISSUE AND WHAT THE -- THE FOLKS THAT LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY ALL KNOW, AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION OVER IN EL PASO WITH THE OTHER COUNTY JUDGES IS THAT WE ARE BURNING THE FURNITURE TO HEAT THE HOUSE.

IN THE LONG-TERM THE REVENUE PER CAPITA IS GOING DOWN. IT IS GOING TO BECOME NEGATIVE IF WE CONTINUE ON THIS PATH, SO OF COURSE OVER ONE YEAR YOU STILL HAVE A POSITIVE INCREASE, BUT DOES IT KEEP UP WITH POPULATION GROWTH? NO.

[02:25:02]

OF COURSE WE DO. WE ARE THE LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS.

YOU HAVE TO DIVIDE IT PER CAPITA. YOU CAN OFFER UP AN ABSOLUTE NUMBER. WE HAVE THIS MUCH MORE REVENUE, BUT PER CAPITA OVER TIME IT IS GOING TO BECOME NEGATIVE. THAT'S WHERE I COMING FROM.

WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND I DO THINK THAT AS WE MAKE THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT ALLOCATIONS THAT IF WE HAVE THE STUDY COMING WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS IN TERMS OF THE THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING.

YEAH? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT TALK ABOUT MONEY AND DON'T WANT TO INCREASE REVENUE. I VOTED BETWEEN -- FROM 1989 FOR EIGHT YEARS WE RAISED TAXES, THIS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RAISED TAXES OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME 7 CENTS. AND THEN WE WENT 23 YEARS WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.

1 OF THE TAX INCREASES WE WE VOTED FOR WAS TO INCREASE OUR RESERVES SO WE CAN HAVE A PENNY TAX INCREASE. HE VOTED NO. WITHIN SIX MONTHS WE HAD A PERFECT RATING THAT WE'VE KEPT. I PROPOSED TAX INCREASES INCLUDING ONE I RECALL, A ONE CENT TAX INCREASE TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE PAY RAISES. AND WHICH SOME OF THEM GOT A 30% PAY RAISE.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU. I HAVE NEVER VOTED AGAINST A TAX INCREASE ON HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. NEVER. NEVER.

SO DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT BACKBONE. I GOT BACKBONE.

I GOT BACKBONE TO STAND UP TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMOUS QUOTE, CHANNEL TWO, CAN'T FIND IT, BUT BASICALLY YOU GET THE MONEY WHILE YOU CAN.

YOU GET THE MONEY WHILE YOU CAN. YOU WANT TO GET THE MONEY BEFORE YOU NEED IT, AND SO LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY -- YOU SAID IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THE MONEY AND NOT NEED IT THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT. THAT'S YOUR QUOTE.

THAT WAS YOUR SUGGESTION TO THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY WHEN Y'ALL TRIED TO DO Y'ALL'S

BIG TAX INCREASE. >> I APPRECIATE YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

LIKEWISE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE I'M GLAD I HAD MY BREAKFAST.

I'M HAPPY. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT WAS SHERIFF.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. SO LET'S HEAR FROM MONIQUE JOSEPH AND BRUCE EMANUEL AND DIANA WILLIAMS, OY DAVIS -- JOY DAVIS AND SMITH AND TRUDY STRASSBURG.

THANK YOU. AND RAYMOND BRACKIN. I'LL CALL FOLKS UP AGAIN, BUT FOR NOW. GO AHEAD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND

AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. >> MY NAME IS MONIQUE JOSEPH AND I A FIELD ORGANIZER AT TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE. I PRY -- PREPARED THIS NICE SPEECH AND LAST NIGHT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MY AUNT, AND MY COUSIN, MY OLDEST COUSIN JASON LEON CABOT PASSED AWAY TWO WEEKS AGO AND WE BURIED HIM THIS PAST FRIDAY. I TALKED TO HER ABOUT HIS LAST -- HE WAS HOMELESS. A LOT OF TIMES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.

HE USED DRUGS A LOT ON AND OFF. WHEN HE FINALLY RELAPSED AGAIN HE PREPARED TO GO TO REHAB, BUT THERE WERE NO FUNDS FOR THE RE-- REHAB TO ACCEPT HIM.

HE ENDED UP TAKING A DRUG THAT HAD A HIGHER POTENCY THAN HE EVER HAD BEFORE HE DIED.

TALKING TO MY AUNT SHE KEPT REPEATING IN HER SOBBING THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER MOTHER TO HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE HELP THEY NEEDED.

SO BEFORE I COME IN HERE AND TOLD YOU ABOUT MY SITUATION AND HOW MY LIFE HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND NOW IT IS HITTING MY FAMILY AGAIN.

WE PRIORITIZE CONVICTIONS OVER RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP TREAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

DRUG USE IS NOT A ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD BE CRIMINALIZING, BUT WE STILL ARE.

[02:30:01]

WE HAVE EXTRA COPIES. I WILL READ A LITTLE BIT -- YEAH, SURE.

I WILL GRAB IT IN A SEC. I'M GOING TO READ OUR CONCLUSION HERE, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO WE FAILED THE WAR ON DRUGS. ITS RACIST ROOTS SKY ROCKETED MASS INCARCERATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO THE 2016 REPORT, EVERY 25 SECONDS SOMEONE IS ARRESTED IN THE U.S. FOR POSSESSING A SMALL AMOUNT OF DRUGS. THIS REPORT REVEALED -- REVEALS HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS NATIONAL CRISIS.

THE REVELATION THAT LOW-LEVEL DRUG CHARGES WERE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BOOKINGS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE MOST NIGHTS SPENT IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL SHOULD ALARM ALL OF US.

VAST AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES SPENT ARRESTING AND INCARCERATING AND FILING PEOPLE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM SHOULD BE REINVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSE TO SUBSTANCE USE AND RECOVERY. WHEN WE INVEST OUR RESOURCE IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN PUNISHMENT WE CAN SCALE BACK OUR MASS INCARS RAKES -- INCARCERATION CRISIS AND THE CONSEQUENCES ON THE COUNTLESS HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES INCLUDING MY OWN. I HEARD CAGLE TALK EARLIER ABOUT WANTS AND NEEDS. I THINK OUR WANTS AND NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON DEMOGRAPHIC. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND WE'RE SORRY ABOUT YOUR LOSS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, COURT.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I A -- I A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZING PROJECT.

I HERE TO SAY NO OF THE MONEYING -- THE MONEY THAT'S WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. I FEEL LIKE SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH US IN THE FIGHT FOR ALL OF THE REVELATIONS THAT IS IN PLACE, BUT INSTEAD SHE IS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD SPEND MONEY TO CRIMINALIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR DRUG UH -- ABUSE AND DRUG USE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. OUR COUNTY JAILS IS GETTING FULL. WE NEED TO BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR -- OUT OUT OF THERE. I BELIEVE IN YOU GUYS AND I HAVE FAITH IN YOU GUYS AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY ALLOCATING MONEY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO. I WANT TO SAY PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THAT.

DO NOT GIVE HER EXTRA MONEY TOWARD WHAT IT IS SHE WANTS TO DO.

ALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, AND PUT THAT MONEY IN RESOURCES TO WHERE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN USE IT. WE ARE DYING, AND WE NEED THIS MONEY. WE NEED THIS MONEY TO GO TO PLACES WHERE IT CAN BE ACTUALLY USED. RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT NEED MORE PROSECUTORS THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY. THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS WILL DO IS THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE DO NOT GET MORE PROSECUTORS, AND THIS MONEY GOES TO WHERE IT NEEDS

TO GO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE BROOKS EMANUEL, DIANA WILLIAMS

, JOY DAVIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I DIANA WILLIAMS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE FUNDING OF THE D.A. OFFICE FOR NEW PROSECUTORS.

I BELIEVE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS IN THE D.A. OFFICE WILL INCREASE INCARCERATION. WHILE ARRESTS ARE DOWN IN HARRIS COUNTY, ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY WOULD A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING BE ASKED FOR.

RATHER THAN FUELING INCARCERATION, TAJ ASKS THE COURT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE AND FUNDING TO ALTERNATIVE SERVICES. MORE JUVENILE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. IN A REPORT WE RELEASED AND YOU HAVE A COPY ON ON JANUARY 6TH WE ASKED FOR CARE AND NOT CAGES. WE ASKED FOR HELP IN THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ALL HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS ACCESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, MINUTE -- MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS FOR THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED. I LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO, EAST HARRIS COUNTY, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY BUS SERVICE IS RUNNING WELL.

[02:35:01]

AGAIN, CARE NOT CAGES. AGAIN, TAJ ASKS FOR THE COURT TO REINVEST INTO THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE HOLISTIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: BRIEFLY. THAT'S A NICE PICTUR. >> THANK YOU.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THAT'S IT, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS AND PART OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I ASK YOU TO REJECT ANY AND ALL REQUESTS FOR MORE PROSECUTORS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME TOP HAS ASKED YOU TO SAY NO TO THE D.A. LAST YEAR WE ASKED TO DENY HER BUDGET REQUEST FOR MORE PROSECUTORS BECAUSE WE KNOW MORE PROSECUTORS MEANS MORE PROSECUTIONS AND IT MEANS MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR BEHIND BARS AND IT MEANS MORE LIVES AND FAMILIES DESTROYED BY LEGAL SYSTEMS THAT IS QUESTIONING OUR COMMUNITIES.

AFTER YOU DID THE RIGHT THING AND SAID NO TO HER REQUEST FOR A HUNDRED OR MORE PROSECUTORS SHE CAME BACK WITH SMALLER REQUEST. INCLUDING ONE FOR PROSECUTORS TO HANDLE ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY SUFFER EVERY DAY FROM THE POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS CAUSED BY LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR PROFITS.

THERE IS A NEED TO PROSECUTE THOSE WHO POLLUTE AND CAUSE CANCER AND ASTHMA TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND DESTROYING OUR HOMES AND ENDANGERING OUR WATERS.

BUT THE D.A. IS USING IT TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE POLLUTERS.

HER OFFICE EVEN REQUESTS A $100,000 BOND AGAINST ONE OF THE PROTESTERS.

MORE PROSECUTORS LEAD TO PROSECUTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT POLLUTING, BUT FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. THE JAILS ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE AWAITING TRIAL BECAUSE INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH JUDGES TO ASSURE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT, THEY OFTEN ASK FOR HIGHER BONDS. WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS TO DE-CARCERATE.

BLACK PEOPLE MAKE UP 20% OF HARRIS COUNTY'S POPULATION AND REPRESENTING 51% OF THE INMATES AT THE COUNTY JAILS. THAT IS NOT RIGHT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TELL OUR D.A. THAT INSTEAD OF GIVING HER MONEY TO PUT MORE OF US IN JAIL, LET'S INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION RECOVERY, HOUSING AND OTHER MEASURES THAT BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION. SAFEST COMMUNITIES ARE NOT THE ONES WITH THE MOST PROSECUTORS AND POLICE AND JAILS. SAFEST COMMUNITIES ARE THOSE

WITH THE MOST RESOURCES. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

WE HAVE BROOKS EMANUEL AND TRUDY STRASSBURGER AND RAYMOND BRAKINS.

>> BROOKS EMANUEL IS MY COLLEAGUE AND HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE.

IT I TRUDY STRASSBURGER AND I WITH A NONPROFIT, THE JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE.

LIKE THE MEMBERS HERE FROM TOP AND TAJ, I WAS HERE A YEAR AGO WHEN SHE FIRST MADE THIS REQUEST. AT THE TIME THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS GOING AGAINST THE TREND OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING NATIONALLY IN D.A.'S OFFICES AND COMMUNITIES FIGHTING MASS INCARS -- INCARCERATION. WE TOLD YOU GROWING THE SYSTEM DOESN'T LEAD TO PUBLIC SAFETY. INSTEAD WHAT WE SEE IS SHRINKING THE SYSTEM IS WHAT LEADS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE TOLD YOU A YEAR AGO THAT WE DID NOT THINK YOU SHOULD GRANT THAT REQUEST. I URGING YOU AGAIN TO NOT GRANT THAT REQUEST.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS THE OUTSTANDING STUDY THAT IS REALLY GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT HARRIS COUNTY CAN DO AND WHAT SERVICES ARE NECESSARY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU NOT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS UNTIL THAT STUDY IS COMPLETE. I URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF LEADERS IN TEXAS LIKE JOHN IN DALLAS AND LIKE D.A. GONZALEZ IN BEXAR COUNTY AND KIM FOX IN CHICAGO.

ALL-AROUND WE ARE SEEING PROSECUTORS WHO ARE CHOOSING NOT TO PROSECUTE CASES, AND WE ARE SEEING THE COMMUNITIES BE SAFER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. IS RAYMOND BRAKINS HERE?

>> YES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I RAYMOND BRAKINS AND I A RESIDENT OF THE THIRD WARD COMMUNITY.

[02:40:01]

I FEEL THAT THESE RESOURCES SHOULD BE USED TO HELP EVERYONE AND NOT JUST THOSE WITH MONEY AND POWER. THAT'S WHY I ASKING YOU AGAIN ON THE RECORD TO SAY NO TO THE REQUEST FOR MORE PROSECUTORS. FOR TOO LONG NOW WE HAVE BEEN A COUNTY THAT USES JAILS AS A SOLUTION FOR EVERYTHING. BECAUSE YOU ARE POOR, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DRUG ADDICTION AND BECAUSE YOU ARE HOMELESS. THAT'S NOT THE VISION I HAVE FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND I DON'T THINK IT IS YOURS. I WILL STAND HERE SAYING I WILL HAVE FAITH YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND REJECT THE REQUEST FOR MORE PROSECUTORS. I BELIEVE SAFEST COMIENTS ARE NOT THE -- COMMUNITIES ARE NOT SAFEST WITH THE MOST POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS.

THEY HAVE THE MOST RESOURCES TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THE HOMELESS, THOSE WITH ADDICTION. WE NEED TO USE THE RESOURCES AND TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND USE THOSE RESOURCES TO FIGHT THE WAR ON POVERTY.

THAT'S WHY I HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S ALL FOR THE SPEAKERS.

DO FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS ON THIS? YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I KNOW THE D.A. RECEIVED THE 6.9% INCREASE LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET. I THINK THAT WAS -- MR. JACKSON, TELL ME IF I AM RIGHT, BUT THAT WAS ABOVE THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE FOR MOST DEPARTMENTS.

NOT ALL, BUT MOST. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE DID THE TWO REQUESTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY AND PUBLIC INTEGRITY

AROUND THE SHOOTING. WHAT WAS THAT, FOUR MILLION? >> I THINK IT WAS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THEN THE STUDY WILL BE BACK WHEN? WHEN SHOULD THAT BE BACK?

WE HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHEN THE STUDY WILL COME IN? >> THE STUDY FOR THE JUSTICE

SIDE? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES. >> I BELIEVE THAT IS -- WE HAVE THE MANAGEMENT SIDE DUE IN OCTOBER, AND I BELIEVE IT IS ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO PAST

THAT FOR THE FULL JUSTICE SIDE FOR THAT SIDE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY -- WE DID THAT ONE EARLIER. WE DID ONE JUST FOR THE D.A.'S

OFFICE. >> I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS DUE BACK.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: MAY OR JUNE MY STAFF IS TELLING ME? DIDN'T WE DO ONE FOR THE

D.A.'S OFFICE, I THINK, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: I I KNOW PFM

IS PRIORITIZING THE SITE ON THEIR TIMELINE. >> YES, MA'AM.

AND I TALKING ABOUT THE PRIMARY SCOPE OF THE WHOLE STUDY BEING DONE.

IF THE D.A. WAS SCHEDULED AHEAD OF THAT TIME -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: MY POINT IS WE WILL HAVE TIME, YOUR HONOR. WE CAN COME BACK WHEN IT DOES COME IN AND WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IF NECESSARY.

>> YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. JUST LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR UP TO $3.6 MILLION OF ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS REQUIRED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO IT WAS 3.6 WE ADDED? >> YES, COMMISSIONER.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: SAME THING I MENTIONED BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IF MAYBE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF, SOME OF. IT BUT IF WE ARE EMBARK -- EMBARKING ON THIS FOLKS ARE ON THE GROUND AND FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR RESEARCH, I DON'T SEE WHY GET OUT IN FRONT. INSTEAD LET'S DO IT THOUGHTFULLY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN WE EARMARK IT SOMEHOW SO THAT IF THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, IS THAT INTAKE? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING

ABOUT? >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THIS -- SO THERE ARE 25 VICTIM ASSISTANT COORDINATORS. I KNOW JAD IS WORKING WITH VICTIM ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WORKING WITH THE D.A. WHERE I'M COMING FROM IS THIS IS ALL BUBBLING RIGHT NOW. THERE IS JIM AND ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW I WAIT FOR THEM TO COME OUT.

DISTRICT CLERK. I HAD A QUESTION IF FOLKS DON'T HAVE ONE.

BILL, THIS IS FOR YOU. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REQUESTS WAS FOR THE E FILING MANDATE, OVER $1 MILLION. THAT IS A TRANSFR FROM THE COUNTY CLERK WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING DECLINE IF THAT DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING. IS THAT -- HAS THAT BEEN

SQUARED AWAY? >> JOSH HANDLE THAT -- JUDGE, JOSH, BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

NO, IT USED TO BE THE FILING MANDATE, THE COUNTY CLERK WOULD SHARE -- OR THERE WOULD

[02:45:03]

OUT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THERE WAS SOME AMOUNT I WAS TOLD COULD COME FROM THE CONSENT DECREE FUNDING. IS THAT SOME OF THIS?

IS THAT SOME OF THIS? >> NO, COMMISSIONER. IF IT IS COMING FROM THE DECREE, IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME OUT OF A FREANT FUND -- A DIFFERENT FUND.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS 1.176 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE DISTRICT CLERK.

IT IS EXTRA HOURS FOR A PROBABLE COST STAFF AND INCREASE JUROR MEALS.

ANY FUNDING FOR HIS FOR -- HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING FOR WHETHER

OR NOT WE DO AN IGP OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM FOR THAT. >> I WOULD THINK IN TERMS OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, I FOR IT. WE ARE TOO BUSY.

WE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE WANT TO DO. IT BUT WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE

DOCUMENTS AND IT COULD COME DOWN THE ROAD. >> WE WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE STUDIED. IT HAS BEEN COMING UP FOR 20 YEARS AND WE SHOULD HAVE A POLICY OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. JUST SO WE DON'T EVERY TIME COME BACK WITH TWO MILLION FOR THIS. WE PUT 20 MILLION.

THERE IS POLICY ISSUES. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I FOR ONE CAN LIVE WITH THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. SAME GOES FOR ME. NEXT IS PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW FROM THE PD'S OFFICE THE COUNTY IS DOING A REPORT AND THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT PRETTY SOON I THINK. I'M NOT SURE WHEN.

DO YOU KNOW? IS THAT PRETTY QUICK? IN ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO.

I THINK IF THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES WE CAN DO IT AS IT RELATES TO WHEN THE

RECOMMENDATION COMES FORWARD. >> WE ARE RECOMMENDING A THIRD , I BELIEVE ON THAT ONE?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE COULD WAIT AND DO IT. >> OUR PROBLEM IS SPACE.

THE OTHER THING IS WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WITH NO SPACE TO HOUSE THE

INDIVIDUAL. IF WE WAIT A COUPLE MONTHS. >> THAT TIES IN.

BELLOW'S REPORT WILL COME OUT AND IT WILL TELL US SOMETHING.

HOPEFULLY THE SPACE ISSUES WILL BE WORKED OUT. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD ISSUES. FOLKS THAT DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK AND BUILD A NEW BUILDING. WE WOULD PROBABLY GO TO THE VOTERS AND I DON'T THINK IT IS

HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON. >> WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON SPACE. WE WE -- WE ARE WORKING ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. WHEN THE BUILDING IS COMPLETE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN WE

HAVE OFFICE SPACE. WE HAVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY. >> AND YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL HALF A MILLION FOR ANOTHER FLOOR FOR HER I SAW SOMEWHERE.

DID I MISS THAT? THE D.A.? MAYBE THE AGENDA?

>> WE ARE CONTINUING THE SPACE AND IF YOU GIVE HIM MORE STAFF WE WILL GET MORE USE SPACE.

WE WILL HAVE MORE SPACE, BUT ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE NEW BUILDING.

>> THAT IS A CAPITAL EXPENSE. WHEN FOLKS ARE ASKING FOR A WHOLE NEW COMPLEX --

>> HALF A BILLION DOLLARS. >> SO I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING IN THE HALF BILLION DOLLAR DIRECTION, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO DO WITH A FEW BUILDINGS.

THERE IS PROBLEM BLOW A SEPARATE DISCUSSION. >> AND COURT HAS APPROVED US TO LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL WORK WITH THE JUSTICE CONSULTANT AND NOT ONLY DETERMINE THE NEED FOR THAT WE'LL CAUGHT IT OPERATIONS AND HOW IT IS

INTEGRATED. THERE MAY BE EFFICIENCIES. >> HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING ON

THE LEASE AT THE D.A.'S OFFICE? >> THREE AND A HALF, FOUR MILLION FOR THE LEASE. I THINK IT IS THREE AND A HALF, FOUR.

>> AND A HALF A BALANCE DOLLAR -- HALF A BILLION DOLLAR BUILDING THE PAYMENT WOULD BE 35 MILLION A YEAR. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THE REPAIR COSTS AND SQUEEZING IT DOWN, THAT MAY NOT BE A BAD INVESTMENT. I KNOW IN L.A. THEY SPENT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. WASN'T THAT THE NUMBER, SOMEWHERE IN THERE?

>> YES. >> IT IS SOMETHING ON OUR RADAR.

[02:50:02]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP SOMETIME BACK, MAYBE WHEN THIS STARTED, THE DISCUSSION STARTED AND FOLKS WERE ADVOCATING FOR IT PUBLICLY IS DO WE GO TO THE

VOTERS OR NOT? >> ON A BUILDING YOU DON'T HAVE TOVMENT THE -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO. TRADITION IS ANYTHING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WE WENT.

FOR INSTANCE WE WENT TO THE VOTERS FOR A $24 MILLION PET SERVICE BUILDING.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND DIDN'T GO ON THE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: THEY DID GO UP AND IT FAILED. AND THEN THEY CAME BACK AND DECIDED IF YOU YOU CAN'T PASS

IT IN THE VOTES, DO IT ANYWAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: SPEAKING OF PRIORITIES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT ON THAT ONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. DID I SKIP ONE? COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS. PRETRIAL SERVICES. PURCHASING.

DISTRICT COURTS. AGRI LIFE. PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

I DO HAVE A COMMENT THERE. THEY ASKED FOR UPWARDS OF A MILLION AND YOU PUT 220,000.

MY CONCERN IS THEY HAD ANOTHER 294,000 FOR POOR YOUTH SERVICE SPECIALISTS THEY ARE USING FOR A PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. 60% OF THE COST OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BE REIMBURSED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THEY ARE UNDERGOING EVALUATION RIGHT NOW WITH RICE.

I THINK WE SHOULD PROVIDE THAT BECAUSE OF THE MATCH THAT IS AVAILABLE.

>> I SAW THE DIRECTOR IN THE HALLWAY DURING THE BREAK, AND WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT

THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS MORE INFORMATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE TOTAL

WOULD BE CLOSER TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVING MR. JACKSON AND JOSH SOME DIRECTION.

IN MY MIND WHEN I DON'T SAY ANYTHING, I GOING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL -- IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT WHAT

YOU UNDERSTAND AS WELL? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR SO YOU

DON'T SEND SMOKE SIGNALS AROUND. >> YOU HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH

YOUR STAFF. >> JUDGE AND -- IN TEAMS -- IN TIMES PAST, I HATE TO BE THE OLD GUY AROUND HERE, BUT HE HAS DONE THIS FOR THREE YEARS, MY COLLEAGUE, MR. ELLIS.

TYPICALLY IF WE DON'T SAY ANYTHING NOW, SOMETIMES WE MAY HAVE A BUG IN OUR EAR AND WE CALL THE BUDGET OFFICE AFTERWARDS AND SAYS EXPLAIN THIS TO ME.

THIS IS A REPORT. IT IS NOT FINAL RECOMMENDATION.

IT IS JUST A REPORT ON WHERE THEY ARE. SO IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER WE WANT TO SAY HERE WE STILL HAVE FULL CAPACITY TO HAVE OUR SAY ON A FEW THINGS.

WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE WE MAY WANT TO SMOOTH OUT. THEY CAN INTERPRET THAT I DON'T HAVE A BIG ISSUE, BUT I MAY HAVE SOME SMALLISH YES ON A FEW THINGS I MAY CALL THE

BUDGET OFFICE ON AND SAY EXPLAIN THIS TO ME. >> THE BUDGET OFFICE IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO TRY TO FIND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THINGS THAT FALL IN A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE THESE AT ANYTIME UNTIL YOU BASICALLY VOTE ON IT ON FEBRUARY 11TH. I JUST CHECKED WITH ROBERT AND WHAT WE HAVE TO POST ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE IS A BUDGET THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL REVENUES.

YOU CAN CHANGE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. AND IT GOES TO THE COUNTY CLERK AND IT GOES TO THE AUDITOR. AND WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING

WHEN YOU CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS IN THE YEAR. >> IF I CAN FINISH MY COMMENT, THE BUDGET OFFICE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS. WE MAKE THE DECISION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. >> I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH JUST BASED ON MY 35 YEARS OF BEING IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEBODY IS GONNA DO UNTIL THEY VOTE. SOMETIMES AFTER THEY VOTED ON IT THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DENY THEY DID IT. COMMISSIONER RADACK WAS ON ONE OF MY COURTS.

WE WERE PICKING A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN TEXAS. WE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND I WAS PRESIDENT PRO-TEM SO I HAD A PAPER THAT SAID PICKING A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS LIKE PICKING A PULP. YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE COMING UP AND THAT MEANS WE MADE A DECISION. YOU CAN SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING UP AND I THE LIEUTENANT

[02:55:01]

GOVERNOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT WAS THAT.

LET'S MOVE TO COUNTY COURTS MANAGEMENT. NO, EXCUSE ME, PROTECTIVE SERVICES. ANYTHING ON PROTECTIVE SERVICES?

OH THAT WAS THE ONE WE WERE DISCUSSING. >> YEAH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NOW COUNTY COURTS MANAGEMENT? THAT ONE -- ONE THING I NOTICED WAS THE FUNDING ISN'T THERE FOR THE JUDGES' REQUEST FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE REFORMS THAT WE ARE ENACTING AND ESPECIALLY BAIL REFORM AND MAKING SURE THE JUDGES ARE TRAINED UP I WOULD AIR ON THE SIDE OF ASKING WHAT TRAINING RESOURCES THEY WILL NEED AS OPPOSED TO NOT GIVING MONEY FOR TRAINING.

WE SHOULD BE WANTING THEM TO BE EQUIPPED. >> I AGREE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND BECAUSE IT IS PR, IF AT SOME POINT WE HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW HOW WE CAN DRAW DOWN THE MAC MONEY FROM THE STATE FOR THE FELONY JUDGES, THAT WILL GENERATE SOME MONEY. I HOPE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS, BUT OBVIOUSLY ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT COMES IN CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE MONEY TO DO OTHER THINGS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE TRAINING WITH THE REFORMS IN PLACE. >> IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH

GOING AHEAD AND PUTTING THE TRAINING IN THERE? >> LINA HIDALGO: DO CHECK WITH THEM IF THAT AMOUNT WAS ENOUGH. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS. WHO SAID ACTUALLY WHAT THEY BROUGHT THEY MEANT TO ASK FOR MORE. BUT I THINK IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THESE JUDGES WANT TO BE TRAINED AND WE ARE NOT ONES TO

SAY NO WE DON'T WANT TO EQUIP YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU TOOK

MONEY OUT OF YOUR BUDGET. >> LINA HIDALGO: RIGHT AND IT WAS QUITE SMALL TO GIVE TO THE

JUDGES FOR SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO DO. >> SOME OF IT WAS OUT OF THEIR OWN COST. THEY WERE OUT OF STATE AND THAT WAS THE BULK.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DO THAT. >> ESPECIALLY THE MAJOR PART

OF THE POLICY. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS THAT AND NOW PROBATE

COURTS. >> [INAUDIBLE]. WHY DO THEY SEPARATE THESE PROBATE COURTS? WHY CAN'T THEY BE LINKED TOGETHER?

>> THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN. >> WELL LET'S CHANGE IT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY STAND ALONE. YOU HAVE DISTRICT COURTS.

>> DO THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THEM?

>>

>> IN THE PAST THEY HAVE NOT WANTED TO BE. IT IS LIKE JP'S.

WE ARE LOOKING AT JP'S TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE ONE. WE WILL LOOK AT THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WHILE WE ARE ON IT I KNOW WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THE PROBATE COURTS AND THESE COURT-UH POINTED LAWYERS -- COURT-APPOINTED LAWYERS.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO CREATE A SYSTEM THERE? THERE HAS BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE IN THE PAST ON THAT, BUT ARE THEY ELIGIBLE TO PASS A MAP TOO? THAT WOULD BE A WAY FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY. I KNOW AT SOME POINT I WILL ASK HAD JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND I WANT TO SEE WHO IS GETTING THE CASES.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS THE ONE COURT HAS SO MUCH MORE. THOSE ARE THE COURT FEES THAT

WE ARE REQUIRED TO PAY. THERE IS NO BUDGET. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T CONTROL IT. WE LOOK AT IT. I WANT TO ASK THE JUSTICE ADD -- ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE US -- AT SOME POINT I WILL BRING THEM IN PUBLICLY.

>> WE'LL ASK THEM ABOUT THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S ALL FOR THE DEPARTMENTS.

ANYTHING ELSE, FOLKS? ANYTHING ELSE THE FOLKS NEED TO ADD.

IT IS 12:21. I PROPOSE WE TAKE THE LUNCH BREAK NOW, AND WHEN WE COME BACK WE CAN DO COMMISSIONER'S COURT UNLESS FOLKS WANT TO BREAK FOR 10 MINUTES AND DO A

LATE LUNCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO DO A LATE LUNCH.

I KNOW SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN BACK THERE WAITING. I DON'T WANT TO INCONVENIENCE. I DOING INTER MISS TENT FASTING SO I CAN WAIT.

YOU GOT STARTED AT 7:00, BUT STOP AT 11:00. STARTING AT 11:00 AND STOP AT

7. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN PLAN

FOR A LATE LUNCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL BE ON TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.