The Court approved the final Consultation Policy and directed relevant offices to include funding for the County Attorney's Office ($332,560), OCA ($183,928), and Human Resources & Talent (amount subject to reduction based on consultant designation) in the draft FY 2027 budget.

What it means for you

Harris County will formally adopt a Consultation Policy governing labor-management relations, and three separate budget requests totaling at least $516,488 will be folded into the next fiscal year's budget draft.

Outcome

A motion was made by Commissioner Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Briones, to approve the proposed amendments to the consultation framework, henceforth referred to as the Consultation Policy; to direct the Office of County Administration and Office of Management and Budget to incorporate the County Attorney’s Office Service Enhancement Request related to the Consultation Policy of $332,560 into the draft Fiscal Year budget 2027; to direct OCA and OMB to incorporate OCA’s budget request related to the Consultation Policy of $183,928 into the draft Fiscal Year 2027 budget; to approve Human Resources & Talent’s budget request related to the Consultation Policy as recommended by the Office of County Administration in the Fiscal Review Request Form for Item 18; and to direct the OMB to incorporate HRT’s budget request related to the Consultation Policy into the draft Fiscal Year 2027 budget, with authorization to reduce the total funding amount dependent on whether and when a Consultation Agent may be designated. The motion carried by the following vote: (4-1)

How each member voted

4–1, per the official record.