Harris County commissioners directed $14.7 million toward eviction defense, pretrial supervision and library funding in the fiscal year 2027 budget adopted Sept. 17. The allocations fill out the $3.095 billion spending plan.

The final spending details follow the 7.6% property tax increase we reported the same day.

A KPRC 2 comparison of the county's Sept. 8 and Sept. 17 budget books, reported by Mike Wortham, shows where the money landed. The largest single item is $2.7 million for eviction defense and rental assistance, routed through Harris County's Department of Housing and Community Development.

The Sept. 17 agenda also included agreements worth up to $1.5 million with the Houston Eviction Advocacy Center and $500,000 with Lone Star Legal Aid to represent tenants facing eviction.

Pretrial Services received $2.5 million to fully fund 15 case-manager positions in its Enhanced Supervision division. The positions will improve response times and coordination with law enforcement, according to the county's budget document.

The Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) received $1.5 million. HART sends behavioral-health responders instead of deputies or EMS to certain crisis calls. Another $1 million went to domestic violence prevention and intervention, and $400,000 went to RISE, the county's community violence-interruption program. Those three programs together account for nearly $3 million.

Harris County Public Library received $1.4 million the county said is needed to maintain accreditation with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD received a separate $1.4 million to fund a $20-per-hour wage floor for roughly 220 workers who are not county employees, according to the Houston Press.

Smaller allocations included $1 million for county courts, $500,000 for public health wastewater surveillance, about $500,000 for pollution control, $190,000 for two election-trainer positions, $164,000 for the Children's Assessment Center and $107,000 for veterans suicide-prevention services.

"This is one of the most regretful and painful votes that I will take, but the alternative is critical devastation to essential county services," Commissioner Adrian Garcia said of the overall budget vote, according to KHOU.

The budget passed 3-2. Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo voted against it. Hidalgo had stepped out before the separate 3-1 tax rate vote.

The new fiscal year begins Thursday, Oct. 1, with the budget running through Sept. 30, 2027.