[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6481638,"mediaKeyId","5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b","parentId",5706719,"title","Commissioners told language‑access plan will be paused; district courts press for standalone office funding","audioSeconds",1502,"startMs",4749000,"endMs",6251000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b&start=4749&end=6251","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b/thumbnail_4749000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481638/Harris-County/Texas/Commissioners-told-languageaccess-plan-will-be-paused-district-courts-press-for-standalone-office-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481638-6a3ac755eef91f04fa3514f639deb889/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438021&Signature=EuHjGSYt7ZBeMcaTiiesoY~Wn4j5hPfDsF0cpGONvg8dmlJCZMYB2UW23hi0X9IwTcOsAlZUaK4-oqTuaTTtCaMbhRP03w0dQSqd5jlWjg4HmLQSUg0SQsClQnj4TRuqZubSZ2aqfJGmg0WEXMVd2In4x1NGm4iFxgxCub7LUkmPyI0YjPnipl8O1NAmbT8YKNcbWu~cnjdWdFGAxirnNjUhw2uqeBfAcJnVeAwD3ttahEQlSy702JjFxIDXtlBbwBLKv4qi47RLBG4nGFt52lqawg6WvnMSTMAT44jWBS9M2acBdOIiBGuCdCSEmV6k7wmNhcybrFgJ1lBz-rE68w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harris","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","District court administrators and county officials traded updates on Sept. 2 about a proposed Harris County Language Access Office and broader interpretation/translation services after the county’s Office of County Administration said planned efforts have repeatedly failed to get underway.

District Courts Administrator Richard Woods and presiding judges told commissioners they had put a $7.1 million service‑enhancement request for a Language Access Office into FY26 books and that demand for interpretation and translation services has already increased. Woods said district courts had been working with court partners to estimate labor and non‑labor costs and to draft a plan “so that language is never a barrier to justice.”

Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman said OCA has set aside money in prior fiscal years for a language‑access program that has not been spent, and recommended that the county treat FY26 funding as a pause — make the money available through the budget process but only stand up a central Language Access Office once a concrete implementation plan is approved and timelines agreed.

District and county judges warned commissioners that the county already pays for many interpretation needs out of multiple funds and that, if the central office were not created and funded, the county could end up paying the same costs piecemeal while residents continue to experience inconsistent access. Judges said the county’s casework spans 100+ languages and that mandated court interpretation requires certified interpreters in many hearings.

On the Justice of the Peace side, JP presiding judges said licensed interpreters would help ensure compliance and reduce last‑minute higher interpreter costs (e.g., higher hourly rates for requests made inside 48 hours). Several JP judges recommended a program that funds training and certification for bilingual clerks to increase internal capacity.

Officials agreed on next steps: OCA will return with a detailed plan and timeline for the Language Access Office and district courts will continue to track short‑term interpretation needs while the county finalizes the FY26 appropriations. Commissioners asked OMB to identify offsets if the court wants to proceed with full stand‑up in FY26.

Speakers quoted: Richard Woods (District Courts Administrator); Jesse Dickerman (Interim County Administrator); Judge Richard (Latasha) Lewis Payne (District judge); multiple justices of the peace (collective remarks).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Harris - FY2026 Budget Hearings","oneSentenceSummary","District court leaders urged commissioners to fully fund a countywide Language Access Office during Sept. 2 budget hearings; interim administrator Jesse Dickerman said the county will pause full stand‑up for FY26 and asked courts to approve a concrete implementation plan before moving forward.","taxTitle","Harris County, Texas","taxId",2707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481643,"Harris County administrator outlines FY26 cuts, says research team to be pared as security, language-access budgets shift",119,77000,196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b&start=77&end=196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6481643/Harris-County/Texas/Harris-County-administrator-outlines-FY26-cuts-says-research-team-to-be-pared-as-security-language-access-budgets-shift","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481643-a5b418d2d7451f24e85f2d4aa8a6a2e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438021&Signature=BGAW9868UFpaAWwTBtNwS3v9rWTWqPc6TeZ9N~ioz5MVdRqB9EtHb4glpu6FxnExN6A4KsZISf7AJzU~wQERAUqkl91MyL-fRgrqCtmPvwtjKVHItWRPnXQG18zLKt~l~YVcBvAXlyyK6WzjSXex9ck~fKMDbBVQnrjCldKuwhi9g-jDLeAvAZWIVKIDKm8~aKePWWZK1rvjWXcd9OOFE7p0eR7dc09gkongitF6zdWIdtN4ORuU5Auw8BAL2hdazhm4jrt~vnxK7U6kuO~AIWtLLJrna1Uxy9VMguPV7IX0AG5KvROVfMf-2rY1g675WStqTCY1lKnNz2gzAsIVjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman told commissioners' court on Sept. 2 that the Office of County Administration’s (OCA) proposed FY26 budget reflects a substantial reduction from last year and several programmatic changes intended to preserve core functions while meeting deficit targets. OCA staff and commissioners questioned where large line items had moved and why some programs were being paused.

Dickerman said the proposed OCA book shows a FY26 figure of roughly $13.8 million, though he said the “real” OCA operating baseline—excluding pass-throughs and ARPA positions—is closer to $12 million. He described nearly $3 million in “real” programmatic cuts that result from consolidating and eliminating vacant positions and trimming non‑labor spending. Dickerman said those reductions were painful but necessary given the county’s fiscal situation.

On a frequently asked question—where the courthouse/security money went—Dickerman said the consolidated security budget that had previously been shown inside OCA will be moved to a countywide non‑departmental line item for “non‑departmental spending,” where it will be easier to see as a pass-through rather than inflate OCA’s operating total. He said that security consolidation originally put several departments’ MOUs and building security into one budget for transparency, and that the transfer does not remove the spending, only the place it appears in the books.

On language access Dickerman told court that the county had set aside funds for a dedicated Language Access Office but that implementation had repeatedly stalled. He described the FY26 approach as a pause: the money would be made available in the budget process rather than sit unspent for another year, and OCA would work with stakeholders to produce a concrete implementation plan during FY26. District courts previously requested a separate Language Access Office budget of about $7.1 million; Dickerman said OCA continues to include language access costs in its larger figure but will not fully stand up the office in FY26 absent a finalized plan.

Dickerman also described the county’s Revolving Energy Fund (REF), which pays for energy‑conservation measures: he said annual utility savings routed to the fund have been roughly $1.8 million in recent years, with about half kept in the fund to pay for staff and projects and half returned to the general fund. He said utility‑management work (energy managers and utility analysts) has produced notable savings to date and that water conservation remains an opportunity.

On program choices, Dickerman said OCA concentrated reductions on the Research and Analysis Division (RAD) rather than spreading cuts across every function. He and court offices discussed that RAD had told commissioners in mid‑August that 18 active projects would be affected and likely moved to other departments if RAD staffing were cut. Dickerman said RAD produces independent research for court offices on topics ranging from justice issues to flood control and warned that losing that capability would be felt in the county’s policy capacity.

Commissioners and OCA also discussed contracting, CLS line items and consolidated functions (for example, OCA’s operations team performing agenda and HR administrative work for multiple offices). Dickerman said some functions that historically sat in OCA (security, earlier language‑access and some ARPA positions) were “pass throughs” or temporary and that moving them in the budget was intended to make operating baselines clearer.

Looking ahead, Dickerman said OCA recommends continued prioritization of strategic‑plan initiatives but with a narrower set of focus items in FY26 given reduced capacity. He also said OCA supports a countywide hiring‑freeze option as a less painful short‑term tool than position eliminations, paired with targeted exemptions where needed.

Ending, Dickerman thanked staff and court offices and said he would follow up with detailed lists of impacted RAD projects and a timeline for a language‑access implementation plan.

Speakers quoted or explicitly named in this article include: Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman; Commissioner Ben Ramsey; Gabriela Antion (Precinct 4); Director Daniel Ramos (Office of Management and Budget).","Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman told commissioners' court on Sept. 2 that OCA’s proposed FY26 book shrinks from last year and shifts several large line items — including security — out of the OCA operating total while pausing full implementation of the county’s Language Access Office.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481629,"Forensic sciences office warns FY26 cuts and loss of federal grant will slow testing and lengthen jail time",167,13071000,13238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b&start=13071&end=13238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b/thumbnail_13071000.jpg","/articles/6481629/Harris-County/Texas/Forensic-sciences-office-warns-FY26-cuts-and-loss-of-federal-grant-will-slow-testing-and-lengthen-jail-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481629-41b39319380513fcbdf761b444c6973d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438021&Signature=i7IG64C~4n-IyRwfjPGDggxbc0h59UwA4gqJlYRuV2RRxm3vFKQqemo4HlNrSowH7EdOIDO14t9mU9XufxW-agNj7JkvCRa7oU1KREmdeKB1OKoGcRi6w5fRNMBGG~kUTkeQQ1p-bcw7yEu33axAl23M2QZE3Mwxv63~zg9OmEgCwVxW-zRiyNAeFQkAPvEGiEmKm-OH~e3VHE~LZhuPbHB0TzaBv0iesWrAWGDarF5dS3Vd5txfFJZ8JIDqEGjNrx040SxeAunBGsYr24VZwRqQPjZPQkSpveT~eeq1CT0zJcHHuyoqzXFOxi7yos7zMHOg3pVxznC-y~UgSIc2uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Institute of Forensic Sciences (IFS) told commissioners on Sept. 2 that FY26 budget proposals and a discontinued federal grant create a shortfall that will slow crime‑lab and medical‑examiner work and risk creating backlogs that keep people in custody longer and delay case processing.

Julie Preine, IFS chief of staff, and Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Pramod Gumpani described the office’s workload and the financial gap. IFS said it certified more than 6,400 deaths in 2024 and the crime laboratory received evidence for almost 23,000 cases last year from local law enforcement and the medical examiner. IFS said it performs testing in‑house rather than outsourcing and currently has little-to-no backlog in many disciplines.

Preine said IFS requested roughly $54 million for FY26; the proposed budget in the county book was about $45.5 million. IFS sought $680,000 in CLS (capital/limited spending) for equipment and received $382,000. More significantly, Preine said a recurring federal grant of about $1.2 million that supported DNA testing supplies, sexual‑assault‑kit testing and overtime has been discontinued at the federal level; she said the lab will not receive that grant in FY26 and the loss compounds the proposed local reductions.

Dr. Gumpani said the medical examiner’s office also faces vacancies in critical clinical roles: four of 15 current open positions are assistant medical examiners (forensic pathologists), a highly specialized role that takes many years of postgraduate training. He said two assistant medical examiners had started in July and others remain under active recruitment but that hiring forensic pathologists is slow nationwide.

IFS provided performance context: in July 2025 the lab’s reported average turnaround times were 11 days for drug‑chemistry cases involving people in custody and 16 days for DWI testing. Preine said loss of grant funding and the CLS reduction will make it difficult to preserve those turnaround times, and that slower testing raises the risk of more people held in jail while evidence is pending and longer court delays. The lab also warned that losing staff could push it toward relying on contract pathologists and lab contractors; that produces extra cost and degraded continuity of service.

IFS asked the court to consider restoring non‑labor and CLS funding and to note the federal grant discontinuation as a county budget pressure.

Speakers quoted: Julie Preine (Chief of Staff, IFS); Dr. Pramod Gumpani (Deputy Chief Medical Examiner).","The Institute of Forensic Sciences (IFS) told commissioners Sept. 2 that a proposed FY26 reduction of roughly $1.7 million — including a smaller CLS award than requested — together with the sudden disappearance of a $1.2 million federal grant, will put lab and medical‑examiner operations at risk, slow testing turnaround, and raise",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481634,"OMB and HR say hiring freeze would slow services; pay‑equity study nearing finish, implementation choices still to come",8882,2335000,11217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b&start=2335&end=11217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706719-8cbb70a2348fdb9cb2498d2c85b68d3b/thumbnail_2335000.jpg","/articles/6481634/Harris-County/Texas/OMB-and-HR-say-hiring-freeze-would-slow-services-payequity-study-nearing-finish-implementation-choices-still-to-come","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481634-ce41d219a4511e735e1953bcd2a897f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438021&Signature=W7LvzfOHVELb7mibjtmbjEpnlSNf208WhWvTnZvkxlZ82P64QF95NBprLfkyQiUfu9toUtbMcYwnN0U~bSOiLE4sBau-c~NVBqrU1WEAeqAYQcGGSS~OYEnjA~mzz7lsdm7WMhE38NS~HygoqbEgx1r9Vs3C1fPFh8wHQ526OTm0iFnLkTDsAOrfgrWDDj3fwsKiBsQ1rnrMjKkVpzzMH~bOdzpHZwOtmrDRVH339lvr8P~zeL-62N0HwteC9a8owkbRBduTfhXxbmGUwuYNn4rxiNd7nCkQHwRP3L4LwOJcN7sYXL214LKEquKEdVWKvvkZ7WSUdDbrDrDQh4SUdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Office of Management and Budget Director Daniel Ramos and Human Resources and Talent (HRT) Director Sekita Grant discussed the county’s hiring‑freeze proposal, vacancy savings and the countywide pay‑equity study during Sept. 2 budget hearings.

Ramos said OMB proposed a partial hiring freeze to capture approximately $25 million of the county’s $46 million in vacancy savings this year, leaving “green grass” for strategic exceptions. He said OMB would recommend exempting certain core public‑safety functions (law enforcement, jail, district attorney, public defender, assessor‑collector and county clerk) and that departments could request targeted exceptions through a fiscal review process. Ramos described the hiring freeze as a tool that could be less disruptive than large across‑the‑board position eliminations but said it would affect departments differently depending on their vacancy rates and service needs.

HRT Director Sekita Grant said HRT is leading a multiyear transformation that includes standardizing recruitment processes, advancing an employee engagement program and completing a countywide compensation and pay‑equity study. Grant said the pay study is near finalized; the county set aside $50 million in the FY26 budget framework for pay equity, and HRT will need implementation guidance about prioritization and sequencing once the study’s recommendations are presented. She said the $2,500 county‑wide adjustment earlier this year addressed low‑wage employees in the short term but did not replace a comprehensive comp‑structure fix.

Grant described work already underway: a bilingual‑pay program that has driven higher enrollment in language testing and certification, a manager‑focused HR boot camp, wellness and benefits modernization and a recruitment “full‑cycle” model aimed at reducing time‑to‑fill and improving candidate experience. She said an HR suite (learning management system and other HRIS modules) is in procurement and that Universal Services, OMB and HRT have coordinated technical planning.

Both Ramos and Grant said a hiring‑freeze policy requires a clear SOP to avoid disrupting critical services. Ramos said he had heard concerns from departments about late adjustments to their budget submissions and underscored that OMB had held town halls and individual department meetings to vet proposals. Grant said HRT will need additional systems and some budgetary support to automate pay‑equity maintenance and to implement training and retention measures recommended by the study.

Speakers quoted: Daniel Ramos (Director, OMB); Sekita Grant (Director, Human Resources and Talent).","Office of Management and Budget Director Daniel Ramos and Human Resources and Talent Director Sekita Grant told commissioners that a countywide hiring freeze is a viable short‑term lever but would require careful exemptions; HR said its countywide pay‑equity study is near completion and that implementation and an automated compensatio","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners told language‑access plan will be paused; district courts press for standalone office funding

Harris County administrator outlines FY26 cuts, says research team to be pared as security, language-access budgets shift

Forensic sciences office warns FY26 cuts and loss of federal grant will slow testing and lengthen jail time

OMB and HR say hiring freeze would slow services; pay‑equity study nearing finish, implementation choices still to come