đ¨BREAKING: Dora to Make Her Return in Time for Budget Meeting which so Happens to Fall on the Week Beyoncès Concert Comes to Texas
By this time next week, Harris County leaders will likely have adopted a new budget.
It'll have a significant impact on your property taxes, as well as services like law enforcement patrols and public health.
During her absence, commissioners have been considering a proposed budget and tax rate for Fiscal Year 2024 that is above the so-called no-new revenue rate. It will increase property taxes and yield approximately $260 million more in revenue for county coffers.
Hidalgo was not present at a budget and tax rate hearing Tuesday, leaving just four commissioners to consider the proposals in preparation for a vote in the coming weeks. State law requires a quorum of four to approve a tax rate.
Without Hidalgo, if another commissioner does not attend a planned vote, as in the past two years when Republicans boycotted commissioners court meetings, the county would be forced to adopt the no-new-revenue rate.
This year, there's only one Republican on the court: Tom Ramsey.
"We're actually having a conversation on how the money is going to be spent," Ramsey said. "Last year, it was a 'take it or leave it' proposition."
He couldn't derail the process even if he wanted to, though, because Democrats now have a super majority on the court, meaning they don't need any Republican votes to pass what they want.
Whatâs precarious about Linaâs return, so happens to fall on the BeyoncĂŠ tour. Word on the street is, the concert may have something to do with Doraâs return. Especially since sheâs bought favors with BeyoncĂŠâŚ.
It is time to impeach Lina
Although a county judge may take a leave of absence, Texas code allows a resident of the county to file a petition to remove an elected county official from office for incompetence, official misconduct, or intoxication. Incompetency may include âunfitness or inability to promptly and properly discharge official duties because of a serious physical or mental defect that did not exist at the time of the officerâs election.â
Last May, Hidalgo erupted in anger at Commissioner Adrian Garcia (D-Pct. 2) over the inclusion of the Harris County District Attorneyâs Office in the management of a violence interruption program. She referred specifically to District Attorney Kim Ogg, with whom Hidalgo has spared in the past over funding for law enforcement and additional prosecutors to combat the countyâs extensive criminal case backlog.
âIf my colleagues want to put this in the district attorneyâs office and the sheriffâs office, letâs take a vote and letâs be on the record who wants it to go where so I can then explain to my community what else weâre doing, because some of us are wrapped around the little finger of the woman (Ogg) who I donât know what the fâ sheâs threatened you with,â Hidalgo ranted
Last year, three Hidalgo staffers were indicted on felony charges in relation to a since-canceled $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract awarded to a one-woman firm owned by a highly connected Democratic political operative. A hearing to consider a defense motion to suppress evidence collected by the Texas Rangers was scheduled for this week but re-set for December 11, 2023.