Legislation Details

File #: 25-7858    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Policy Status: Passed
File created: 11/26/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 12/11/2025 Final action: 12/11/2025
Title: Request for approval of the Harris County Debt Management Policy.
Attachments: 1. 25-7858 FY2026 Debt Management Policy.pdf

Primary Department: Management and Budget

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Policy

 

Project ID (if applicable): N/A

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request for approval of the Harris County Debt Management Policy.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The policy sets guidelines for issuing debt and managing outstanding debt portfolio for the County and the Flood Control District to achieve the lowest cost of capital and maintain strong credit ratings. In compliance with the policy, it is updated, reviewed and submitted to court annually.

 

The policy includes the following changes:

•                     Under Responsibility section in second paragraph, a language “in collaboration with other stakeholders” was added.

•                     Under the General Obligation debt, the “Certificates of Obligation/Hotel Tax Occupancy Bonds” was split into two bullets, “Tax & Subordinate Lien Revenue (HOT) Bonds” and “Certificates of Obligation”.

•                     Under the New Debt Issuance section in the 2nd bullet “30 years for revenue debt” was changed to “up to 40 years for revenue debt for the Toll Road”.

•                      Added a paragraph for revenue-supported debt under guidelines for New Debt Issuance section.

•                     Added a language “Bonds that are not currently advance refundable may also be eligible for a tax-exempt refunding via a tender offer” in the 3rd bullet under guidelines for Refunding Debt Issuance section.

•                     Re-word Key Debt Monitoring Metrics to “Monitoring Key Debt Metrics”.

•                     Re-word official statement to a broader term “offering document” which encompass bond documents.

•                     Re-word bonds to a broader term “obligations” to encompass CP.

•                     Added Trustee in the Selection and Use of Professional Services section

 

Expected Impact: N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Options: N/A

 

 

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  N/A

County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  Choose an item.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

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Location:

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Fiscal and Personnel Summary

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Current Fiscal Year Cost

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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

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Additional Positions Request

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Total Personnel

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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 12/11/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget

 

Attachments (if applicable): Debt Management Policy