Department: Management and Budget
Department Head/Elected Official: Daniel Ramos, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for discussion and possible action related to 2022 Public Safety Bond projects.
end
Background and Discussion:
On November 8, 2022, Harris County voters approved Bond Proposition A, allowing for the issuance of up to
$100 million in public safety bonds for land acquisition, facilities construction, or improvements and
technology upgrades for law enforcement, county courtrooms and data systems used for court management
and crime prevention.
On August 8, 2023, Commissioners Court directed that HCED complete cost estimates for recommended projects, that the County Attorney’s Office (CAO) review existing public safety bonds, and that OMB return with recommendations for spending on the 2022 Public Safety Bond.
HCED has completed cost estimates on the projects listed in the August 8, 2023 Court order. Including those and already-approved projects, the total estimated amount is $92.69 million.
List 1 (projects listed in 8/8/23 Agenda #24)
|
Project |
Amount Approved/Estimated |
|
Swift Water Facility [approved 4/4/23] |
$7,000,000 |
|
Project Management and Administration [approved 8/8/23] |
$10,000,000 |
|
Response to Active Shooter Training Facility |
$12,600,000 |
|
Precision Driving Course |
$15,200,000 |
|
Vehicle Crimes Processing Facility |
$8,060,000 |
|
Academy Firearms Complex |
$3,240,000 |
|
Training Academy Expansion |
$13,990,000 |
|
HCSO Patrol District VI Expansion [for approval 5/7/24] |
$7,600,000 |
|
HCSO Patrol District V Relocation |
$15,000,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$92,690,000 |
List 2 (additional projects evaluated, but not listed in 8/8/23 Agenda #24)
|
ProjectAmount Approved/Estimated |
|
|
Academy Entrance Sign |
$230,000 |
HCED has also evaluated an additional project not on List 1, which Commissioners Court can consider for Public Safety Bond. This project would need to undergo internal legal review with CAO and external approval with the Texas Attorney General’s (AG’s) Office.
CAO has reviewed all projects from List 1 for Public Safety Bond usage, and they are currently being reviewed by the AG’s Office for eligibility. OMB recommends that Commissioners Court approve the listed projects to move forward using Public Safety Bond funding, pending AG legal approval. Departments will return to Commissioners Court for formal funding approval for each project via the standard investment memo process.
Public safety is extremely important, and these projects are time-sensitive. If a project needs funds before AG legal approval is secured, OMB recommends that the project use non-voted debt funds until AG legal approval is secured. CAO has approved all projects from List 1 to use non-voted debt. CAO is investigating what legal options there may be for reimbursing any spent non-voted funds with voted funds.
OMB recommends that the remainder of the $100 million in funds (currently $7.31 million) be retained for contingency. OMB will return to Commissioners Court with recommendations on the use of any remaining contingency funds when there is more certainty on how much will remain.
Expected Impact:
This approval will allow these projects to go forward using Public Safety Bond funding upon receiving AG legal approval. It would also provide a way for these urgent projects to move forward while we are waiting for the approval. It would retain a reasonable contingency amount for completing these projects in the case of cost escalation or unforeseen conditions.
Alternative Options:
Projects not approved by Commissioners Court to use Public Safety Bond may be eligible to use non-voted debt, pending legal and fiscal review, and ultimately Commissioners Court approval.
Projects can be put on hold until AG legal approval instead of using non-voted debt, but this would delay project completion for an uncertain amount of time.
Commissioners Court could decide to retain a different amount of contingency. Keeping less contingency would put the projects listed at greater risk of having to use non-voted debt for completion. Keeping more contingency would mean at least one listed project being delayed until the program is nearer to completion.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
8/18/22 |
1 |
Request for approval of orders to increase the bond authority available to Harris County by $1.2 billion, subject to voter approval November 8, 2022. |
|
4/4/23 |
35 |
Request for discussion and possible action on the allocation of funds for Public Safety Bond |
|
4/4/23 |
143 |
Request for approval and discussion to initiate the design and construction of the proposed Harris County Sheriff Office’s Swift Water Training Facility project, located at 1731 Hugh Road, as part of the 2022 Bond program Proposition A, Precinct 1. |
|
8/8/23 |
24 |
Request for discussion and possible action related to 2022 Public Safety Bond projects. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): Multiple
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
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$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 5/7/2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, OMB
Attachments (if applicable): Transmittal of Requested Estimates for 2022 Proposition A, Public Safety Bond Projects