Primary Department: County Administration
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Erica Lee Carter, County Administrator
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
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):
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Request for discussion and possible action regarding changes to the Office of County Administration (OCA) reporting structure and certain department functions, including an organizational chart that includes two Deputy County Administrator (DCA) positions.
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Background and Discussion:
The Office of County Administration (OCA) is responsible for coordinating countywide operational priorities, supporting Commissioners Court directives, and ensuring that departments operate effectively and efficiently in service to Harris County residents. As the scope and complexity of County operations continue to expand, there is a substantial need for dedicated executive-level operational support to ensure coordination of strategic initiatives, track priority projects, and facilitate communication across departments and leadership teams.
In the lead-up to and since the start of her tenure, the County Administrator has analyzed the OCA structure in the context of Commissioners Court’s priorities as reflected in the Strategic Plan and other directives. The updated structure contemplated by the County Administrator reflects that analysis and feedback garnered from Commissioners Court members, their staff, department leadership, and other stakeholders.
OCA is requesting approval to work with Human Resources & Talent and the Office of Management and Budget to change the classification for PCN 10025031; and reactivate, change the classification and title for PCN 10024917 that would be budget neutral effective May 16, 2026.
Expected Impact:
This updated County organizational chart and OCA structure would lead to a more streamlined approach to OCA’s work to support implementation and oversight of the Strategic Plan and other Commissioners Court priorities.
Alternative Options:
Under the current structure, the Office of County Administration would continue to rely on existing staff to manage strategic coordination responsibilities in addition to their current operational duties. This may limit the County’s ability to effectively track and execute large-scale initiatives and may reduce the capacity of executive leadership to focus on long-term strategic priorities, while also limiting the availability of clear and actionable information for Commissioners Court.
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: The DCAs will focus on Goals 1, 4, and 6 of the Strategic Plan, with some focus on aspects of Goals 3 and 5 as well.
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Action Taken |
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02/12/2026 |
263 |
Unanimous approval of the appointment of Erica Lee Carter as County Administrator |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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Anticipated Court Date: 4/16/2026
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: Erica Lee Carter, County Administrator
Attachments (if applicable): Countywide organizational chart (including OCA structure)