Primary Department: County Clerk
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Teneshia Hudspeth
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
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
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 to compensate non-exempt law enforcement officers at the approved overtime (time-and-a-half or “z-time”) monetary hourly rate for election security work during the 2025-2026 election cycles.
end
Background and Discussion:
The County Clerk’s Office, Harris County Law Enforcement Agencies, and the Office of County Administration have developed a security plan for the 2025-2026 election cycles. This plan relies on the participation of non-exempt law enforcement officers, who will be compensated for their time at the approved overtime (time-and-a-half or “ztime”) monetary hourly rate of pay. The Harris County Auditor’s Office requires Court approval in advance to authorize direct overtime compensation.
Expected Impact:
This authorization will allow for the security of personnel and equipment at central count, regional collection sites, and voting locations throughout the county. There is no fiscal impact at this time as existing funds have been allocated for election security purposes. Actual costs will be tracked by agencies who will be reimbursed for officer time dedicated to election security. In the event that actual costs exceed existing funds, the County Clerk’s Office will return to Commissioners Court with a request for supplemental funding.
Alternative Options:
To provide a decreased level of security for election operations leading up to and during 2025-2026 election cycles.
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:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
08.22.2023 |
3 |
Z-time authorized for election security for Nov 2023 cycle |
|
02.08.2024 |
2 |
Z-time authorized for election security for Spring 2024 cycle |
|
10.08.2024 |
204 |
Z-time authorized for election security for Fall 2024 cycle |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Election Operations |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 10/16/2025
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: Esther Cardenas, Chief Deputy, County Clerk’s Office
Attachments (if applicable): N/A