Advocates win partial wins as court restores funding for HEART/RISE and domestic‑violence support

Community advocates and service providers told the commissioners court that investing in community safety programs prevents violence and reduces pressure on law enforcement. Following public testimony from survivors and program leaders, commissioners voted to restore and add funding for several public‑safety alternatives.

The Office of Management and Budget presented enhancement items including $1,452,830 for HEART expansion, $439,103 for RISE, and $1,000,000 for domestic‑violence prevention and intervention supports; the court voted to include those items as service enhancements to be noticed with the FY2027 budget. Commissioners also authorized staff to plan recurring FY2028 investments for community safety functions in the county’s proposed baseline.

Why it matters: Speakers said community‑based crisis responses, violence‑interruption and domestic‑violence assistance save lives and taxpayer dollars by preventing escalation that otherwise leads to arrests, hospitalizations and protracted court proceedings.

Attribution: Funding motions and votes are recorded in the court transcript; advocates’ statements are drawn from the public‑comment record.