HOUSTON, Texas — A proposal to place a tax increase for early childhood education on the November ballot failed to meet a key deadline, prompting criticism from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and highlighting growing divisions within the Commissioners Court.
The proposal aimed to secure long-term funding for child care programs originally supported by federal pandemic relief funds, which are set to expire next year.
The measure would have allowed voters to decide whether to approve the tax to expand child care access and improve program quality.
The proposal missed the Thursday noon deadline to be included on the November ballot. Without court approval, the measure could not proceed, halting any immediate opportunity for voter input on the funding plan.
Judge Hidalgo expressed disappointment with the outcome and criticized fellow Democratic commissioners for not supporting the proposal’s placement on the ballot.
“We had a proposal on Commissioners Court to ask the voters in November whether or not they wanted to continue funding early education, and I could not get support from my Democratic colleagues to just put that on the ballot,” Hidalgo said. “I think we’re sort of, as Democrats, becoming what we voted against. I’m so disappointed, but we live to fight another day.”
Hidalgo reaffirmed her commitment to early childhood education in a social media post, writing, “It’s very disappointing that my colleagues not only don’t believe kids are worth a penny, they don’t believe in asking voters whether they think kids are worth a penny.”
In an Instagram video, Hidalgo appeared with children and families who currently benefit from the child care programs. Many of these families may lose access to services as the federal funding expires.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia responded critically to the video.
In a statement released after Thursday’s court proceedings, Garcia said, “It’s beyond frustrating to yet again witness Judge Hidalgo’s disruptive behavior at Commissioners Court today. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards. It was particularly offensive to witness her trying to use children as props for her political agenda. The people of Harris County deserve better.”