Harris County Commissioners have rejected Judge Lina Hidalgo’s proposal to allocate tens of thousands of dollars from her office budget for a trip to Paris, France.
Last week, Hidalgo attempted to get $23,300 in funds approved for her June trip but withheld the destination, citing security concerns, prompting commissioners to vote against the motion.
In a 2-3 vote at a Commissioners Court meeting on Thursday, commissioners rejected the taxpayer-funded proposal. The previously withheld details of the trip were also made public during the meeting.
Hidalgo had requested that she and four members of her staff visit Paris with a delegation organized by the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University to promote economic development. The trip would reportedly include attending the Viva Technology conference.
Hidalgo accused commissioners of leaking the destination of her trip to “conspiracy theorists” and argued the hefty price tag would allow staff to accompany her without using vacation time.
After the proposal was rejected, she submitted a second motion asking for $11,650 for only two staff members to accompany her, which was also denied.
Commissioners Lesley Briones, Adrian Garcia, and Tom Ramsey opposed both proposals.
GOP Precinct Chair Barbara Denson told commissioners during public comments that “the voters have placed their trust in you to manage their hard-earned money wisely.”
“State law requires essential expenditures—maintaining roads and parks, ensuring public safety, funding prisons,” she continued. “But with a county facing a $140 million budget deficit, every expense demands careful scrutiny.”
When finances are sinking, splurging on a $23,000 trip to France isn’t the life raft you need. A frivolous trip should be the absolute last priority. This situation is like reasoning with a child determined to max out their credit card for a getaway they can’t afford.
Judge Hidalgo defended the request by comparing it to a previously approved $13,000 international trip for a county toll road director.
The Commissioners Court ultimately upheld the current international travel policy, which allows such travel only under “extraordinary circumstances,” and approved updates to domestic travel procedures.
