Waller County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Waller County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Senior meal delivery funding
After federal cuts threatened Meals on Wheels service levels, the county committed $15,000 over five years to keep hot meals and wellness checks coming to homebound seniors.
Foster care caseload decline and CPS policy changes
Legislative changes now require kids be in immediate danger before CPS can remove them, so caseloads fell from 63 children in 2019 to 14 — but the remaining cases are more severe. Officials urged residents to speak up and report concerns.
Victim services expansion in the DA's office
One victim assistance coordinator currently handles about 1,200 victim contacts a quarter across two courts. Salary savings will fund a second coordinator and a civil paralegal.
Rural ambulance service grant
The county signed an interlocal with Waller-Harris ESD 200 for a rural ambulance service grant under House Bill 3000 — supporting emergency medical coverage in rural areas.
Burn ban amid drought
A burn ban is now in effect across Waller County, meaning outdoor burning is prohibited. The Fire Marshal can lift it if conditions improve and conditions are met.
New district court for Waller County
The court backed a resolution asking the 2027 Legislature to create a new district court in Waller County — a response to the county's growth and court caseloads.
Indigent defense capacity
A second contract defense attorney resigned in three months because of heavy caseloads, forcing the county to hire a replacement. The county attorney warned that rapid growth is straining the courts and budget season must address it.
Sheriff's Office Pay Parity
Big pay raises in Houston and Harris County are pulling trained deputies away, and Waller County must raise pay to keep them. Constables also want parity with the sheriff's office, since their employees can earn more doing the same job there.
Countywide criminal justice software modernization
The county is moving from separate Southern Software and Tyler systems to one cloud-based Tyler enterprise product covering the sheriff, courts, clerks, and DA. Officials say it ends duplicate data entry and data falling through cracks, and gives all law enforcement agencies unlimited licenses.