Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is denying claims made by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar this week that Harris County is "defunding" its law enforcement. Abbott issued a statement Tuesday accusing county officials of attempting to reduce funding available to two Harris County constables, Mark Herman and Ted Heap, who both filed a complaint to Abbott's office about losing funds. His statement followed Hegar's release of a letter announcing his office is investigating Herman and Heap's claims.

"The dangerous actions taken by Judge Lina Hidalgo and Harris County represent a brazen disregard for the safety and security of the Texans they are sworn to protect," Abbott said, adding that the county could be subject to penalties under laws he signed last year to prevent jurisdictions from "unilaterally defunding its law enforcement."

Hegar also threatened to prevent the county from adopting its budget if officials don't make changes. 

In response, Hidalgo accused Abbott and Hegar of "playing political games" and spreading "outright lies," adding that the county has only boosted law enforcement funding since she took office in 2018. The Democratic judge also vowed to "fight this issue in court." 

"The truth is, before I took office, Harris County was not much more than a rubber stamp for Abbott and his far-right agenda, and they resent change," Hidalgo said in a statement. "We're about two months away from my re-election and they're throwing everything—including outright lies—at the wall to see what sticks." 

This year's proposed Harris County budget allocates almost $232 million to fund the county's eight constable offices, a nearly 10 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, according to the Texas Tribune. Herman and Heap would receive 12 percent and 7.7 percent budget increases under the plan compared to last fiscal year, respectively. Constables also received budget increases the previous year. 

Hidalgo's opponent in the race for Harris County judge, Republican Alexandra de Moral Mealer, also issued a statement promising to "adequately fund law enforcement." Herman and Heap, along with several law enforcement organizations, have endorsed her campaign. 

During a press conference last week, Hidalgo condemned a reporter who echoed claims made by state Sen. John Whitmire, who is running for Houston mayor, that the county is spending less on police and more on outside programs. Hidalgo called the claims a "bold-faced lie."