The three Democratic members of Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to replace the county budget officer, an abrupt change just two weeks after the court unanimously approved this year’s $5 billion spending plan.

Budget Officer Bill Jackson agreed to remain in the position until the court appoints his successor following a national search.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who placed the item to fire Jackson on Tuesday’s agenda, said the budget office had not been transparent enough with court members. He also said he opposed the budget office’s practice of allowing departments to roll over unspent funds into the next fiscal year.

“I want to thank Bill for his many years of service,” Garcia said. “He’s gotten us to a good point, but we’ve got a lot of uncertainties that are looming in the future, and we have to be ready for them, and have the best possible minds to help us get there.”

County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who wants to make the county budgeting process more performance based, said new leadership in the budget office would help her more quickly realize her vision.

“I believe that a different budget director, obviously someone else who can maintain our bond rating, but in addition to that, can be very ambitious, creative and transparent in how we track our spending and allocate our resources will be better for the county,” Hidalgo said. “I am in a hurry to provide positive changes in our community.”

Jackson, 63, joined the county in 1996 and has served as budget director since 2011. He told the Houston Chronicle he was proud of maintaining Harris County’s stellar AAA bond rating and maintaining cash reserves sufficient to help the county weather a hurricane or economic downturn. The post is among the most important directly overseen by Commissioners Court. Jackson said he had planned to retire in two years.

He also disagreed with Garcia’s characterization of his office as insufficiently transparent.

“Our team was always providing info to all internal and external requesters, as well as thousands of pages on the web,” he said.

The two Republican commissioners, Jack Cagle and Steve Radack, opposed Jackson’s firing. Cagle objected to the last-minute addition of the item to Tuesday’s agenda, and said the public deserved more ample notice.

Radack said an abrupt replacement of a budget director could negatively impact the county’s credit rating. He said he failed to understand why his Democratic colleagues wanted to replace Jackson just one session after the court unanimously had voted to approve the annual budget his office had prepared.

“This body is one of the best-run governments in the United States,” Radack said. “Y’all go ahead and bicker over a man who’s done an outstanding job.”

Radack and Cagle refused to participate in an executive session to decide Jackson’s fate. The trio of Democrats conferred privately in a back room for more than an hour.

Jackson sat alone at his seat in the court chamber, stone-faced. He was summoned to join the Democrats in the executive session, where he agreed to stay on until his replacement is hired.

He told the Chronicle on Monday that a transition period is crucial, given the complexity of the role and sheer size of the county’s $5 billion budget. He said Garcia had not previously raised concerns about his job performance.

A committee composed of a representatives from each court member’s office will conduct the search. Hidalgo pledged a thorough process that would assure bond rating agencies the county’s finances will continue to be well-managed.

The court unanimously passed a resolution praising Jackson for his service, at the request of Cagle.

zach.despart@chron.com