Newsroom

Harris County, TX,August 15, 2024 – Today Harris County Commissioners Courtunanimously voted to adopt a new tax rate for the Harris County Flood ControlDistrict (HCFCD), in order to fund deferred maintenance for existing floodcontrol projects. Harris County residents will vote whether to approve the newinitiative on the November ballot. 

“I’m so grateful to my colleagues for supporting this, and to the FloodControl Department for their work on this. As head of emergency management, Iknow as much as anyone in Harris County the enormous need for more floodcontrol infrastructure. The Flood Control District is responsible formaintaining investments, but its maintenance budget has stayed the same even asthe number of projects has grown by leaps and bounds. This investment is agame-changing step toward being able to maintain the infrastructure we alreadyhave and the infrastructure we’re building. I look forward to pitching this tothe voters in November,” saidJudge Lina Hidalgo.

Currently, 72 percent of the HCFCD's flood control projects are projected toreach the end of their lifespan within the next 20 years. In past years, countyofficials adopted a tax rate that meant HCFCD could not raise any more revenuethan past years, despite growing costs. As a result, HCFCD has accumulated adeferred maintenance backlog over the years that now exceeds $999M. 

To tackle this funding gap, Commissioners voted to adopt a $.04897 tax ratefor HCFCD, pending voter approval in November. This tax rate will cost theaverage homeowner $60 more per year. If voters pass the approved rate, theadditional funding will help fund activities like removing sediment, expandingmaintenance facilities, making existing infrastructure more resilient andmore. 

###