Harris County disaster recovery and mitigation projects totaling more than $1.1 billion will receive a one-year extension, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Sept. 28.
What’s new
Harris County’s disaster recovery projects, funded through federal grants, could no longer be at risk of missing the spending deadline in February 2027, according to a press release.
The one-time extension could allow the Harris County Flood Control District more time to spend $322 million allocated for 11 disaster recovery projects facing the deadline, if the county submits a documented need. It could also delay the spending deadline for 17 projects targeted at flood mitigation to March 2029.
Overall, the extension applies to the more than $1.1 billion in disaster recovery and mitigation project funding allocated to the county, according to the release.
In a statement, Buckingham said the Texas General Land Office has “repeatedly petitioned” the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for “additional time on behalf of local communities.”
“I am so excited to announce HUD leadership recognized the GLO’s progress and approved one final extension,” Buckingham said. “The GLO has built a strong reputation as one of the most efficient and effective grantees of disaster recovery and mitigation funding. We stay committed to partnering with our communities to deliver these vital projects to flood victims.”
The additional time comes as the county has faced project delays, risking the federal funds set aside for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. The grants, known as Community Development Block Grants, are allocated to projects that help communities recover from Helene or mitigate future flooding risks. If funding is not spent by the deadline, HUD or the GLO could move to reclaim the money.
In a statement, the HCFCD said it “remains focused on delivering flood risk reduction projects for residents and meeting the requirements of our federal grants.”
“We are reviewing the Texas General Land Office’s announcement to determine which existing contracts may qualify for additional time,” the statement read. “Our teams will continue working toward current deadlines while those terms are clarified. The possibility of an extension does not change the urgency of this work. Our priority is to keep projects moving and preserve their benefits for Harris County residents.”
How we got here
Funding was given to the county in October 2023 amid “strict federal timelines, evolving program requirements, construction market pressures and funding structures that were not originally designed for this level of accelerated delivery,” according to a June 8 HCFCD press release.
Project delays prompted the Harris County Commissioners Court to implement a plan in June to keep them on track. Former HCFCD Executive Director Tina Peterson resigned minutes after the plan was approved, following months of commissioners expressing concern about meeting the deadline.
In a Sept. 24 interview with Community Impact, HCFCD Executive Director Marcus Stuckett said the 11 disaster recovery projects are under construction.
“The (Harris County) Commissioners Court approved a plan on June 11, and we are executing that plan and making sure we are identifying the challenges and where that program actually stands,” Stuckett said.
Stuckett also said he plans to present the court with more details on the projects during its Oct. 15 meeting.
Zooming in
HUD allocates the grant money and sets federal spending deadlines, though the funds are administered through the GLO, which creates state spending deadlines. The GLO has previously granted and denied extensions for the Hurricane Harvey funds, but this will be HUD’s “one final extension,” according to the news release.
The extension will apply to the county’s existing infrastructure and mitigation contracts.
In a video announcing the extension, Buckingham called out the HCFCD for its “lack of deliverables.”
“The county now has one additional year to complete the projects,” Buckingham said. “I pray these projects get completed. Because if they do not, the Harris County flood victims are the ones who suffer. If Harris County fails to meet the new benchmarks, the GLO would be forced to swiftly reallocate the unused balance to shovel-ready projects.”
Buckingham said the GLO’s priority is to benefit Harris County residents.
In an interview before the announcement, Stuckett said the HCFCD intends to “execute every single one of those projects regardless of funding source.”
According to the release, Buckingham sent a letter notifying county leaders of the extension, stressing her “grave concerns about Harris County continually failing to meet contract expenditure benchmarks for these vital and extremely rare infrastructure project funds.”
“While HUD’s trust in the GLO has earned Harris County an additional extension, I will be clear,” Buckingham wrote. “No more delays will be tolerated … the time for excuses and missed benchmarks is over. No more extensions, no more excuses, just get it done.”
