"We now have a ballot item on this November ballot where voters can allow us to invest in maintenance so that we're maintaining the projects we're building. So that when people complain about there being too much debris in the bayou, with too much grass in the channel, that we actually have the funds to keep that up," Hidalgo said on Aug. 29.
Quote of note
Hidalgo said if voters choose to fund the tax rate increase within the county flood district, industry maintenance will go from every 200-plus years to industry standards of every 67 years.
"It's so necessary. It's a big deal and that's really the thing I'm proudest to share today," she said.
Digging deeper
Aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance are among the most pressing concerns facing Harris County—an issue that's been decades in the making, according to a statement from the Harris County Flood Control District. While working to address the infrastructure needs, the organization said local tax investments necessary to support the projects have remained flat.
"Investments through the 2018 Bond Program and partnership grants at the federal, state and local levels continue to be essential for our county's future, but add to the seriousness of the deferred maintenance issue. Proper maintenance is needed to ensure these investments deliver their full value to residents for generations to come," according to an email from the flood district.
The impact
Hidalgo also highlighted the county's recovery efforts post Hurricane Harvey. In August 2018, Harris County voters approved a $2.5 billion bond referendum just one year after Harvey hit the Texas coast. With the bond, more than 100 proposed flood control projects across the region were addressed, according to an email from the flood district, including:
- Funding for more than $1.2 billion in channel conveyance improvements
- $400 million for building stormwater detention basins
- $242 million for flood plain land acquisition
- $12.5 million for new flood plain mapping
- $1.25 million for improving the county's flood warning system
- A fast-action service team to respond to resident concerns more quickly
- Additional maintenance projects for county channels in preparation for the next storm
- Enhanced external engagement to ensure the flood district aligns its priorities with the needs of the community
Hidalgo highlighted how Harris County commissioners have faced challenges not only during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also throughout the various emergency weather events that took place in the region, including Hurricane Beryl in July and the May derecho wind storm, which knocked out power for more than 1 million residents.
Harris County commissioners have initiated various responses to the emergency disasters in July, including:
- Applying for debris-removal reimbursement grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas Division of Emergency Management as county officials remove debris from private property and roads
- Authorizing $10 million within the Harris County Flood Control District's reserve fund budget to contract debris-removal services in various county channels, which also includes funding for staff augmentation and other support services needed by the department
- Authorizing public contingency funding not to exceed $30 million for Beryl relief efforts that includes $24 million for debris removal vendors and debris monitoring vendors
"I'm so excited to continue working on more flood infrastructure, on tackling our electricity issues and on continuing to invest in programs that help people make the most of themselves," Hidalgo said.
