What we reported: In 2018 the city of Katy and Harris County voters approved bond packages of $19.5 million and $2.5 billion, respectively, for flood mitigation. Fort Bend County was considering proposing its own flood bond in 2019 based on watershed studies, former County Judge Robert Herbert said in June. The county also filed a lawsuit over the summer against the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Corps’ operation of the Barker Reservoir during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.
The latest: With the bond funds, the city of Katy began flood mitigation projects in the Pine Forest subdivision and on First Street. Projects to replace roadways and install storm sewer pipes on Patna and Fortuna drives were approved Jan. 14. Katy does not anticipate an increase in property taxes to pay for the bonds, Mayor Chuck Brawner said. An expected property tax increase for the Harris County bond will not occur until 2021, county officials said. Harris County has begun projects to desilt tributaries into Addicks Reservoir and is considering improvements to Buffalo Bayou downstream from Barker Reservoir. Fort Bend County’s flood bond is pending results of the watershed studies, and new County Judge KP George declined to comment on a flood bond until the study is published at the end of 2019. Additionally, Fort Bend County officials said they are awaiting a court decision in the Corps lawsuit.