With 100% of voting centers reporting Election Day results, voters have narrowly approved Harris County Flood Control District's proposed tax rate increase.
According to unofficial results from the Harris County Clerk's Office, HCFCD's Proposition A received 723,387 votes in favor and 685,433 votes in opposition.
What they're saying
In an emailed statement, Emily Woodell, chief external affairs officer for HCFCD, said the additional funding generated from the tax rate increase would be used largely to fund maintenance of aging flood infrastructure throughout the county.
"We are grateful for the thoughtful decision by voters from across the county to support the dedicated tax rate proposition," Woodell said. "Those decisions will allow the Flood Control District to address deferred maintenance of infrastructure and aging systems. The resulting funding will significantly reduce our infrastructure replacement lifecycle from 270 years to 67 years, providing for a safer, more resilient Harris County for generations to come."
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones echoed Woodell's sentiment in an emailed statement, calling the approval of Proposition A a "significant step toward making Harris County safer and more resilient."
"As a steward of taxpayer resources, I look forward to working with my colleagues on Commissioners Court and the Flood Control District to ensure these maintenance funds are used efficiently, effectively and transparently," Briones said.
Woodell added the HCFCD is committed to providing updates to the public as maintenance projects funded by the additional property tax revenue are completed.
"As we work to develop and implement an expanded maintenance program, we look forward to providing updates on progress made possible through this investment," Woodell said. "We remain committed and accountable to delivering an efficient maintenance and operations program."
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Updated 6:30 a.m., Nov. 6
With 685 of 700 voting centers reporting Election Day results, voters appear to have narrowly approved Harris County Flood Control District's proposed tax rate increase.
According to unofficial results reported by Harris County, HCFCD's Proposition A has received 722,273 votes in favor and 684,281 votes in opposition.
Community Impact will update this article as more Election Day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Updated 10:30 p.m. Nov. 5
With 12 of 700 voting centers reporting Election Day results, voters are continuing to narrowly support Harris County Flood Control District's proposed tax rate increase.
According to unofficial results reported by Harris County, HCFCD's Proposition A has received 578,414 votes in favor and 550,225 votes in opposition.
Community Impact will update this article as more Election Day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5
Early voting results show voters narrowly support Harris County Flood Control District's Proposition A, which would increase the district's property tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25, if approved.
What you need to know
HCFCD officials are proposing to increase the district's property tax rate from $0.03105 in FY 2023-24 to $0.04897 in FY 2024-25. If approved, an additional $113 million in property tax revenue would go into a dedicated maintenance fund supporting critical maintenance projects, staffing needs and new resident-focused communication initiatives, as previously reported by Community Impact.
According to early and absentee voting results reported by the Harris County Clerk's Office, HCFCD's Proposition A has received 575,961 votes in favor and 548,517 votes in opposition.
The impact
If voters approve the proposed tax rate increase, average Harris County homeowners with a $379,030 home and a homestead exemption would see a $60 increase per year in annual taxes, according to the county's Office of Management and Budget.
Some context
A tax rate election is triggered if the proposed tax rate is higher than the voter-approval rate, which is the highest rate that can be set before a taxing entity must seek voter approval for the rate. As previously reported by Community Impact, because HCFCD's proposed tax rate of $0.04897 is $0.01581 higher than the district's voter-approval rate of $0.38529, the measure was brought to Harris County voters in the Nov. 5 general election.
The HCFCD held a series of in-person and virtual open houses throughout September and October to inform residents about the proposed tax rate increase.
Stay tuned
Community Impact will update this article as more Election Day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
