Harris County faces deadline for $300 million in unfinished flood control work
State officials warn the county may owe millions if 11 projects are not completed by the extended deadline.
By Robert Ward ·
Residents in Harris County, Texas, face the risk of higher local costs if the county fails to finish 11 flood control projects by the new deadline. The county received more than $300 million in federal grant funding three years ago to complete these works. State rules require the county to pay the difference if the projects remain incomplete past the set date.
The original completion date was February of this year. In September, officials granted the county a one-year extension. Despite this additional time, state oversight agencies report that the county's progress has been slow. The Texas General Land Office manages the grant funds and has raised concerns about the pace of the work.
A spokesperson for the General Land Office told ABC13 in October that the Harris County Flood Control District has provided only vague ideas in recent months. The spokesperson stated, "Unfortunately, that is not how the HUD grant process works." This assessment follows a period where the agency said the district offered undefined concepts rather than concrete updates.
The issue was scheduled for discussion at a commissioners' court meeting last month but was postponed. Commissioner Adrian Garcia requested the delay because the initial presentation lacked sufficient detail. Garcia represented Precinct 2, which sits on the downstream side of five other counties. He emphasized the local impact of the unfinished infrastructure.
Garcia told ABC13 last month that completing the projects is critical for his community. He said, "These projects are so important." The commissioners will convene on Thursday morning to review the status of the grants and determine the next steps for the construction schedule.
The state has indicated that if the work is not finished within the extended timeframe, the county will be responsible for the remaining costs. The $300 million in grants was intended to cover the full scope of the 11 projects. Commissioners must now decide how to manage the remaining budget and timeline.
