Harris County will ask voters in November to increase the Flood Control District’s property tax rate to fund a “transformational” investment in drainage for years to come.
The district’s current tax rate is 3.1 cents per $100 of assessed value. That works out to an annual tax bill of about $94 for the owner of a $380,000 home with a 20 percent homestead exemption.
Commissioners Court is proposing a flood control district tax rate of 4.879 cents per $100 of assessed value. If approved by voters, that would mean an additional $60 from that owner.
If voters reject the measure, the tax rate would default to the highest rate allowed under state law without voter approval, which is 8 percent.
Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing on the proposed increase on Aug. 15.
The court on Tuesday also committed to holding a public hearing in 2030 to show residents the impact of the additional funding. The flood control district also will commit to creating a “maintenance strike team” to address urgent complaints from the community.
Harris County Flood Control District Director Tina Petersen said the proposed tax rate would be a “transformational” investment that would allow the county to repair and replace damaged and aging infrastructure, as well as improve maintenance and erosion.
The county currently spends about $40 million a year to maintain its existing flooding infrastructure, an amount court members have long said is not enough.
In May, after severe flooding that prompted evacuation notices along the San Jacinto River, there were renewed calls for reinvestment from local officials, including Peterson.
“Being able to invest with the long-term vision that is possible, someday, if we can do this in a more resilient fashion, we might be able to reduce funding that we need to put into infrastructure if we build it in a resilient way,” she said.
Harris County is looking at spending $5 billion on flood control projects over the next five years, county Budget Director Daniel Ramos said.
“If we don’t have the maintenance dollars to maintain those (projects), they’re going to fail,” he said.
Ramos said the county also has lent the flood control district $59 million in the past year. Raising the tax rate would help create a financially sustainable department, he said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said the increased tax rate is long overdue.
“If you live in Harris County, you live in a floodplain,” Ramsey said. “And since we live in a floodplain, shouldn’t that be one of our highest focused areas?”
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said that with the pace of inflation, it would be difficult no matter the circumstances to keep up with maintenance costs.
“It’s hard to say it, but you have to tell people that you have to make a decision,” he said. “If you want services that meet the needs of a growing county that is larger than 25 states, you have to make decisions on whether or not you want the revenue.”
In 2018, voters approved a $2.5 million bond measure to help finance flood control projects following Hurricane Harvey. To date, 42 of 181 bond-funded projects have been completed, according to the flood control district, including new stormwater detention basins and improved infrastructure in channels and bayous.
Editor’s note: Story has been updated to correct the percentage of the existing and proposed tax rate.
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