Election
BY MELISSA ENAJE
Harris County Flood Control District o cials said 40% of ood control infrastructure countywide has less than 10 years left on its lifespan, and 35% need serious repairs in the next 20 years. Voters will choose in the upcoming Nov. 5 election whether to approve a tax rate increase for the HCFCD—from $0.03316 to $0.04897 per $100 of valuation—to help fund infrastructure and deferred maintenance work. The price tag with the proposed tax rate is just one facet of rising property taxes facing Harris County homeowners, said Mark Jones, political science professor at Rice University. For economically-stressed homeowners, Jones said the tax vote provides them with the ability to modestly limit the increase in their overall property tax bill. Flood control district seeks tax rate increase
On the other hand
Maintenance expenses Harris County Flood Control District historical maintenance costs and capital expenses Capital expenses
The number of assets the HCFCD has to over- see and maintain has grown with the county. At least $1 billion in project maintenance costs have already been deferred, HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen said. While local tax incentives have supported various ood control projects, she said maintenance funding has remained at over the past decade. Following the approval of the budget for scal year 2024-25 on Sept. 19, at least $10 million will go to maintenance assistance, ood control o cials said. If the tax rate increase passes, $113 million would go towards maintenance projects, sta ng needs and communication initiatives.
$500M
Percent increase, 2010-22 +207.49% +14.4%
$400M
$300M
$200M
$100M
0
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET COMMUNITY IMPACT
Going forward
Major maintenance The Harris County Flood Control District has 36 major maintenance projects either underway or planned across the county’s four precincts. Estimated costs have not been calculated for 20 of those projects, and the remaining 16 will cost a projected $20.8 million.
Precinct 2 Total projects: 11 Estimated cost: $1.9M (costs TBD for 8 projects) Precinct 1 Total projects: 10 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 4 projects) Precinct 3 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 3 projects) Precinct 4 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $5.3M (costs TBD for 5 projects)
Taxpayer impact
3
Estimated tax increase per year*
Property value
4
290
59
99 TOLL
45
$300,000
+$47
$379,030 (county average)
+$60
10
10
$500,000
+$79
2
99 TOLL
610
149
$1,000,000
+$158
GALVESTON BAY
1
*INCLUDES HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF 20% SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET COMMUNITY IMPACT
69
N
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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