News from Katy, Harris County & Fort Bend County
HIGHLIGHTS FORT BEND COUNTY
Harris County officials to challenge 2022 census results HARRIS COUNTY The Office of the Harris County Attorney will be challenging the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 population estimates, citing a possible undercount of 40,000-45,000 residents after county commissioners approved the effort May 16. BY EMILY LINCKE A COSTLY COUNT Harris County is challenging the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 population estimates, citing a possible undercount that could cost the county up to $150 million in federal funding annually. HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION 4.78M
Katy City Council will meet June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at 910 Ave. C, Katy. 281-391-4800. www.cityofkaty.com Harris County Commissioners Court will meet June 27 at 1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 934, Houston. 713-755- 5000. www.harriscountytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court will meet June 27 at 1 p.m. at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. 281-342-3411. www.fortbendcountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER Commissioners unanimously voted May 23 to amend a contract with the Texas General Land Office allowing for $1.4 million in federal funds to be spent on 30 new flood gauges throughout the county. An amendment was made to the county’s Hurricane Harvey funds application to request the use of funds for a new rain gauge network. The amendment documents state installation could begin in May 2024 with an anticipated completion date being at the end of that year. The areas for the new gauges were selected based on previous flood damage and relativity to major roadways and hurricane evacuation routes.
4.8M 4.6M 4.4M 4.2M 4M 5M
The breakdown: As of July 1, 2022, Harris County had a population of 4.78 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey one-year estimates. • The county saw an almost 1% increase from the county’s population estimate for April 2021. • The county saw a 16.8% increase from the county’s population estimate for April 2010. The impact: The alleged undercount could be shorting Harris County up to $150 million in federal funding annually, First Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said. On May 16, commissioners
4.18M
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SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ONE-YEAR ESTIMATES/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
unanimously voted for the county attorney’s office to challenge the 2022 census population estimates. Quote of note: “We know we have a lot of people moving here from Cali- fornia and New York and other places. ... And certainly that could impact congressional seats and other things
that should be here in Texas, not in California,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said. The takeaway: Fombonne said 40,000-45,000 is an estimated undercount, and a final estimate is yet to be determined.
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KATY NORTH EDITION • JUNE 2023
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