Harris County Flood Control District to Host Open House Meetings on Proposition A and Future Maintenance Efforts
The Harris County Flood Control District is preparing to host a series of open house meetings to discuss the district's ongoing and future maintenance efforts and the implications of the Harris County Flood Control District Proposition A. It is a pivotal time for the district and its constituents, as the decisions made in the coming months could impact the trajectory of the region's flood control.
In November, voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject a tax increase, higher than the current Voter Approval Rate (VAR) that has been approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court. If the measure passes, Proposition A would raise the Flood Control District's ad valorem tax rate by 1.581 cents per $100. This additional revenue would fund the maintenance of flood control infrastructure across the county.
Such maintenance is an ongoing necessity for the community, particularly given the significant history of flood events the region has experienced - including over a dozen in the last 25 years, with $125 billion in devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 alone.
Despite the immense challenges, the Flood Control District has made important strides. According to officials, they have doubled the amount of infrastructure acreage they maintain, made a $5.2 billion investment in new projects, and saved hundreds of homes from potential flooding. However, with existing infrastructure nearing the end of its lifecycle and more being added yearly through bond projects, the maintenance costs are expected to increase.
Proposition A aims to address these issues. If approved, it could generate an additional $100 million for the district's maintenance budget, raising it to $241 million. With these additional funds, the district plans to undertake necessary repairs, manage sediment removal, erosion, and concrete replacements, and maintain a program that addresses residents' concerns and anticipates future problems.
The Harris County Flood Control District is extending an invitation to all residents to learn more about these issues and share their thoughts at the upcoming open house meetings. The meetings will be conducted in-person and virtually via Zoom, with eight in-person sessions to be held across Harris County, and two online meetings ahead of early voting on October 21.
The open house meetings are scheduled as follows:
| Date & Time | Location | Address |
| September 30, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Pine Forest Elementary School | 19702 W Lake Houston Pkwy, Atascocita, TX 77346 |
| October 2, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Richard & Meg Weekley Community Center | 8440 Greenhouse Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 |
| October 3, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Martin L. Flukinger Community Center | 16003 Lorenzo St, Channelview, TX 77530 |
| October 5, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Acres Homes Multi-Service Center | 6719 W Montgomery Rd, Houston, TX 77091 |
| October 9, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | George H. W. Bush Community Center | 6827 Cypresswood Dr, Spring, TX 77379 |
| October 10, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Bayland Community Center | 6400 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77074 |
| October 14, 6:00 - 8:00 PM | El Franco Lee Community Center | 9500 Hall Rd, Houston, TX 77089 |
| October 16, 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Virtual Public Meeting via Zoom | Register at www.hcfcd.org/PropA |
| October 17, 6:30 - 7:30 PM | Virtual Public Meeting via Zoom | Register at www.hcfcd.org/PropA |
| October 19, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hardy Community Center | 11901 W Hardy Rd, Houston, TX 77076 |
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
