Harris County Gets One-Year Extension to Spend Federal Flood Bond Funds
Harris County has received a one-year extension to use federal funds for delayed post-Hurricane Harvey flood bond projects. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham granted the extension in a video announcement on Monday, moving the deadline for completing the projects to 2028.
The deadline had been February 2027, a date set to give the federal government time to complete administrative work and close out the grant process. A Harris County Flood Control District report earlier this year found that several of the county's disaster relief flood projects would not meet that state-imposed deadline.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided grant funds to the county to complete the projects by 2028. The funds are administered by the Texas General Land Office, which set benchmarks for the county to keep the projects moving.
Harris County was on track to miss six of 11 flood mitigation projects facing funding deadlines early next year, putting more than $245 million at risk. Those projects included channel conveyance improvements in precincts 1 and 2 and stormwater detention basin projects in precincts 2, 3 and 4.
In the video, Buckingham blamed Harris County leaders for creating arbitrary processes that caused extensive project delays. She said the GLO has committed millions of the agency's own funds, held nearly a thousand meetings and spent countless staff hours to support the Harris County Flood Control District.
Buckingham said the Texas GLO has tried to make the flood control district's new plan work. She said that more than four months later, Harris County has not provided the information needed for HUD's approval and that little additional progress has been made on the delayed projects. She said she prays the projects get completed because Harris County flood victims will suffer if they do not.
In May, county leaders proposed a framework plan to speed up the projects. After announcing the plan, former flood control director Tina Petersen submitted her resignation letter. Petersen had sparred with commissioners court over the delays.
In June, commissioners appointed Petersen's successor, Marcus Stuckett, a former director of engineering at the flood control district and vice president of Pape-Dawson, a Houston-based private engineering firm.
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a statement that the extension removes any excuse for missing the new deadline. He said he expects the flood control district to keep communication with commissioners court and the GLO frequent and clear and to bring consistent updates to commissioners court.
A spokesperson with the Harris County Flood Control District said the organization is working to determine which existing contracts may qualify for additional time. An update will be provided to commissioners court on October 15.
