Voters in Harris County, which includes Houston, easily passed a $2.5 billion bond measure late Saturday to overhaul the region’s flood-protection system, a year after Hurricane Harvey battered Texas.
With 98% of precincts reporting, the measure drew support from nearly 86% of voters, according to the Harris County Clerk’s Office.
In the months leading up to the special election, held on the first anniversary of Harvey’s landfall in Texas, officials in Harris County described the measure as critically important to the future of this flood-prone area. The measure—which is backed by property taxes—is the largest bond proposal ever offered in the history of the county. It is set to quadruple the funding to help protect Houston and other nearby cities from flooding.
The bond measure drew widespread support from Harris County officials, who held community meetings all summer to drum up support.
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called Saturday’s vote the most important local vote in his lifetime, and said the area’s ability to better shield itself from future flooding hinged on its passage. “Now the hard work begins. It is a victory by and for the residents of Harris County, but this is going to be a long slog,” said Joe Stinebaker, spokesman for Judge Emmett.
Harvey caused 36 flood-related deaths in Harris County and flooded more than 159,000 homes, apartments and other dwellings, while also damaging thousands of commercial structures and businesses.
The Harris County Flood Control District said the extra funding from the bond would allow it to finish flood-prevention projects that have been slowed by a lack of funding and pursue other projects it had not been able to afford.
With the bond measure in hand, the flood control district’s annual budget could rise to more than $500 million from $120 million, according to Matt Zeve, director of operations for HCFCD.
According to county estimates, the bond proposal would increase the total property tax by no more than 1.4% for most homeowners in Harris County.