Harris County commissioners propose tax-hike for flood control maintenance
Proposed tax hike could be on the way for Harris Co. flood maintenance
FOX 26 Business Reporter Tom Zizka spoke with Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia about the tax hike and why the Harris County Flood Control District needs the money.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The proposed $2.6 billion budget approved by Harris County commissioners includes a tax hike for flood control.
Years after taxpayers approved spending billion on flood mitigation effort, in response the Hurricane Harvey flooding, the county flood control district says it needs more money to keep those improvements in good working order.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia likens it to owning a brand-new car.
"You can't buy a new car and not change the tires, not change the oil; you've got to maintain a brand-new car to get the most out of it," he says. "That's the same thing we're talking about here. All the infrastructure we've provided, and improvements that we're making, needs to be maintained."
The proposed rate-hike would add about $60 to the average property-owners tax bill, and raise about $115 million to be spent on maintenance and new flood control measures.
After some public hearings, Garcia expects the proposal will be complete next month, and on the November ballot.