Harris County residents will see no new capital improvement projects in the major watersheds in 1996 unless a budgetary solution is agreed upon by Commissioner’s Court. Under the current situation, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has a projected 1996 budget of $0 for capital improvements. According to Art Storey, director of the HCFCD, averaging the requirements of the next Five years, the district will have an annual income of $73 million and a debt service of $43 million. This leaves $30 million for operations costs, which have averaged $34 million each year in the recent past.
“If I can devise a way to save another 10 percent, we can break even for the next five years, and still have a budget of $0 for capital improvement projects,” said Storey.
Adding to the budgetary problem was the announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 3, 1995, that it may no longer be involved in local flood control programs. This could strip the county of $800 million in expected federal funds over the next two decades. Regarding projects currently underway, Storey said the Sims and Clear Creek construction projects will be completed, and then flood control in Harris County will depend solely on the local community and its elected officials. “The citizens of Harris County and their elected representatives will be our new partners,” he said. “I think the people are ready to have more say in what kind of projects are used to prevent flooding and how long it takes to get the job done.”
Storey views the Corps decision with equanimity because without the Corps, projects can be constructed at a scale and time that suits Houston residents; the project components can be designed to accommodate other considerations; the priority can be set locally; and the decision to perform these improvements is, for the most part, that of the local populace. “We will have less money to spend, but I actually believe we can get more out of the resources we will have available,” said Storey. Regardless of the efficiency used with available resources. Storey still faces a capital improvement budget of $0. He does have a toolbox full of possible solutions to this budgetary problem, some of which came from community suggestions. One alternative is to do nothing. If things remain as they are, no capital improvement projects will be conducted in 1996. The operational funds Storey views the Corps decision with equanimity because without the Corps, projects can be constructed at a scale and time that suits Houston residents; the project components can be designed to accommodate other considerations; the priority can be set locally; and the decision to perform these improvements is, for the most part, that of the local populace.
“We will have less money to spend, but I actually believe we can get more out of the resources we will have available,” said Storey. Regardless of the efficiency used with available resources. Storey still faces a capital improvement budget of $0. He does have a toolbox full of possible solutions to this budgetary problem, some of which came from community suggestions. One alternative is to do nothing. If things remain as they are, no capital improvement projects will be conducted in 1996. The operational funds capital improvement projects.
Obtaining new financial partners is another option to stretch HCFCD’s budget, as is creation of a storm water utility. Other alternatives available include sales tax, impact fees, and the selling of bonds (there are currently $95 million in unsold bonds). However, the selling of bonds ultimately creates more debt, which Storey would like to avoid. “I am most impressed that he’s (Storey) not trying to create more debt, but provide more service,” said Eversole. “He is doing this through his ‘pay as you go program’, which I applaud.” “We’re at the fork in the road,” said Storey. “Because of the 58-year history of this agency, the federal announcement and our financial situation, we are at the point of some important decisions…The question is. what do you want flood control to be?”
