Harris County Engineering Department Executive Director Milton Rahman said his department is $120 million short for approved projects.
According to Commissioner Rodney Ellis (D), the county established a framework to prioritize drainage projects that was not followed.
Most projects affected by the shortfall are in Ellis’ Precinct 1.
In 2019, the county approved a prioritization framework for the $2.5 billion flood control bond program passed the year prior.
Rahman said the project costs were “guesstimates,” because no engineering studies were completed. He said as projects moved forward, the county engineer’s office realized costs would be higher.
Rahman’s office prioritized projects according to their expected speed of completion, rather than by their level of impact. “All the projects are high benefit. The project that got ready fast, we bid that out,” Rahman told the court.
Ellis said that commissioners court added equity language for the prioritization.
“There were projects that were done that ranked lower than projects you didn’t,” said Ellis.
“You will never pass another bond issue if people think the old court lied and this court lied.” Ellis said to Rahman. “This is an abomination.”
The budget office said they received a memo from Rahman a month ago notifying them of the shortfall.
“This has really shattered my confidence in what we are doing here,” Ellis said.
Commissioner Adrian Garcia (D-Precinct 2) motioned to direct the Office of Management and Budget to work with all relevant departments to come up with a plan to close the shortfall. The motion also directs that projects should be prioritized according to the framework passed by the court. The motioned passed.
“This is a major crisis. I sense no urgency from flood control. I sense no sense of urgency from the county engineer’s office. I sense no urgency from the county administrator,” said Commissioner Tom Ramsey (R-Precinct 3).
Ramsey pointed out that this is not the first time the county engineer’s office has been short on funds, and that in 2023, projects were cancelled affecting Precinct 3.
County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D) said she wants the court to consider a new flood bond to pay for the shortfall and other projects.
“I share my colleagues’ complete and utter dismay, frustration, shock. This is not okay, and we must hold ourselves and the Harris County team accountable. This is a substantial shortfall, and we need a sense of urgency,” Commissioner Lesley Briones (D-Precinct 4) added.
Commissioners also discussed the county’s telework policy. As the commissioners court doesn’t know how many or which employees work from home, Ramsey made a motion to get a head count of people working remotely to better understand how the policy is working. The motion passed, directing Universal Services to report who is working from home by March 27.
