Early voting underway in Harris County for $2.5 billion flood bond
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Early voting is underway in Harris County for an historic $2.5 billion bond measure, aimed at fixing the county's flooding problems so another Harvey-like storm won't produce Harvey-like damage.
Packaged up in this $2.5 billion proposal is just under 250 projects that are designed to mitigate future flooding. Since the special election was approved, scheduled for August 25, leaders have visited communities impacted by flooding.
"I know election day is August 25, but just in case you may not be available on August 25 why not just vote today," asks Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner who attended an early voting event at TC Jester Park.
"So we've added about 40 projects to the list specifically from those public engagement meetings,” Harris County Judge Ed Emmett says.
Projects range from widening the bayous to improving drainage and even buying out more homes repeatedly damaged from floods.
There are some critics, however, like Houston resident Warren Fawcett.
"A lot of the proposals are vague," says Fawcett. "They don't list where or when timeframes." Fawcett also takes issues with the special election date, saying leaders should've waited until the November midterms.
"I think that this election would be better if it were held in November so that they could have 3 months to really lay out the specifics. That's really the concern I have," says Fawcett.
According from Judge Emmett, the money will come from property taxes increasing over the next 10 to 15 years.
"The first year will be about $5 a year and that will go up over the course of 10 to 15 years to something just over $50 a year per household," Emmett says.
Early voting began on Wednesday. You can vote every day until early voting closes on August 21. August 25 will be the special election day. Your last chance to vote for the $2.5 billion flood bond proposal will be Saturday, August 25.