Why stage bond vote before Nov. ballot?
Maybe county, city leaders hope for an election boost after making flood effort
You can’t blame global warming for it, but Texas seemingly now has only two seasons: Summer and election season. Well, throw in hurricane season for parts of the state, as it’s at least partly to blame for the latter.
Most of the state just went through local and school elections on May 5. We’ve got a runoff for party primaries May 22, a June special election to finally rid Texas of a congressional sleazebag, possible school tax ratification elections the same month and, finally, the regular election on Nov. 6. At least public school libraries are finally getting used for something, but it’s still a bit overwhelming.
These incessant referendums can lead to ballot fatigue. And it’s not over.
Harris County just got a gubernatorial go-ahead for an Aug. 25 election to seek approval for an estimated $2.5 billion bond package for flood control projects in reaction to Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas on — yup — Aug. 25, 2017.
Hey, the traditional first anniversary gift is paper, not a tax increase.
There’s no coincidence here. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett explained the rather simplistic symbolism. “It’s the oneyear anniversary of Harvey. I don't think we want to go a year and not be able to say we're doing something,” he told the Houston Chronicle.
Not to mention that the proposed election would fall in the thick of hurricane season. Maybe a well-timed storm will prod voters to approve a multibilliondollar project to deprive photographers of glorious shots of a flooded Allen Parkway.
The rains of 2017 definitely led to the bumper crop of voting opportunities this election season. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has already scheduled a June 30 special election to replace Corpus Christi congressman Blake Farenthold, who resigned in April amid sexual harassment claims. The interregnum election, Abbott said, was to ensure South Texas citizens get full representation for proposed federal Harvey recovery relief funds.
Farenthold, who had no problems using government funds of $84,000 to silence an accuser (turned out to be a bad investment), has rebuffed pleas by Abbott to pay for the special election to replace him. Those costs, by some estimates, could tally $200,000 or more.
A Harris County special election likely won’t be cheap either. Considering how much money the county says it needs, perhaps officials should have thought of combining the effort with the regularly scheduled Nov. 6 ballot to save a few bucks. But that might put undue pressure on said officials, who have to govern while simultaneously running for re-election. Or, as some know it, doing their job.
Emmett, one of the more respectable politicians in the state but still a politician, alluded to this in the same discussion about the proposed bond and special election. “Those of us who are running have to talk about our campaign and a bond at the same time,” he said. And passing a bond for flood relief just weeks before the election might just provide a boost. Though the same people voting on the bond will be the ones footing the exorbitant bill.
The actual amount of the bonds sought by the county will likely fluctuate as planners develop a list of flood control projects. According to Emmett, such projects would include $500 million to $700 million in matching federal funds, as well as buying out about 5,500 “highpriority area” properties at highest risk of flooding. Projects could also include a third reservoir on the northwest side of town, (because the other two worked so well last year?).
Houston and Harris County are assuredly in need of a flooding fix, though $2.5 billion might not do it. The growth of the city in recent years has exposed how nature laughs at the plans and projects of humans, especially in flat coastal plains.
If how to prevent major flooding is the question, there seems to be no answer for the county other than raising taxes. Texas already has more than $10 billion put aside in the aptlynamed rainy day fund. But, befitting a lawyer, Abbott must have decided those monies are for a rainy day, not a succession of rainy days. Harvey lasted too long to qualify.
Given the large scope of any projects to be funded by the proposed bonds and how long those projects will take to complete, waiting until the scheduled (and paid for) November general election seems would have little adverse impact. Unless county officials are counting on limited turnout to turn the tide in favor of their flood relief bond package. That, or simply wanting to make themselves look better on their own election day.