County Judge Lina Hidalgo | Harris County
County Judge Lina Hidalgo | Harris County
With a vote of 4-1, the Harris County Commissioners Court recently moved to limit their own power.
The commissioners approved the implementation of strict rules for how infrastructure funds may be spent. Perceived as a rare political move, commissioners court members essentially ended a longtime practice of allowing themselves to construct roads and bridges at their pleasure.
According to County Judge Lina Hidalgo, it was necessary for precincts to abandon the practice and instead incorporate a comprehensive strategy.
“Building a world-class and equitable transportation infrastructure requires us to allocate limited dollars in the smartest way possible, and according to a plan,” Hidalgo told the Houston Chronicle.
County Engineer John Blount said that the money used to be “cut up and could be used for any lawful purpose, but now, with the exception of METRO funding, every other piece is restricted.”
Under the new rules, each precinct will receive $46.2 million in restricted transportation dollars for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
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