Abbott Refuses to Tap Rainy Day Fund to Help Houston Pay Cost of Harvey

Style Magazine Newswire | 9/29/2017, 9:21 a.m.
Houston won’t get help from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to recover from Harvey. Governor Greg Abbott shot down a …
Gov. Greg Abbott/credit Eric Gray, AP

Source: HoustonPublicMedia.Org

Houston won’t get help from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to recover from Harvey. Governor Greg Abbott shot down a request by Mayor Sylvester Turner to tap the state’s $10 billion emergency reserve. Mayor Turner wrote the governor that Houston has drawn on $20 million from its reserves to pay for damages from Harvey. But even with federal help, the city is still facing a bill of at least $50 million. Turner said without state aid, the city may need to raise property taxes to make up the difference. Houston has already held the first of three public hearings on Turner’s proposed property tax hike. The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal next month.

View Our E-Editon