$750 Million MOD Going to GLO
Correction: since posting this, I have learned that Community Services has not even started compiling a list of projects that will comprise the Method of Distribution. The department has only defined a “process” for compiling the list and is waiting for “direction from leadership.”
On September 8th, the Harris County Community Services Department (CSD) distributed a schedule showing that it would complete the first draft of its Method of Distribution (MOD) for spending $750 million in mitigation funding by the end of the month.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated the money to Harris County earlier last year. The draft MOD will now hopefully go to the GLO for review and approval by the end of October.
What MOD Entails
Early last year, the GLO allocated the money to Harris County along with another $450 million to the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
A MOD lists projects and amounts. It shows how Harris County wants to distribute the money, i.e., who will get how much for what from the $750 million.
The GLO must verify that all planned expenditures meet requirements of the funding allocated by HUD and Congress.
MOD Developed With Public Input
Harris County CSD held online and in-person meetings to share information with the public. English-language meetings were held on August 17th, 25th, and 31st. CSD also held a Spanish meeting on September 1st. They then gathered written and oral comments from the public. (The deadline to submit comments has passed.)
Next Steps
After a public planning meeting on September 8th, CSD spent the rest of September developing a draft Method of Distribution (MOD) for the $750 million. The department will now submit it to the GLO for review and preliminary approval. Steps after that include:
- Publish Draft MOD by October 30
- Nov 15-Dec 2 – 15-day public comment Period and hearing
- Contract entities included in the MOD with funding level and gain confirmation of participation via Funding Acknowledgement Letter from entity
- Dec 5-7 – Document Responses to Public Comment, add to Draft MOD document
- December or January- Draft MOD document approved at Commissioners Court
- January 2023 – Final MOD document submitted to GLO
- GLO approval of final MOD and MOD allocated entities complete project information package process
- March/April 2023 – MOD Entity project information packets submitted to GLO for review and approval
- Kick-off contract development for projects.
So, the GLO has until the end of the month to review and approve the draft MOD. Once approved, CSD can publish it. Then CSD will hold more public meetings and submit any revisions to Commissioners Court and the GLO for final approval.
Pressure On to Develop Projects Quickly
Expect projects to begin sometime in the second quarter of 2023. But keep in mind that all dates are subject to change.
Starting to develop projects almost six years after Harvey will put some pressure on Harris County Flood Control and any other entities designated as recipients.
- 50% of the grant must be expended by Jan. 12, 2027.
- 100% must be expended by January 12, 2032 – 15 years after Harvey
Half of the $750 million must be spent within four years. To put that in perspective, Flood Control estimates it’s only 23.5% done with a 10-year flood-bond package four years after it was approved by voters.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/1/2022
1859 Days since Hurricane Harvey
