More Inconsistencies in HCFCD Bond Updates Demand State Audit
7/6/25 – The closer you look at the two most recent 2018 Flood Bond Updates from Harris County Flood Control District – 2024 Year End and 2025 First Quarter – the more eyebrow-raising inconsistencies you see in accounting.
Last week, I reported how “funds remaining” in the 2018 Harris County Flood Bond mysteriously decreased by a billion dollars.
Today, let’s focus on inconsistencies from the other side of the ledger – “spending.” Spending has two main components: Spent + Remaining Work in Progress. That’s because contractually HCFCD must pay to finish work under contract.
Breaking down those two components reveals another published inconsistency totaling $461 million.
Together, the “spending” and “funds remaining” inconsistencies may exaggerate a crisis being used to justify defunding projects in all but Rodney Ellis’ preferred neighborhoods. They make it appear as though we are both spending money and depleting reserves faster than we really may be. It’s hard to tell because I no longer trust the published numbers.
We need a state audit BEFORE defunding any projects.
Compare Reported Spending + Work in Progress
The graphics below come from the two reports. They summarize both money already spent and the value of remaining work in progress. At the end of 2024, Spent + In Progress work totaled $3.245 billion.
But during 2025 Q1, the comparable total rose to $3.749 billion.
That’s an increase of $504 million dollars in just three months.
Pretty impressive! Especially when you consider that it’s taken HCFCD seven years to spend $1.5 billion.
Now let’s subtract money already out the door so that we can focus on the “work in progress” component only. That’s where the mystery deepens.
HCFCD Spent Only $43 Million in Q1
HCFCD says it “spent” (past tense) $1.526 billion through the end of 2024.
But by the end of the first quarter, money spent had climbed to $1.569 billion.
So, HCFCD actually spent – out of pocket – only an additional $43 million in the first quarter. Not nearly enough to account for a $504 million increase in three months. Subtracting $43 million from $504 million means…
HCFCD is claiming “Work in Progress” increased $461 million during the first quarter. But where is it?
No Proof Shown for Spending Commitments
HCFCD’s previous management used to update “active projects on the District’s website monthly. That enabled reporters like me to verify where the money was going.
In sharp contrast, HCFCD’s new management no longer lists “active projects” on the District’s website.
The 2025 Q1 update contains no backup information that shows where $461 million is being spent.
Neither does the county’s purchasing website.
Nor did a review of all Commissioners Court agendas for the quarter.
Too much just doesn’t add up. I’m not saying there’s fraud. This could just be sloth, incompetence, disorganization, the world’s worst financial reporting or the work of someone’s clueless cousin. But these numbers are being used to make policy decisions.
Long story short: We need a state audit before Rodney Ellis dismantles the 2018 bond program beyond all recognition.
Write your state representative, state senator, the Governor and the Attorney General today. It’s your tax money. Make sure you get some value for it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/6/2025
2868 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
