Only 7% of CDBG Grants Spent in 66% of Currently Available Time
10/20/26 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is behind schedule on projects involving Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that are administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The grants fall into two categories: Disaster Recover (DR) and Flood Mitigation (MIT).
One month after receiving a one-year extension on DR projects, HCFCD now also finds itself needing a one-year extension on MIT grants. Altogether, HCFCD has spent only 7% of funds in both categories despite the fact that 66% of the currently available time, including the DR extension, has expired.
One-Year DR Extension Encouraging
Recent widespread publicity has focused on DR delays, which had an earlier deadline. But after a one-year deadline extension, HCFCD says it now has time to complete all DR projects. Any DR money HCFCD’s new management might have to give back to the GLO has to do with construction bids coming in under estimate – altogether $113 million under the estimates.
One-Year MIT Extension Needed, Too
However, without a similar one-year extension for the MIT projects, they too may encounter problems. HCFCD estimates “substantial completion” on 11 of the 19 projects in that category after its MIT contract with the GLO expires on 3/31/2028. GLO and HCFCD have already discussed a one-year MIT extension. However, it is not yet finalized at this time.
I calculated the numbers in this article from an HCFCD spreadsheet dated 10/19/26. They agree substantially with a GLO report dated 10/15/26. The slight differences can be explained easily by timing and nomenclature.
HCFCD’s 10/19/26 spreadsheet shows 11 MIT projects totaling $397.4 million have substantial completion dates AFTER the current MIT contract expires. And two of those 11 have estimated substantial completion dates beyond a one-year extension. Those two projects total $140.5 million.
To be clear, none of that money has been taken back yet. And it may not be. Seventeen months remain on the MIT contract (34% of the total 50 months), so time remains to work out an extension.
The one-year extension on the DR contract means those funds now expire within a month of the MIT projects.
- CDBG-DR funds expire on 2/29/28
- CDBG-MIT funds expire on 3/31/28.
Looking at both MIT and DR categories, HCFCD has spent only about 7% of allocated funds in 66% of the available time. That’s concerning.
In fairness, though, I should also point out that money goes out the door much faster during construction than during upfront engineering and estimating work.
Different Definitions of “Complete”
But also understand that the GLO and HCFCD define “completion” differently. To GLO, completion means “all the billing has been submitted and verified.”
To HCFCD, “substantial completion” means the major work is over, but clean up and punch-list items remain.
A punch list is a written list of incomplete work, defects, deficiencies, or corrections that a contractor must address before a project is considered finished.
An owner, architect, engineer, or construction manager typically prepares punch lists near the end of construction, during a final inspection or walkthrough.
Net: it could take several more months beyond substantial completion to get all the billing submitted to GLO and approved.
Extension Will Benefit Everyone
That’s why finalizing an official MIT extension now is so critical. It will give both GLO and HCFCD confidence to move forward and deliver much needed flood-control projects that benefit the people of Harris County.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/21/2026
3340 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.
