Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, it looks like we're coming up a little short.
Seven to twenty three is our time here in Houston's
Morning News. We're joined by Harris County Commissioner Precinct three
Tom Ramsey to talk about one point three billion dollars
shortfall to finish all the twenty eighteen flood bond projects.
All right, Commissioner, what happened this time?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah, Jamie Peters at your back. You can't go out
of town because bad things happened when you lay down.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I've noticed that. But how did you fall? He explain?
The shortfall? Here? Is it because it took so long
to do the projects. Was not enough money allocated for
the projects to begin with?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, yeah, that's part of it. Inflation ate into about
to eat into it, and there's been free as in
we wanted to do this one kind of project, but
now we've doubled the scope of it and that costs more.
Here's the real story on what happened last Thursday. They
implemented and are using a flawed formula to determine what
(01:03):
projects will be done if we put it on a
two point five billion dollar bond issue. We've gone out
and found two point seven billion to match that. So
we've got and we'll invent five billion dollars in doing projects.
What happened last Thursday to give priority to what they
(01:28):
called equity, and what I'm telling you, it's a way
to get projects done in pre fun in Precinct two
and not be done in Precinct three where you and
I live. It's a scheme, it's a products, it's incredible.
But here's the real big problem. We have matching funds
to do federal projects. So you may take like there's
(01:51):
one in my precinct that's we're gonna make bond money
of one million dollars and we'll get fifty three million.
Now that's kind of getting a big bug at you, buck.
But all those projects are at risk now because it's
not in Coretel one, it's in it's designed, they're moving
these This is not what people vote on in twenty eighteen.
(02:14):
They did not vote on doing all the projects and
precincts wanted two. And I've alerted the Golo Don Buckingham
is on it and we're going to get to the
bottom of it. This isn't the end of this story.
We're going to make sure that those dollars are spent
the way that the voters are intended in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
All right, Tom, let me quickly ask you, use we're
running out of time and you're kind of cutting down
to here a little bit here, So would it be
fair to say that what we're dealing with here is
what I guess, for lack of a better term of
bait and switch situation. In other words, the money that's
been allocated is not necessarily going to the projects it
was allocated for. It's being moved around for other projects
(02:54):
in the name of equity in other districts that don't
include your precinct, because after all, you're a Republican.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
That's a perfect description, Jimmy. It's a classic bait and switch.
We tell you one thing in twenty eighteen, and then
Rodney Ellis goes through with his flawed formula all the
projects into his precinct and precinct two.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Got you, okay, So obviously you're going to shine the
light of day on this. There's gonna be people who
are going to be looking at the books on this
at the end of the day, though, you know, what
can be done are where these projects at as far
as the completion are are enough of them not instituted
yet or have not been started yet that this can
still be changed.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yes, sir, because the good news is many of the
projects that don't want to do because they're not in
their precinct, they're shove already. And many of the projects
to do they haven't even begun designed. So yeah, we've
got a great opportunity, I think, to slow this thing
down and get the money where it belongs and what
we voted on in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
All Right, sir, keep fighting that good fight. We appreciate you.
That is Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey seven twenty seven
Yeah, it looks like we're coming up a little short.
Seven to twenty three is our time here in Houston's
Morning News. We're joined by Harris County Commissioner Precinct three
Tom Ramsey to talk about one point three billion dollars
shortfall to finish all the twenty eighteen flood bond projects.
All right, Commissioner, what happened this time?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah, Jamie Peters at your back. You can't go out
of town because bad things happened when you lay down.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I've noticed that. But how did you fall? He explain?
The shortfall? Here? Is it because it took so long
to do the projects. Was not enough money allocated for
the projects to begin with?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, yeah, that's part of it. Inflation ate into about
to eat into it, and there's been free as in
we wanted to do this one kind of project, but
now we've doubled the scope of it and that costs more.
Here's the real story on what happened last Thursday. They
implemented and are using a flawed formula to determine what
(01:03):
projects will be done if we put it on a
two point five billion dollar bond issue. We've gone out
and found two point seven billion to match that. So
we've got and we'll invent five billion dollars in doing projects.
What happened last Thursday to give priority to what they
(01:28):
called equity, and what I'm telling you, it's a way
to get projects done in pre fun in Precinct two
and not be done in Precinct three where you and
I live. It's a scheme, it's a products, it's incredible.
But here's the real big problem. We have matching funds
to do federal projects. So you may take like there's
(01:51):
one in my precinct that's we're gonna make bond money
of one million dollars and we'll get fifty three million.
Now that's kind of getting a big bug at you, buck.
But all those projects are at risk now because it's
not in Coretel one, it's in it's designed, they're moving
these This is not what people vote on in twenty eighteen.
(02:14):
They did not vote on doing all the projects and
precincts wanted two. And I've alerted the Golo Don Buckingham
is on it and we're going to get to the
bottom of it. This isn't the end of this story.
We're going to make sure that those dollars are spent
the way that the voters are intended in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
All right, Tom, let me quickly ask you, use we're
running out of time and you're kind of cutting down
to here a little bit here, So would it be
fair to say that what we're dealing with here is
what I guess, for lack of a better term of
bait and switch situation. In other words, the money that's
been allocated is not necessarily going to the projects it
was allocated for. It's being moved around for other projects
(02:54):
in the name of equity in other districts that don't
include your precinct, because after all, you're a Republican.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
That's a perfect description, Jimmy. It's a classic bait and switch.
We tell you one thing in twenty eighteen, and then
Rodney Ellis goes through with his flawed formula all the
projects into his precinct and precinct two.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Got you, okay, So obviously you're going to shine the
light of day on this. There's gonna be people who
are going to be looking at the books on this
at the end of the day, though, you know, what
can be done are where these projects at as far
as the completion are are enough of them not instituted
yet or have not been started yet that this can
still be changed.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yes, sir, because the good news is many of the
projects that don't want to do because they're not in
their precinct, they're shove already. And many of the projects
to do they haven't even begun designed. So yeah, we've
got a great opportunity, I think, to slow this thing
down and get the money where it belongs and what
we voted on in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
All Right, sir, keep fighting that good fight. We appreciate you.
That is Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey seven twenty seven
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