Governor Abbott Gives City of Houston $50 Million for Harvey Recovery

HOUSTON—Governor Greg Abbott has distributed a $50 million check from his Disaster Relief Fund to help the City of Houston cover debris removal and insurance deductible costs related to Hurricane Harvey. As a result, Mayor Sylvester Turner has withdrawn a proposed one-year property tax rate hike he had originally intended to collect from Houston residents.

The increased state contribution, along with additional federal funds, covers urgent debris removal and insurance costs. The Governor was joined by Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) and a delegation of state officials, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, at a press conference on Friday to present the check. The allocation is part of a broad, ongoing disaster response and reaffirms the State of Texas’ commitment to helping the City of Houston in the recovery process. Other counties and cities will be eligible for state disaster relief as well.

"Whenever there are shortfalls we're going to be there, prepared to assist our communities," Abbott said. "Achieving the best result is going to require the very same resolve that Texans have shown up to this point, and that is Texans helping Texans, working together for the greater good of everybody in our great state."