BEAUMONT, Texas — Preventing future flooding in Southeast Texas may depend on the passage of state Proposition 8 this November.
Wednesday, leaders from eight area counties met at the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission to discuss drainage solutions.
Orange County Judge John Gothia told 12News this type of planning from eight different counties may not have happened a few years ago. He says, after two natural disasters, things have changed.
"We've got a lot of money that is coming available at the state level that State Representative Dade Phelan put together in the last legislative session. But for regional projects, large projects [Proposition 8] will be available for that funding," Gothia said.
Proposition 8 would create a flood infrastructure fund. The Texas Water Development Board could then finance drainage projects across Southeast Texas from that fund.
"The group that you saw today have had individual group meetings with their technical groups. We are going to have another one for the Sabine Water shed side. We will have another meeting next week," Gothia said. "And those are for our projects we are working on for our side."
They considered where to best use the money.
"As for a group we are going to take these projects up to ask for the money, so that we can compete with the bigger counties in the state of Texas who are also competing for the same money," Gothia said.
RELATED: 'Don't give up,' Families living along FM 1442 near Orangefield beginning rebuild after Imelda
RELATED: Your flooding questions answered
Leaders will meet again next month before submitting their plans for drainage projects to the state in January.
"I think we will see some projects come pretty quickly. I mean the money is going to be available come January which is why these meetings are taking place right now," Gothia said.
The next meeting will be at the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission November 18.