Weslaco leaders: $4.9 million in local drainage funds was diverted to fix federal levees

WESLACO, RGV – Weslaco leaders were frustrated to learn that funding to improve the city’s antiquated drainage system was diverted to fix levees in other parts of Hidalgo County.

They also learned that those levees should have been reinforced with federal dollars.

Just under $5 million that should have gone to Weslaco was used to repair levees in south McAllen and Mission, city leaders say. In total, almost $80 million out of a $100 million bond issue that was approved by Hidalgo County voters for drainage projects in 2006 was used on levees.

“We should have gotten $4.9 million for the Weslaco area to help the problems we are having,” said Weslaco City Manager Mike Perez. “The way it was told to the county commissioners at the time, the improvements that were already done were going to take care of the problem. They didn’t.”

Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/weslaco-leaders-4-9-million-in-local-drainage-funds-was-diverted-to-fix-federal-levees/