Unofficial final results show that Harris County, Texas, voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion bond for Bellaire, Texas-based Harris Health's upgrades and expansion project, Community Impact reported Nov. 7.
The system will use the bond to rebuild Houston-based Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital to make it a level 1 trauma center. The hospital would undergo $433 million in renovations. It will also use the funding to build a new tower at Houston-based Ben Taub Hospital and extend the hospital's life span by 15 years. The funds will also be used to create new community clinics.
Harris Health President and CEO Esmaeil Porsa, MD, said the hospitals have failing infrastructure and the county's population is rapidly growing.
The unofficial results show 72.62% of voters approved the measure, according to the report.