WND
One thing the coronavirus outbreak has taught us is that we have limited resources, at least when it comes to funding.
Consider that the funds set aside for small businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program ran out in a matter of weeks. And that’s the federal government. State governments have even less budgetary room to play around with, and counties have even less money.
So imagine what Harris County, home to Houston, must be feeling right now given that when it’s all said and done, they will have spent about $17 million on a temporary hospital that has yet to see a single patient.
According to KPRC-TV, the coronavirus hospital could have cost Harris County as much as $60 million. Instead, the final price tag will likely be around $17 million, even though the facility did virtually nothing — which is why it could soon be closed.
“Construction on the temporary medical shelter began just over two weeks ago and was finished in a matter of days. It features 250 beds and is equipped to handle an influx of COVID-19 patients,” KPRC reported of the temporary hospital, which is situated at NRG Park.
“We donât want to be caught flat-footed,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said back when officials thought the hospital was necessary. “We are working to stay ahead of this.â
The problem isn’t just that Harris County stayed ahead of coronavirus to the extent that the hospital didn’t need to see a single patient. It’s also about the fact that Harris County had a dubious arrangement with Garner Environmental Services, which designed the hospital and has helped run it.
For instance, various security officers at the site received daily remuneration of $2,875, $2,300 and $2,012, KPRC reported.
A finance section chief made $2,875 a day, the outlet added.
Meanwhile, two public information officers reportedly made $2,012 a day. That might not seem that bad until you realize the contract stipulated that âcontact with the news media, citizens of Harris County or governmental agencies shall be the responsibility of the county.â
And while the hospital was constructed before Houston was experiencing peak resource usage, the city never came close to using enough beds to divert patients to the makeshift facility.
âWe are still within the hospitalsâ abilities to handle the load,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the day before the contract with Garner was signed.
