Harris County Judge Ed Emmett says the county continues to move forward after Hurricane Harvey.
In his 10th annual State of the County address Tuesday, Emmett praised the local response to Harvey despite criticism over flood control.
"Those who merely want to complain about local government while offering no vision for the future should be overwhelmed by the same can-do spirit our residents showed during Harvey," he said.
Emmett also ripped into state officials over health care for the poor.
"The next time a state official makes a big deal about a fraction of cent tax cut in the property tax, ask them why they won't help Harris County property taxpayers fund indigent health care," he said.
"Those same state leaders have shifted the public school tax burden more and more from the state onto local school districts, then in an effort to stir up voters, they've attacked counties, cities and other local governments, all the while offering no real solutions."
He later called on state leaders to help local municipalities make major improvements in flood control and transportation.