Title
Consideration of and action on a resolution to express opposition on Texas Senate Bill 2722 and Texas House Bill 5177, and urging the Texas Legislature to reject these measures in their current form.
Body
The City of Deer Park is in support of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who is urging Precinct 2 cities to oppose SB 2722 and HB 5177. They each propose significant changes to the allocation and use of toll road revenue generated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA).
These bills would require Harris County to transfer thirty (30) percent of its surplus toll road revenue, estimated at approximately $58 million annually, to the City of Houston, thereby reducing available funding for countywide road infrastructure projects and potentially increasing county road debt. While SB 2722 and HB 5177 mandate that the City of Houston use these funds exclusively for law enforcement and emergency services related to toll road incidents and disasters, they do not require the City to document actual costs incurred, conduct audits, or return excess funds, creating a lack of financial accountability. The proposed legislation requires that all remaining toll revenue, after operational costs, be fully disbursed, thereby eliminating HCTRA's ability to maintain a reserve fund for future infrastructure needs or economic downturns.
SB 2722 and HB 5177 alter the formula for distributing funds to Harris County Commissioner Precincts based on an ambiguous definition of "roads owned and maintained by the County," leading to uncertainty and potential inequities in funding allocation among precincts. Restricting the use of surplus toll revenue to only county-owned and maintained roads would jeopardize joint projects with TxDOT and other local jurisdictions, including the City of Deer Park, and our neighbors. Harris County Precinct 2 has some of the worst road conditions in the County, and the financial constraints imposed by SB 2722 and HB 5177...
Click here for full text