HomeMy WebLinkAboutR2025-053 20250414RESOLUTION NO. R2025-53
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pearland, Texas, expressing
opposition to Senate Bill 2722 and House Bill 5177, and urging the Texas
Legislature to reject these measures in their current form.
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 2722 (SB 2722) and its companion House Bill 5177 (HB 5177)
propose significant changes to the allocation and use of toll road revenue generated by the
Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA); and
WHEREAS, these bills would require Harris County to transfer 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; and
WHEREAS, while the bills 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; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, the bills 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; and
WHEREAS, 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 La Porte and our neighbors; and
WHEREAS, 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 would severely limit the
ability to make necessary investments in road repairs and infrastructure improvements,
disproportionately impacting the residents of Pearland; and
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RESOLUTION NO. R2025-53
WHEREAS, the City of Pearland relies on the strength of Harris County’s transportation
infrastructure and funding for regional mobility projects, and these bills would significantly hinder
the County’s ability to maintain and improve roads that benefit residents and businesses in
Pearland; and
WHEREAS, while the City of Pearland supports transparency and fiscal responsibility in
toll revenue management, SB 2722 and HB 5177, as currently drafted, present serious financial
and operational risks to Harris County and its municipalities, warranting strong opposition; now
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS;
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Pearland formally opposes SB 2722 and
HB 5177 and urges the Texas Legislature to reject these measures.
Section 2. That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Greg Abbott,
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, members of the Texas
Senate and House of Representatives, the Harris County Commissioners Court, and any other
relevant stakeholders.
Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and
approval.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 14th day of April, A.D., 2025.
________________________________
J.KEVIN COLE
MAYOR
ATTEST:
________________________________
FRANCES AGUILAR, TRMC, MMC
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
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