Harris County commissioners continue to discuss drainage fee

Future legislation could allow Harris County to collect sales tax revenue from county facilities such as Reliant Park.

A resolution with the City of Houston could be in the future for Harris County, following the Feb. 14 commissioners court meeting during which the issue of a drainage fee charged to Reliant Park was discussed.

Last November, commissioners decided to proceed with legislation that could allow the county to collect city sales tax revenue from county facilities. Harris County pays the City of Houston for the ReBuild Houston drainage fee charged to Reliant Park, since the facility generates revenue. However, unlike the city, Harris County does not receive any payments from sales tax generated at Reliant Park. Any future legislation could give the county access to more revenue to spend in other areas.

Commissioners were set to approve an item that would have authorized the public infrastructure department to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the City of Houston. After several minutes of discussion, Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack asked that the item be held.

"I don't think you need this item to be able to talk to the public infrastructure department because you [interact] all the time," he said.

Regardless of the decision to hold the item, county employees are still expected to work toward a resolution with the city.

"We believe that [this item] gives us a mechanism to reach a resolution on this matter," said Vince Young, county attorney. "I want to remind the court this is simply an authorization for folks within the public infrastructure department to help the county attorney's office as we find a resolution."