HOUSTON – A heated debate is unfolding at Houston City Hall over how millions of dollars meant to protect the city from flooding should be spent and whether the mayor’s plan to use that money is legal.
The matter centers around Houston’s Stormwater Fund, which is designed to reduce flood risk and maintain the city’s drainage systems. Mayor John Whitmire wants to use $30 million from the fund to demolish abandoned buildings, arguing they contribute to illegal dumping that clogs ditches and worsens flooding.
Controller Chris Hollins disagrees, calling the proposal both illegal and ineffective.
The disagreement spilled into public view after Hollins posted a video on X criticizing the plan, accusing the mayor of “raiding” the Stormwater Fund to tear down buildings that do not directly impact the city’s drainage system.
“The Stormwater Fund, when it was created, dictates that those dollars are in a lockbox to only be used for specific things the building and maintenance of ditches, drains, and other stormwater management systems,” Hollins said. “Knocking down a house is not the building or maintenance of a stormwater system.”
Hollins says his office initially refused to certify the spending after asking for evidence that demolitions would directly reduce flooding in November. He claims the mayor’s office failed to show a clear connection and instead moved to expand an existing contract; a move Hollins says bypasses the controller’s required approval for contracts over $100,000.
In response, Mayor Whitmire dismissed the controller’s objections as political.
“Unfortunately, he’s playing politics, and I don’t have time for politics because I’m trying to fix Houston,” Whitmire told KPRC 2 News Reporter Re’Chelle Turner. “Abandoned houses attract illegal dumping, which blocks drainage. We absolutely know what we’re doing, and our city attorney has authorized it as legal.”
Whitmire argues the spending was included in last year’s budget, a budget Hollins certified and says the plan would allow the city to demolish roughly 340 abandoned and dangerous buildings, many located in low-income neighborhoods. He also pointed to what he described as major improvements under his administration, including an increase in the drainage fund balance and a significant reduction in broken water mains.
Hollins, however, contends that demolishing buildings does not stop illegal dumping or meaningfully improve stormwater management. He pointed to areas where abandoned properties were already torn down but dumping continues.
“If removing dilapidated buildings solved the dumping problem, we wouldn’t still be seeing tons of debris in these neighborhoods,” Hollins said. “This is not only an illegal use of stormwater funds, it’s also a highly ineffective one.”
The controller also warned that approving the proposal could set a dangerous precedent, allowing dedicated stormwater dollars to be used for projects unrelated to flood prevention.
“They’re asking council for a blank check,” Hollins said. “Approve it today and trust us and we’ll figure out the criteria later.”
Mayor Whitmire says he is confident city council will approve the plan, while Hollins continues to urge council members to reject it.
City council is expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday.