The Texas Supreme Court has upheld a 2024 ruling that found the city of Houston had underfunded a special drainage fund established through a voter-approved charter amendment.
The decision requires the city to reassess its financial contributions to the fund, which was created to address long-standing drainage and flooding issues in the city.
The charter amendment was designed to provide a dedicated source of funding for drainage projects, but the 2024 appellate court ruling concluded that the city had not allocated the required amount to the fund.
The Texas Supreme Court’s rejection of the city’s appeal solidifies this ruling and mandates that the city adjust its budget accordingly.
City officials will now need to re-evaluate their financial plans and allocate additional funds to meet the court’s requirements.
Local officials have expressed their intention to comply with the court’s ruling and are expected to prioritize the improvement of the city’s drainage infrastructure.