Houston City Controller Chris Hollins’ office has put the mayor’s administration on blast over a $2.6 million car-washing contract that would draw money from funds meant for drainage and flood mitigation.
Despite city council approving it by a 12-3 vote last week, Hollins, who independently oversees the city’s finances, said the motion never returned to his desk for official certification before a vote was called—a move he claims violates the city charter.
According to the Houston City Charter, “no ordinance, resolution or motion for the making of any contract” should be passed at council unless the controller first certifies that the money required is “in the treasury, and not appropriated for any other purpose.”…