‹ Bridgeland Water Agency · All districts' issues
question
Other
$1,000
Who organizes the Chili Cookoff, who asked for the sponsorship, and what public purpose and return benefit did the Agency record?
Tex. Const. art. III §52(a); Gov't Code §791.011(c)(2)
The board action behind it
2026-01-06: Approved sponsorship of a tent for the Bridgeland Chili Cookoff, with two holding checks (an initial $450.00 deposit and the remaining costs) and a total not exceeding $1,000.00
What else happened at that meeting
Following the resignation of Christian Carroll from the Board of Harris County MUD No. 489, the Board noted that district's new trustee designations and elected Trustee Anthony T. McBride Vice President. It approved the bookkeeper's report, including an added check of $3,200.00 to McCurdy Media, and agreed to sponsor a tent for the Bridgeland Chili Cookoff with total costs not to exceed $1,000.00. The Board asked Inframark to try to compile an emergency contact list for commercial customers and asked that residents be encouraged to register for EyeOnWater accounts after an increase in leak-adjustment requests. It was reported that the home winterization video was complete.The law and guidance in force on 2026-01-06
| Public money may be spent on a private party only for a public purpose, with adequate controls and a return benefit Tex. Const. art. III §52(a) (three-part test from case law)
art. III §52: Same text in force then and now |
Question | The Agency pays tent rental for a community event; the organizer, and what the Agency gets in return (for example, an information booth), are not recorded (p.2-3). |
| The Agency may perform only functions in its Interlocal Cooperation Contract, and only those each member could perform itself Gov't Code §791.011(c)(2); First Amended and Restated Interlocal Cooperation Contract (not in the records reviewed)
§791.011(c)(2): Same text in force then and now |
Question | Members' powers (water, sewer, drainage, parks, security) do not obviously include sponsoring events; the contract's authority for sponsorships is not in the record. |
Who's involved
Bridgeland Chili Cookoff (organizer not named) (event)
Tent rental vendor (not named) (payee)
Cost to the district
$1,000 Not to exceed $1,000, including a $450 deposit, paid by two holding checks. FY2026 budget line 16739 Event Sponsorship: $10,000; line 16741 Festival Expense: $0 budget, $17,605 spent in ten months (Agenda May 5, 2026, Exhibit A).Why the board approved it
Recorded: “Trustee Goodspeed reported a request for the Agency to sponsor a tent (p.2).”
Small amount; the public purpose and return benefit are not stated, and the requester is not named.