https://coveringkaty.com/news/harris/harris-county-toll-road-s-250m-surplus-diverted-by-commissio/ Skip to main content Search... Covering Katy News Methodist West Leaderboard 768x250 Home News Harris Grand Parkway signCovering Katy News Harris County's Toll Road's $250M Surplus Diverted for Pet Project and Excessive Vendor Payouts by Robert Banks Jan. 03, 2025 6:10 a.m. HOUSTON, Texas (Covering Katy News) — The Harris County Toll Road Authority's quarter-billion-dollar surplus has sparked scrutiny of wasteful spending and inflated staffing contracts, raising questions about oversight. Instead of paying down debt or reducing tolls, the funds are being diverted to commissioners' discretionary projects while vendors charge excessive markups, according to Dolcefino Consulting. In Harris, County Commissioner Rodney Ellis allocated 42% of his budget from surplus funds, including $11 million for park projects according to Dolcefino. The Harris County surplus has doubled since 2019, when it was $125 million. While state law requires the funds to be used for road projects, a loophole allowing spending on "related projects" has enabled commissioners to divert millions to other initiatives. The investigation also revealed HCTRA paid temporary staffing agencies more than double the county's standard rates for call center workers, with some vendors charging $38 per hour while paying employees as little as $15 per hour – a markup of 150 percent compared to the industry standard of 30 percent. Typical staffing companies add thirty percent to the price over what they pay according to the report. Waller County EDP 300x600 Instory JOIN Electronic Transaction Consultants (ETC) and its subcontractors, have received more than $47 million in HCTRA payments since January 2021. Records show one August 2022 invoice totaled $1.1 million for temporary workers, with markups costing taxpayers approximately $8 million more annually than necessary. One of the more controversial payments mentioned in the report was $250,000 per year for a call center manager. It wasn't clear what the manager was actually paid by the vendor, but given the large markup the vendor charged HCRTA, it's likely nowhere near a quarter-million dollars per year. "It's shocking you've got a system that has really no accountability," said State Sen. Paul Bettencourt. "What outrages the public is they pay a toll and $250 million doesn't even go for the toll roads they're driving on right now." HCTRA Executive Director Roberto Treviño, who received a 40% raise to $485,000 annually, has faced criticism for the agency's spending practices. The Harris County District Attorney's office has been notified about the billing markups, and County Commissioner Tom Ramsey has requested an audit. Bettencourt plans to introduce legislation requiring state audits of HCTRA and restricting surplus funds to debt reduction or toll reduction. The agency currently carries $7-8 billion in debt. "Unless you have a standard that you can measure against, all of this is an open loop and it's subject to fraud," Bettencourt said. Houston businessman and columnist Bill King called the lack of transparency "ridiculous," while State Rep. Briscoe Cain demanded an end to "Harris County's abuse of the people's money and resources." The investigation has also revealed that HCTRA's recent staffing contracts weighted price at only 25% of scoring criteria, allowing the agency to continue contracting with higher-priced vendors despite lower bids being available. Watch the report from Dolcefino Consulting below. Tags Government by Robert Banks Jan. 03, 2025 6:10 a.m. Comments (2) Comment Feed Type subject here... More county corruption This doesn't surprise me at all. It seems that Rodney Ellis is always in the middle of these incidents. Think back to when Lina Hidalgo decided to "reallocate" HCTRA surplus funds into the county coffers. She is at the root of all the issues and as long as she is in charge, it will continue. LMV 8 hours ago | reply Another corrupt county official uncovered by Dolcefino Consulting I'm pretty sure Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis won't be re-elected after this news story breaks.
Story checks out. $18 to go down 288 when it used to be free? Why the **** not. One of my neighbors works for the toll road. New company car every year or two, it’s a nice new Bronco right now. Not that it’s that expensive but they start at 38k. Not a company car from a place that is pinching pennies. A Chevy trailblazer is 23k. I don’t know him very well but he has all the toys, big jacked up truck, jet skis, boats, big RV, etc, and he lives in a nice house. He may just be really good with his money but it’s more like he has much more than he needs. Like a younger guy who works 100 hours a week in oil and gas.
that 18$ is ridiculous I was so pissed when I passed the Pay Station at Beltway 8 before 288 Then got on the over pass to get on 288 . . .and had to pay AGAIN!! That isht was less than 2 miles apart and i think the Exit cost more than the pay station I'm backing up from it for a while. Take side streets and plan better. but they make it d*mn hard. Rocket River
I live in that area, and I just refuse to use the 288 toll road. But, I’m surprised how many people do use that toll road. Even on the weekend when there is little traffic on the free lanes, I see people using the toll road. They obviously have a lot more money than I do, but they are also probably quick to complain about inflation and the cost of their Starbucks coffee.
These are probably the same people who have a $1,200/month truck payment but think the price of eggs is the reason they're living paycheck to paycheck.
1. I am shocked...SHOCKED I say! 2. Please tell me Wayne Dolcefino runs this company Up here, county officials get busted all the time for using public works crews to do stuff for them and their neighbors/buddies
I welcome any reforms they can bring. I hate toll roads in general, but if we're going to have them they should pay only for themselves. I have more than once skipped the entrance to the toll/hov lanes because traffic was flying in the regular lanes only to crest the next overpass and see a sea of red brake lights. Probably those are people who don't want to take a chance on Houston traffic.
Not always right; it's steered me into bad traffic before (and once into a Mexican culvert). Not always clear; if it wants you to take the tollway, it might not display the traffic or the ETA in the regular lanes. And, not everybody uses it when they drive; I do, but not everybody.
Ok just to be clear.. we are shocked at the people on the 288 toll road paying $15-18 to go 15 miles when there's no traffic on the regular lanes during early morning on the weekends. if you want to take toll roads for 1-2$ to avoid traffic, that's one thing. I take the beltway all the time. It's $0.167 PER MILE. The entire 88 mile beltway costs around $15. The 15 mile 288 toll road is $18. A whopping $1.2 PER MILE. Second, in google maps, you can enable avoid toll roads to see what regular road time is. I have to do that now thanks to the stupid 288 toll I never want to take but i can't keep it permanently off because I need it for beltway/hardy etc.
Out of curiosity, talk to me people: I take 71 to I-10 and exit at say...Shepherd, Is that HOV or Toll? How much will I pay? Same question but say: I-10 to Beltway to 288 to Seabrook/Kemah? 10 to Beltway to 45 to Galveston? Is 99 a tollway now? Is that the easier way to go? It's been a while since I've been to Houston and want to make an appearance or 3 in the next few months.
Several years ago, after my cousin in Nacogdoches joined their Fire Dept, next time I saw him I asked "so, what's been your favorite call so far?" This 16 yo girl was driving with her dad in the passenger seat, and the Garmin/Google/Whatever told her to take a left...so she did. Right over a median and 2 lanes of oncoming traffic and straight into a retaining wall. When Ben got there and made sure everyone was ok, he asked "What happened?" She said "the car told me to turn"
I'm just trying to speculate why you might see people on that road. I don't know though because I'm not one of them. I appreciate the per-mile analysis though. I'd also speculate this way: RFID tolls make it too easy to not internalize the price when you take 288. A daily commuter will eventually notice and take action, but someone on a one-off trip will probably take the toll without realizing what a bad deal it is. As you likely know, toggling toll roads on and off on your phone while you're driving isn't all that easy or quick unless you're literally doing it all the time. My suggestion to google maps is to always show the quickest non-toll alternative when it is recommending a toll route.
