Houston Officials Dispute $2.6 Million Vehicle Car-Wash Contract
Houston Controller Chris Hollins and Mayor John Whitmire are in a dispute over a $2.6 million contract for car washes for city vehicles. Hollins contends the contract improperly uses funds designated for flood mitigation and drainage, violating city charter rules…
Houston, TX, October 14, 2026 —
Houston Controller Chris Hollins and Mayor John Whitmire are disputing the use of $2.6 million for a contract to wash city vehicles. The disagreement centers on whether the money can properly be used for the service and whether the contract requires Hollins’ certification.
Hollins contends that the contract draws on funds designated for flood mitigation and drainage. He argues that using the money for car washes violates city charter rules and says his certification is required.
Whitmire and the City Council, which approved the contract, take a different position. They argue that the expenditure is valid because the vehicles belong to Public Works and are related to drainage maintenance. They also say sufficient funds had already been appropriated.
The competing arguments leave the central issue unresolved in the information provided: whether the contract’s funding and approval meet the city’s applicable rules. The summary does not specify the charter provisions cited by Hollins, identify the funding account or provide a breakdown of the appropriation. It also does not explain the basis for the city officials’ assessment that the funds were sufficient.
Other details about the contract were not provided, including the contractor’s name, the date of the agreement, its duration, and the number of vehicles covered. The timing of the City Council’s approval and details of the vote were not provided either.
The summary also does not state whether Hollins has issued or withheld certification, whether the contract is currently in effect, or whether either side has taken further action. Without those details, the status and outcome of the dispute remain unclear.
Story summarized from the original created by April Towery on www.houstonpress.com, see more information here.
