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Council waives remaining fees for La Marque High School construction after school board request
Summary
The La Marque City Council unanimously approved waiving roughly $300,000 in remaining city fees paid by Texas City Independent School District for the new La Marque High School, directing staff to process a waiver and later refund as appropriate; council discussed potential EDC grant options as alternatives.
The La Marque City Council voted May 12 to waive approximately $300,000 in remaining city permit and plan-review fees for the Texas City Independent School District’s new La Marque High School construction.
The district’s representative told council the district had already paid about $1.2 million in fees and later asked the city to waive the remaining roughly $300,000 or, alternately, refund fees the district had advanced. Council discussed whether the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) could provide grant support for infrastructure elements but noted the EDC must follow statutory rules and would need legal review before awarding grants to a school district.
Why it matters: the school district asked for the waiver so the district could reallocate funds to education and site work; the council voted to waive fees, and staff explained this will be a two-step administrative process (waiver then potential refund) so execution remains within the city’s procurement and authorization limits.
Council discussion and context: council members asked whether the EDC could instead fund the pipes or other infrastructure; the city attorney and EDC counsel said they would need to confirm legal authority because EDC grants typically target economic development/primary jobs and may not be able to fund school infrastructure directly. The city’s finance staff told council that the permitting/plan-review revenue lines are currently above projection but cautioned that vacancies and department expenses remain and that utility and permit revenues are intended to support their functions. The council member who sponsored the motion urged immediate action “for the children” and the vote passed without recorded opposition.
Formal action: council approved a motion to waive the fees; staff described a practical two-step approach — record the waiver so the school district would have a credit and then process a refund as needed in a later administrative step — and noted the waiver required council action because the amount exceeded delegated authority. Council also encouraged the district to investigate EDC grant eligibility.
Ending: Council asked staff to return with the waiver documentation and to coordinate with the school district and the EDC counsel on whether alternative grant support could be legally offered.
