The Henderson Civic Center is one of the city’s best-used buildings, and HEDCO agreed to put $50,000 toward fixing its meeting room and carpet. The city’s own books show where the money went. They also show it was never budgeted.
This story is part of our review of every performance agreement the Henderson Economic Development Corporation has made. A performance agreement is a contract: HEDCO puts up sales tax money, land or work, and a business promises something in return, usually investment and jobs. We are not suggesting anyone did anything wrong. We are asking whether the public can see what was promised and whether anyone checks.
| The deal at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Henderson Civic Center, Inc. |
| HEDCO action | Requests May 21 and December 17, 2024; agreement July 15, 2025; public hearing and performance agreement December 16, 2025 |
| City Council approval | November 18, 2025 (item 23) |
| Incentive | $50,000 |
| Promised in return | None stated |
| Agreement text public? | No |
What the record shows
Mr. Gardella told the council on November 18, 2025 that the Civic Center asked for help with internal improvements and that HEDCO’s board agreed to $50,000 to fix the meeting room space and replace carpet in the offices and boardroom. He said he did not believe work had started yet. The council approved it.
The city’s 2026-27 budget detail shows what happened next. The Tourism Fund recorded $50,000 of revenue in 2025-26 under “HEDCO GRANT FOR REC RM PROJ” and $50,000 of spending under “REC RM REFRESH PROJECT.” Both lines had a 2025-26 budget of zero. HEDCO lists the Civic Center under the section of state law for tourism, convention and entertainment facilities.
What’s missing
What the public record leaves out
- Who owns and runs the building. The agreement is with Henderson Civic Center, Inc., but the money landed in the city’s Tourism Fund, and the city runs a Civic Center division.
- Why city building repairs went through HEDCO and not the city’s own capital budget.
- A budget amendment for the $50,000 received and spent. State law makes the city responsible for HEDCO’s spending. The City Council must approve all of the corporation’s programs and expenditures (Local Government Code 501.073).
- Bids or invoices for the work.
Our ask
What would make this deal easy to check
- Publish the agreement and the invoices.
- Explain the relationship between Henderson Civic Center, Inc. and the city.
- Budget HEDCO money for city buildings in the open, as part of the regular budget.
Sources: HEDCO agendas for May 21 and December 17, 2024, and July 15 and December 16, 2025; Henderson City Council meeting, November 18, 2025 (recording); City of Henderson 2026-27 proposed budget account detail, Tourism Fund lines 14-5915-00 and 14-6752-03, in the September 17, 2026 City Council packet; HEDCO notice of projects for fiscal year 2025-26.