Fort Bend County's two Democratic commissioners returned to the bench Monday, Aug. 24, after a two-month boycott, voted unanimously to create a reinvestment zone that clears the way for a proposed $10.1 billion Tesla solar plant, then signaled the standoff could resume before a Sept. 10 tax-rate vote.
That vote carries roughly $21 million in county revenue that funds services and employee raises for Fort Bend taxpayers, including Missouri City and Stafford homeowners.
Commissioners Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy had not attended a meeting since walking out June 25 over questions about interim County Judge Daniel Wong's legal authority. Their absence blocked any vote requiring a four-member quorum.
Monday's special session in Richmond carried a single voting item. Wong recused himself, citing business ties he may have with future projects. The remaining four commissioners approved the reinvestment zone 4-0, allowing tax breaks that could attract a Tesla solar cell manufacturing facility.
Tesla's proposal, internally called Project Crystal Sun, involves five parcels off FM 762 and FM 1994 near Richmond. According to a JETI filing reported by Yahoo Finance, the plant would begin commercial operations in 2029 with about 1,942 employees and ramp to 9,712 permanent positions by 2033. Total proposed investment: $10.1 billion. The project has not broken ground.
McCoy used the moment to challenge Wong directly.
"If Mr. Wong can step aside to protect the integrity of a vote involving a company in which he has business interests, why won't he step aside to protect the interest and the integrity of the people's business?" McCoy said at the Monday, Aug. 24 special session, according to ABC13.
Wong did not respond to McCoy's challenge but noted he was still presiding. McCoy shot back that the commissioners were not recognizing Wong's authority.
What's at stake Sept. 10
The county proposed keeping its property tax rate at 42.20 cents per $100 of taxable value. Rising property values would generate roughly $21 million in new revenue, funding employee raises and county services. But Texas law requires four members to formally adopt a tax rate. If Prestage and McCoy boycott the Thursday, Sept. 10 meeting, the county must revert to the no-new-revenue rate, 1.60 cents lower, and cut $21 million from the budget, according to the Fort Bend Independent.
McCoy's office, in a statement to ABC13 after Monday's meeting, did not commit to returning. The statement conditioned future attendance on Wong stepping aside from presiding over the court.
County attorney office restructuring draws fire
McCoy also flagged an agenda item for the Friday, Aug. 28 commissioners court meeting that would establish a county Legal Department, a move he characterized as dismantling County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson's office by transferring her staff, funding and authority.
Smith-Lawson, a twice-elected Democrat, filed the lawsuit challenging Wong's appointment. That case is scheduled for trial in November 2026.
Bobby Eberle, communications director for the Office of the Fort Bend County Judge, told ABC13 the proposed civil division would be revenue-neutral and denied it was political retaliation, saying Wong wants to remove politics from day-to-day legal operations.
Public hearings on the county's fiscal year 2027 budget are set for Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 10. The tax-rate hearing and adoption vote are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10.
