Property tax increase

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

Source? Or just ranting?

Houston's budget isn't out of line for a city its size (some would argue its woefully inadequate), and we all know government (run by anyone) isn't as efficient as the private sector for a variety of reasons.

Top 20 U.S. Cities by Budget

But, its Houston. Of course there will be people who complain about a 0.6% increase in only one part of our taxation pie, while simultaneously complaining about the fact that our services generally suck - all to try to make some political point, while doing nothing to solve the problem. Rinse and repeat. A microcosm of why Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio are eating our lunch right now.

I need only direct you to public sector pensions as evidence of waste. Pensions must end. Period. Define contribution plans are the only way to stop the bleeding. Step one is to stop enrolling new employees in pension plans. The money isnt there, the returns are over-estimated.

Both police & fire pensions are totally broken, and now we have the two groups fighting over equal pay with BOTH sides lying about what the true cost is. Its a sad state, when we can waste money on school renaming, jogging trails, and new parks while the city is essentially insolvent.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by dkag

Wow $1.18 Billion every year.. where does the money go???

That amount doesn't even cover the costs of police and fire. You can find all of the information you want here https://www.houstontx.gov/budget/

Originally Posted by marksmu

SOO much of that money is squandered on non-essential things the city is doing to placate its liberal voting base.

Who suffers? Everyone....as police/fire/roads/drainage are all ignored in favor of pet projects and outright waste. Our schools are broke but somehow we find millions to rename schools for fear that a name on a school might hurt a few snowflakes feelings.

Government run by the left is broken.

The school renaming didn't use any city money. That was all HISD.

Originally Posted by marksmu

I need only direct you to public sector pensions as evidence of waste. Pensions must end. Period. Define contribution plans are the only way to stop the bleeding. Step one is to stop enrolling new employees in pension plans. The money isnt there, the returns are over-estimated.

Both police & fire pensions are totally broken, and now we have the two groups fighting over equal pay with BOTH sides lying about what the true cost is. Its a sad state, when we can waste money on school renaming, jogging trails, and new parks while the city is essentially insolvent.

So, if you end the pensions today, what are you going to do about the money that's already owed? Tell the employees to pound sand?

I suppose you also want to close all of the libraries, sell off the parks, and get rid of the City departments you consider useless. The few million that's spent on jogging trails and other amenities that make the city a great place to live are pennies compared to the costs of police and fire.

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by WRM20

The school renaming didn't use any city money. That was all HISD.

Where do you think HISD gets its money????? Its tax money. HISD is broke. The renaming Was/Is a total waste of taxpayer money.

So, if you end the pensions today, what are you going to do about the money that's already owed? Tell the employees to pound sand?

Originally Posted by WRM20

I suppose you also want to close all of the libraries, sell off the parks, and get rid of the City departments you consider useless. The few million that's spent on jogging trails and other amenities that make the city a great place to live are pennies compared to the costs of police and fire.

Step 1) Stop the bleeding - the more people you enroll in a pension plan with unrealistic payouts the worse the problem gets.

Step 2) Repair the damage - I don't want to close anything - I want to stop opening new things until we have the money for it. You can't spend yourself out of debt, which is what the city is doing. If they make the problem bad enough, they know they will get what they really want - which is MORE taxes. Government is never able to restrain itself.