Controller Chris Hollins says Houston is not broke, but we will be soon (vehicle registration)

[Dopo]

Controller Chris Hollins says Houston is not broke, but we will be soon

This seems like important news about Houston

The urgency from the city's chief financial officer comes after Houston Mayor John Whitmire tries to get enough votes to pass the $650 million firefighters' deal, which includes back pay and a 34 percent pay raise over the next five years. Hollins said the proposed deal would cost up to $1.3 billion after accounting for legal fees and interests.

Whitmire's administration is exploring different methods of paying for the massive settlement deal. According to the city's proposal, the settlement would take 25 to 30 years to pay out, taking Houston taxpayers until 2052 to pay it off. Some ways the city could offset the budget deficit are implementing a garbage tax, raising property taxes, or consolidating city personnel, which may lead to layoffs in city services.

The controller noted that something needs to be done sooner rather than later. Mayor Whitmire began the process by announcing in March that every city department must reduce its budget by five percent except for fire and the police. The five percent cut will save $20 million, which is significant in Hollins's view but doesn't get the city "close to the finish line."

[SanJac]

This is old news...all the candidates talked about this during the campaign. Turner was playing a shell game...
Under former Mayor Sylvester Turner's administration, the city's financial future was already in question, but it was able to stay afloat using COVID-19 federal funds. Now that those funds are no longer coming in, Hollins argues that city officials have to asses what changes need to be made.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Controller Chris Hollins says Houston is not broke, but we will be soon

This seems like important news about Houston

The urgency from the city's chief financial officer comes after Houston Mayor John Whitmire tries to get enough votes to pass the $650 million firefighters' deal, which includes back pay and a 34 percent pay raise over the next five years. Hollins said the proposed deal would cost up to $1.3 billion after accounting for legal fees and interests.

Whitmire's administration is exploring different methods of paying for the massive settlement deal. According to the city's proposal, the settlement would take 25 to 30 years to pay out, taking Houston taxpayers until 2052 to pay it off. Some ways the city could offset the budget deficit are implementing a garbage tax, raising property taxes, or consolidating city personnel, which may lead to layoffs in city services.

The controller noted that something needs to be done sooner rather than later. Mayor Whitmire began the process by announcing in March that every city department must reduce its budget by five percent except for fire and the police. The five percent cut will save $20 million, which is significant in Hollins's view but doesn't get the city "close to the finish line."

To me the "garbage fee" seems the least odious fee or tax suggested, however we need to remember that the city water and sewage rate increases have not gone into full effect yet.

I would also suggest that the city should start enforcing vehicle registration laws and write tickets for all these people with expired plates, and bogus paper plates, that will bring in a fortune.