Overview
- Mayor John Whitmire reiterated that Houston will not raise property taxes in the next budget cycle, saying the city will close gaps through efficiencies and waste-cutting.
- City officials project a deficit exceeding $120 million for the current fiscal year ending in June, with police, fire and solid waste expected to overshoot overtime budgets by about $54 million.
- Looking ahead, Houston faces a projected $227 million shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and the mayor offered no new revenue plan as budget talks are set to start in May.
- Whitmire highlighted a voluntary retirement program that saw about 1,000 employees depart, with anticipated annual savings of $35 million, and cited an Ernst & Young review that drove consolidations without a released savings total.
- He outlined preliminary ideas for airport rail links, bayou water taxis and major stormwater pipes, while business leaders pointed to new corporate headquarters moves and recent approval of financing for the convention center transformation.