This Week: Council to Vote on Proposed Trash Tax to Fund Firefighter Raises.

Council to Vote on Proposed Trash Tax to Fund Firefighter Raises

Council continues to discuss options to pay for Prop B, the controversial measure to mandate “pay parity” between Houston’s fire and police departments on the basis of job title/classification and seniority.

Per City Controller Chris Brown, the measure is estimated to cost $100,000,000.00 annually, the equivalent of about a 29% raise across the board. For context, this is approximately the entire General Fund budgets of the Department of Neighborhoods, Houston Public Library, Housing and Community Development Department, Mayor’s Office, Council Offices, Finance Department, Office of Business Opportunity, and Human Resources Department,combined. The Prop B petition, written by the Houston Professional Fire Fighter’s Association, did not identify a funding source for the raises.

Mayor Turner has confirmed that he will place on the Council Agenda a proposal by the District D Council Member to fund the raises by levying a garbage fee directly on Houston residents. The item will appear as three options: a $27 per month fee, a $24 per month fee, or a $19 per month fee. Although referred to as a “garbage fee,” the revenue would not be used to improve garbage or recycling services. This solution was not stated on the ballots voted on in November 2018, and Mayor Turner does not support the proposal.

Mayor Pro Tem Cohen strongly opposes the trash tax because the fees are extremely regressive, with the burden falling most heavily on low-income families. If Houston is to have a garbage fee, she feels, residents deserve better garbage and recycling services as a result.

Mayor Turner has shared an open letter with Houstonians on the background and timeline of Prop B and his ongoing plans for its implementation, which will take place May 9, 2019 (including retroactive pay from January 1st).

Adding the cost of Prop B to our existing projected deficit, Mayor Turner and Council must now eliminate a deficit of $198,000,000.00 for FY2020, which begins July 1, 2019. This is the biggest deficit in the City of Houston’s history. Our city cannot raise property taxes or sales taxes to garner additional revenue due to voter- and State-imposed revenue caps. Council and the Mayor are legally obligated to balance the budget each year. Thus, unfortunately, Council’s only option to cover the deficit is by implementing steep layoffs and cuts to City services:

Fire Chief Pena has confirmed that approximately 400 firefighters are expected to be laid off. In addition, up to 100 municipal employees will also be laid off, and all departments will be expected to make a minimum of 3% budget cuts across the board.  Steep cuts to City services, including parks and libraries, are anticipated. The details are still being determined.

Mayor Turner has stressed that a solution exists that would negate the above cuts:

If the Houston Professional Fire Fighters’ Association will agree to phase in the implementation of Prop B over five years, no layoffs will be necessary.

Mayor Pro Tem Cohen strongly supports this solution as a compromise that will implement the will of the voters without massive layoffs.

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The annual District C CIP Meeting will take place on Thursday, March 28th at 6:30PMat the West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (1475 W. Gray St, 77019). Our annual meeting focuses on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the City’s master document that prioritizes infrastructure improvement projects  that will take place city-wide over the next five years. Information tables and experts will be available before and after the meeting to answer specific questions and provide resources. For those unable to attend, the meeting will be archived online via HTV. We hope to see you there!