This Week: Mayor Releases FY2019 Budget Proposal; Budget Workshops Commence; Public Meeting: Heights Historic Districts Design Guidelines.

Mayor Releases FY2019 Budget Proposal

Mayor Turner announced the details of his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, FY2019, which will commence July 1, 2018. The proposed $2.48 billion General Fund budget closes a $114 million deficit while avoiding layoffs and maintaining a healthy emergency fund balance in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.

Despite cutting departmental spending every year, the City of Houston continues to face deficits on an annual basis because of a cap on the amount of revenue the city can take in each year. Houston is the only city in Texas that must operate under a Revenue Cap and, due to these restrictions, even in years of growth and surplus, our city will continue to face deficits and remains unable to expand services. Mayor Turner has suggested adding a measure to the November 2018 ballot to allow voters to lift the Revenue Cap for public safety purposes, so that we may hire badly needed additional police cadet classes.

Learn more about the City of Houston Budget Process »

Budget Workshops Commence

Council’s Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee has begun hosting a series of budget workshops to evaluate each department’s functionality and spending in preparation for voting on the upcoming FY2019 Budget. This week, Council reviewed the Finance, Mayor’s Office, Council Office, Administration and Regulatory Affairs, General Services,Planning and Development, and Houston Police Departments. Additional workshops are scheduled for next week and the proposed FY2019 budget is expected to appear on the Council Agenda for consideration on Wednesday, May 23rd.

Public Meeting: Heights Historic Districts Design Guidelines

On Thursday, May 17th, the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) will hold a second public hearing regarding the Heights Historic Districts Design Guidelines. This second hearing is due to a posting error prior to the previous public hearing. The meeting will begin at 3PM in the City Hall Annex Council Chambers (900 Bagby St, Public Level, 77002). Hard copies of the proposed design guidelines are available at the Heights Library reference desk. You may comment on the proposal at the hearing, through email at historicpreservation@houstontx.gov or by mailing Design Guidelines Comments, Planning & Development Department, P.O. Box 1562, Houston, TX 72251-1562. The department will collect comments from now until the close of the hearing on May 17, 2018. The HAHC may choose to vote on the guidelines following the hearing or opt to reconvene at a future date.