Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun
Mayor Annise Parker released the 2014 proposed $4.9 billion budget for the city of Houston on May 14, 2013 that will go into effect on July 1, 2013. Mayor Parker continues her emphasis on jobs and development, public safety, quality of life, infrastructure and fiscal responsibility as she maintains that the budget will not require a tax increase.
The budget has made provisions to finish restoring the services that were cut or rolled back due to the economic issues of the city. The city has also completely funded their Rainy Day Fund which is $20 million strong with a 7.5% allocated reserve which is above the 5% mandated amount, and pensions, health benefits and mandated pay increases for city employees are included as well.
“This budget proposal builds upon the progress of the last 3.5 years,” said Mayor Parker. “We’ve cut waste, made city departments more efficient and balanced every budget without raising taxes.”
Jobs growth is a national issue that always hits home first and Mayor Parker continues to work at providing employment opportunities for Houstonians as she will stay connected with Hire Houston First. According to city data, within the programs first year more than $139 million of city business was awarded to certified firms, sustaining more than 6,000 jobs. The city has attracted more than $2.2 billion of economic development since 2010, generated 250,000 jobs, exported approximately $300 billion in locally-produced goods and services and has issued permits for construction on nearly 74,000 single family homes.
Majority of the money looks to be heading towards public safety as the report shows that’s where two- thirds of the general fund budget will go.
“More than $2.2 million is included in this budget proposal to fund operations of the city’s new public safety radio project, which is improving the city’s capability to communicate with Harris County and surrounding jurisdictions when fighting crime or responding to natural disaster,” said the Mayor’s office.
Public Safety will include the creation of a Forensics Transition Special Fund to keep separate and account for the costs with the Houston Forensics Science LGC which has been under scrutiny for years about its methods and outcomes. This venture will help with the effort to establish an independent crime lab, and will push forward with the elimination of the DNA backlog. The city also will proceed to do more demolitions of dangerous buildings.
The city has added a General Fund line for the first time for infrastructure and the amount is $2.5 million which is representing approximately 2% average annual Capital Improvement Plan for Public Improvement Programs for infrastructure maintenance, renewal and replacement. The city has already invested $180 million has already been invested in drainage and street improvements. In the fiscal year 2014 additional progress on replacement f city information technology and fleet infrastructure which has been underfunded for years.
“These dollars will be used for upkeep to existing city facilities, such as libraries, community centers and neighborhood fire stations, to help avoid the deferred maintenance issues identified in the recent facilities assessment,” said the Mayor’s Office.
The quality of life for Houstonians remains a hot button issue and Mayor Parker in her efforts to clean up the city while going green, has doubled the houses that use single- stream recycling from 100,000 to 200,000. The first part of the expansion will start in July when 35,000 households will be added and then another 70,000 will be added later in the year. The stream recycling will be easier and convenient as all recyclables will go in one big bin. Mayor Parker emphasized the high priority for the planet but it will also be a long term financial investment and it will help preserve the landfills.
“The expansion will impact neighborhoods citywide rather than be limited to one specific area of town,” said Mayor Parker.
The city also prepares for the completion of the new adoption center, the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control will include an increase in funding for $693,683. There will be progress made on the Bayou Greenways that will link parks and trails throughout the city and the budget will also include revenue for the Mayor’s initiative to end chronic homelessness in the city which has cost the city over a million dollars in the past.
Fiscal responsibility for the city remains on the minds of Houstonians as it affects the quality of the life they live within the city. The city is making the steps to have more transparency with their finances. They have included $676,000 for financial controls and audit capabilities.
“I feel like I spent my first term in office plugging holes in a leaky boat, but the boat stayed afloat and now we have the funds to take the boat and put up a new sail and I’m very excited about this,” said Mayor Parker.
The mayor’s financial plan is set and will begin in the middle of the summer. The Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal years of 2014 through 2018 will coincide with the proposed budget and will have the same emphasis with infrastructure and public safety.