It’s the time of year when cities across Texas argue and debate among citizens and politicians alike as the next fiscal year’s budgets come together.
This year there are reports of tax shortfalls and spending deficits, maybe more common than in past years but certainly nothing new to the budget process.
And Rice Uniersity’s Bill King says it’s not just cities, it’s counties too.
“Harris County is talking about massive increases in spending and massive increases in taxes,” he says, which county residents can watch unfold in real time as commissioners meet in contentious discussion as they work out their plans.
And the city of Houston continues its work in real time as well, though the budget appears to be swelling beyond control, a concern that is not just limited to Houston but other Texas cities as well, with perhaps tens of millions of dollars in overspending.
“The City of Houston’s population hasn’t grown in ten years, and you know that means the value proposition of living inside the city is just not there in most people’s estimation.”
And while that may mean some people will always feel they’re overtaxed as a tradeoff for living in the city, Houston is like most cities in that it feels pressure on all sides when it comes to budget time — not just from the taxpayers and vendors but other, often unnoticed entities.
“They have a lot of pressure,” King says, “from employee groups to increase salaries, to have these very large pensions, and to have very good health insurance.’