The Houston city budget is about to look different, and so might your bill. Here’s what the mayor is proposing.
HOUSTON — Houston Mayor John Whitmire is proposing a new $5 monthly fee for residents as part of the city’s upcoming budget, according to comments he made in an interview with KHOU 11 News.
The proposed charge — described by the city as an “administrative fee” — would apply to households that receive City of Houston solid waste services.
Under the proposal, the fee would be added to residents’ water bills, where the city already includes a solid waste container fee. That existing line item would be modified to reflect the new administrative fee.
The fee, which would start at $5 per month, is intended to fund city administration and help consolidate departments for greater efficiency, Whitmire said. Though the fee would benefit solid waste services, the mayor clarified it is broader in scope, covering public works and other city departments.
City officials say the fee could begin as early as July, but it still requires approval and is not yet final.
The proposal also includes a long-term increase structure. The fee would remain at $5 per month for the first two fiscal years, then increase by $5 annually, eventually reaching $25 per month by fiscal year 2032.
Whitmire said the revenue would help the city meet its financial obligations.
The mayor acknowledged Houston has not done anything like this before, though he noted other cities have taken similar steps. He pushed back on the notion that previous approaches were adequate, contrasting his plan with layoffs, building sales and one-time pandemic relief funding used by prior administrations.
When asked why residents should have to pay the new fee rather than the city funding services through other means, Whitmire was blunt, saying the fee would pay for better services.
“We’re broke and we’re running an efficient city,” he said. “Our streets are improving, our public safety is improving, solid waste is improving, so it’s part of running a big city.”
The mayor’s office says the fee is part of a broader strategy to address Houston’s budget challenges and maintain city services moving forward.
The full budget proposal is expected to be formally released on Tuesday.
Editor’s note: Sources previously told KHOU 11 the scope of the fee was limited to public works and trash. KHOU 11 is now able to report the fee will support departments in addition to public works.
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