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GOOD MORNING.[Budget and Fiscal Affairs]
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.I'M THE VICE IN FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.
IN CHAMBERS, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM MAYOR PRO, TIM DAVE MARTIN, COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX, AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE IS A SIGN IN SHEET AT THE FRONT TABLE.
STAFF MEMBER CAROLINA WILL BE MONITORING THE SPEAKER'S LIST.
ALSO, IN CHAMBERS, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN AND DIRECTOR TAN EMO TO PROVIDE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.
GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2022.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 316 MILLION FOR FY 22.
THIS IS 9.5 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 148.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% IN RESERVES.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 500,000 FROM THE APRIL 22 REPORT DUE TO THE FOLLOWING CHANGE.
PROJECTION FOR INTEREST INCOME FOR THE FISCAL YEAR HAS BEEN INCREASED BY 500,000, AND THAT'S MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST RATES, PROJECTED TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND OTHER USES WERE UNCHANGED FROM THE APRIL 22 REPORT, WHICH STOOD AT 2.64 BILLION AS OF MAY, 2022.
HOWEVER, I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, PROJECTED TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND OTHER USES AS OF MAY, 2022, EXCEEDED THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR FY 22 BY APPROXIMATELY 33.3 MILLION.
MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AS OF MAY, 2022, OUR PROJECTIONS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2022, REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR ALL OF OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SO, I WILL MOVE FINALLY TO OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS.
ALL OF OUR VARIABLE RATE DEBT, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, IS WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD.
THIS IS THE 11 PLUS ONE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2022.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 11 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND ONE MONTH OF PROJECTION.
SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE MONTH LEFT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 92 POINT, UH, 92 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND FOR 14,000 HIGHER THAN LAST MONTH'S REPORT.
THE VARIANCE FROM LAST MONTH'S REPORT IS MAINLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN INTEREST BY ABOUT FOUR 14,000.
THIS IS TO REFLECT THE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CASH RECEIPTS.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, OUR EXPENDITURES PROJECTION IS 33.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM LAST MONTH'S REPORT.
WITH THAT, WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 10 $26 MILLION, WHICH IS 58.8 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 14.6% OF THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
THIS FUND BALANCE IS 158.8 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF THE EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SURFACE AND PSU GO.
WE ARE PROJECTING, UH, NO CHANGES ON THE ENTERPRISE FUND AS LAST MONTH'S REPORT, AND I'M GONNA CARRY ON WITH THE CHANGES ON THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
ON THE ASSET FOR FEATURE FUNDS, REVENUES INCREASED BY 1.2 MILLION.
THIS IS DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED CONFISCATIONS REVENUES ON THE PARK.
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY 159,000.
THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TREE REMOVAL PERMITS AND CONCESSIONS CHAIR, IF I MAY.
LASTLY, SINCE THIS IS THE LAST OF MY REPORT FOR THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL, UH, PRESENTATIONS AT THE BUDGET FISCAL AFFAIR COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE CITY CONTROLLERS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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HAS BEEN A PLEASURE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS AND AN HONOR TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WORK UNDER SUCH AN AMAZING LEADERSHIP.UM, WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE MY REPORTS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBO.
IT'S GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU.
YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD A PLEASANT DEMEANOR AND A WILLINGNESS TO, TO PROVIDE US THE INFORMATION WE'RE ASKING FOR.
I I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH IT, BUT, BUT, UH, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, UH, I WOULD ASK, UH, THE CONTROLLER, IS IT POSSIBLE, UH, FOR YOU TO RUN A REPORT? UH, YOU DID, ONE OF YOU TWO DID THIS ABOUT, UH, A YEAR AGO TO DETERMINE WHAT, HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING THAT IS BELOW THE $50,000 MARGIN? I BELIEVE WE CAME UP WITH SOMEWHERE AROUND 16% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET IS, IS LESS THAN THE 50,000 THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
UH, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE
I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON A SOFTWARE TO, TO PROVIDE THIS KIND OF REPORTING, UH, WHICH IS CURRENTLY STILL IN THE PLANNING.
UM, AND, AND, UH, PREPARATIONS FOR SUCH, UM, SOFTWARE.
UM, I CAN TRY MY BEST, BUT I'M NOT TOO SURE IF I COULD RUN THIS REPORT BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE A LOT OF, UH, UH, MANPOWER TO RUN THE REPORT AND, AND VERIFY THOSE.
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S WARRANTED.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THE CHECKBOOK OPEN FINANCE PROJECT, UH, THAT ONCE COMPLETED WOULD SOLVE ALL OF YOUR QUERIES.
YOU'D BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE PAYMENT AND SEE EXACTLY, UH, INCLUDING PAYMENTS UNDER 50,000.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO RELY ON FINANCE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE WHAT WE DID, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
SO, UH, TO THE EXTENT I KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR EMO IS LEAVING, BUT, UH, WILL JONES AND HIS TEAM, UH, ARE WILLING TO HELP US, UH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING THAT REPORT.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING SPENT, UH, UNDER 50,000 WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS THE PRIOR YEAR? OR WOULD YOU BE EVEN BE ABLE TO GUESSTIMATE THAT? IF, IF I CAN SAY, I DON'T WANNA GUESSTIMATE AT THIS POINT, BUT WITH THE, UM, ARPA AND ALL OF THIS FEDERAL, UM, UM, UM, PROCUREMENTS THAT WE HAD TO RUN, UM, I'M NOT SURPRISED IF IT'S FOR OVER 50,000, SO IT'LL BE MORE, UM, FOR UNDER 50 THOUSANDS.
AGAIN, IT'S, I I, I DON'T WANNA GUESSTIMATE AS THIS POINT, BUT, UM, IT MAY BE THE SAME OR, OR LESS.
AT THIS POINT BEFORE DIRECTOR EMAIL, ALSO, I NOTICED THAT, UH, UH, A FEW ITEMS HAVE COME BEFORE COUNCIL THAT ARE UNDER 50,000, UH, THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
AND, AND I BEGAN TO QUESTION WHY ARE THEY THERE IF THEY'RE UNDER 50,000, AND I, I DIDN'T BRING IT UP AT THE TIME, BUT I, I BEGAN TO WONDER WHY, WHY ARE WE APPROVING THINGS THAT ARE UNDER 50,000 IF WE, THE HOME RULE CHARTER SAYS THAT WE, IT CAN BE SPENT WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL IF, IF I MAY.
SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS ACTUALLY THE CONTRACT AMOUNT, UH, WHAT MAY GO TO COUNCIL COULD BE JUST AN INCREASE OR CHANGES ON THE SPENDING AUTHORITY THAT WILL STILL BE BELOW 50,000.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL CONTRACTS, MOST LIKELY THOSE ARE GONNA BE OVER 50,000.
SO JUST JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
SO WHAT GOES TO COUNCIL, IT MAY BE JUST A SPENDING AUTHORITY OR THE, THE AMOUNT THAT IS NOT FOR THE ENTIRE CONTRACT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCO.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU ARY EMO, WE WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG 15 YEARS.
I FEEL LIKE I WAS HERE A GOOD PART OF THAT 15 YEARS, UM, CALLING YOU.
UM, SO THE CONTROLLER POST SAID $148 MILLION OVER THE SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR SAID 158 MILLION OVER THE, UM, OVER THE SEVEN POINT HALF PERCENT.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE MONEY FROM WHICH THE, THE MAYOR'S $20 MILLION TO THE SWAT PROGRAM WILL COME.
HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE THAT FROM THE RESERVE.
SO THAT WOULD BE THAT PORTION OF THAT.
AND, AND SO THE, HOW DOES THE MECHANICS OF THAT WORK IN A FUTURE MOER WILL JUST SEE THAT MONEY TRANSFERRED OUT, OR WE WILL, WE WILL REFLECT IT IN THE JUNE MOFA.
SO YOU WILL SEE THOSE, UM, UH, ACTIONS OR ACTIVITIES REPORTED IN THE MOFA ON THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR.
AND THE ARPA FUNDING, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE, WE, HAVE WE GOTTEN THE SECOND PART? YES, WE HAVE GOTTEN THE SECOND TRANCHE, AND SO NOW WE ARE AT THE $600 MILLION, UH, ARPA FUNDING.
UM, BUT KEEP IN MIND, HALF OF, WELL, CLOSE TO HALF OF THAT HAS
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BEEN USED FOR THE REV REVENUE REPLACEMENT, OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE WE HAD USED IT FOR FISCAL YEAR, UM, 22 AND FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET FOR THE REVENUE REPLACEMENT.BUT WE DO HAVE RECEIVED THIS, I THOUGHT THE FISCAL YEAR, THE 23 BUDGET THAT WE JUST PASSED DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE SECOND TRANCHE OF MONEY.
BUT AGAIN, I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THE ENTIRE $600 MILLION, ABOUT 300 SOMETHING HAS BEEN USED FOR THE, UM, REVENUE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS PART OF THE SECOND, THE FIRST TRENCH.
SO THAT, THAT WAS ALL IN THE FIRST RE OKAY.
I ALSO WANNA WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, WHO WAS HERE WITH US IN CHAMBERS.
NEXT IN THE QUEUE IS COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTHING.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO GREAT TO WORK WITH.
I THINK YOU'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THE ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD,
SO JUST REALLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UM, MY QUESTION IS ON PAGE NINE OF THE BOOK, UM, IT, UM, SAYS, CAPTURED REVENUE TRANSFER TO D-D-S-R-F.
THIS IS UNDER, RIGHT UNDER THE, UM, GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
CAN YOU REMIND ME, IS THAT THE AD VALOREM OR IS THAT THE DRAINAGE CHARGE? BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT IT SAYS THE ACTUAL YEAR TO DATE, THERE'S NOTHING LISTED.
SO CAN YOU REMIND ME WHICH ONE THAT IS? THIS IS THEORUM TEXT.
'CAUSE THE DRAINAGE WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE DRAINAGE FUND.
UH, CONTROLLER, UM, YOU PUT OUT A RECENT EMAIL, UM, TO THE PUBLIC WHERE IT STATES THAT, UM, BASED ON SOME OF THE, UH, DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE PUT THAT TOWARDS OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
UM, BUT FOR THOSE DOLLARS, WE MAY NOT HAVE, UM, THE FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.
UH, YOU SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT, UM, WE WERE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO, UH, DIFFERENTLY, UH, IF YOU COULD? SURE.
I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT KIND OF, UH, AD NAUSEA HERE AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE IS THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET.
SO WE SPEND EVERY YEAR MORE MONEY THAN WE TAKE IN IN REVENUE.
UM, SO THE CHALLENGE IS EVERY YEAR, BALANCING THAT BUDGET, UM, WHAT WAS SET TO HAPPEN, UH, AROUND THE TIME THAT COVID HIT WAS WE WERE FINALLY GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE, UH, WE HAD EXPENDED MOST OF OUR RESERVE FUNDS, AND WE HAD SOLD PROBABLY MOST OF THE LARGE ASSETS THAT WE COULD HAVE SOLD.
UH, SO WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO FORCE BE FORCED TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS.
UH, CUTS, PROBABLY AN EMPLOYEE HEADCOUNT.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, PROVIDED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDING WITH, UH, BOTH CARES AND ARPA.
AND ARPA ALLOWED US THE ABILITY FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT AS THE, UH, DIRECTOR JUST MENTIONED.
UH, SO WE USED, UH, UH, I THINK SHE, SHE SAID ABOUT $300 MILLION OF THAT, UH, BASICALLY TO PLUG THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS OF BUDGETS.
UH, NOW WE DO HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST FUND BALANCE AT THE MOMENT.
UM, MY ESTIMATE'S ABOUT 14.2%, UM, SO THERE'S PROBABLY ANOTHER 160 MILLION OVER THE SEVEN POINT HALF PERCENT THAT WE CAN USE AGAIN TO, YOU KNOW, PLUG THE DEFICIT.
BUT ONCE THAT FEDERAL MONEY RUNS OUT, UH, THERE'S NO RECURRING REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S GONNA OFFSET.
SO WHAT ESSENTIALLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE 160, MAYBE IN MY ESTIMATES ACTUALLY NOW MORE BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL RECURRING EXPENDITURES INTO THE FUTURE.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, UH, PREVIOUSLY, AND, AND WE'VE SEEN IN OUR TRENDS REPORT AND IN THE, UH, BUDGET FIVE YEAR FORECAST THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PUTS OUT, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET IS A $268 MILLION, UH, BUDGET DEFICIT.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY CONTENTION AND WHAT I'VE SEEN, AND I, I, UH, SPOKE RECENTLY AT THE GFOA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS USING THE FEDERAL DOLLARS NOT, AND THAT'S A ONETIME FINANCING SOURCE.
UH, USING THAT, NOT TO ADD ADDITIONAL RECURRING EXPENDITURES IN THE FUTURE, BUT USE THAT MONEY TO ESSENTIALLY TRY AND NARROW THAT BUDGET GAP, REDUCE THAT STRUCTURALLY IMBALANCED BUDGET, UM, YOU KNOW, REPLACING OUTDATED EQUIPMENT, UH, MAKING INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY TYING ONE TIME FINANCING SOURCE WITH ONE TIME EXPENDITURE.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE ADVICE THAT I'VE GIVEN TO THIS BODY.
UH, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, QUITE FRANKLY, AND SOMETHING I'VE, UH, BEEN KIND OF VOCALLY STATING, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, IT'S REALLY TOUGH, UH, I THINK TO MAKE A LOT OF THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMING, UH, I THINK, UH, YOU
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ASKED ME OR ANYBODY, UH, AT THE GFOA CONFERENCE THAT ARE IN OTHER CITIES, HOUSTON IS NOT UNIQUE.THIS IS, UM, CITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE IN A SIMILAR POSITION.
BUT THE REAL DIFFERENCE, UH, HOW WE COME OUT POST, UH, COVID AND POST, UM, FEDERAL FUNDING IS HOW YOU USE THAT FEDERAL MONEY.
ARE YOU USING IT TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE, OR ARE YOU USING IT TO MAKE THE PROBLEM BETTER? AND ALL I'M SAYING IS WE NEED TO MATCH, UH, RECURRING, UH, REVENUES WITH, UH, RECURRING EXPENDITURES, AND WE CANNOT HAVE ONE-TIME FINANCING SOURCES FUND RECURRING EXPENDITURES.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.
DIRECTOR, UM, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? WHERE DO WE STAND FINANCIALLY AS YOU, AS YOU CLOSE OUT YOUR 10 YEAR? UM, HOW DO WE LOOK, UH, AS A CITY? HOW STABLE ARE WE FINANCIALLY? UM, ARE WE AS A, AS A COUNCIL THROUGH YOUR ADMINISTRATION, LOOKING AT ONE TIME EXPENDITURES THAT WE BELIEVE, UH, WILL BE TO OUR BEST BENEFIT IN OUR BEST INTEREST AS THE CONTROLLER STATED AS THE BEST USE FOR THOSE ARPA DOLLARS? AND, UM, WHERE DO YOU SEE US GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO UTILIZING THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE ON HAND KNOWING THAT WE WON'T HAVE IT IN THE FUTURE? SO HOUSTON HAS, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY RESILIENT CITY.
UM, I DON'T WANNA JUST FOCUS ON COVID, BUT ALSO WITH THE HURRICANES.
UM, AND SO WE'VE LEARNED AND GET BETTER EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO WE HAD DONE OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND WE POLISHED THAT EVERY SINGLE TWO YEARS.
RIGHT? UM, AND SO, YES, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A RECURRING, NON-RECURRING, WHAT HAPPENED IN COVID IS THE PERFECT STORMS. WE HAVE THE DROPPED IN THE REVENUES, OF COURSE, WITH THE PAN GLOBAL PANDEMIC, UH, BUT FOLLOWING AFTER THAT IS THIS MAJOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE CRIME, RIGHT? THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A BODY, I THINK WE DO HAVE TO SET PRIORITIES.
UM, SO PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE PRIORITIES OF, OF THESE ADMINISTRATIONS.
UM, SO IT IS PART OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE, UM, BUILD OUR FUND BALANCE.
AND SO AT THIS POINT, I THINK OUR FUND BALANCE, AS YOU SEE IT IN HERE, IS VERY HEALTHY.
IT'S, WHICH IS PART OF THE PLAN BECAUSE THIS IS, INCLUDES THOSE ARPA DOLLARS, UH, WITH THE REVENUE LOSS.
UM, AND SO THE PATH GOING FORWARD IS STABLE, BUT AGAIN, DEPENDS ON HOW WE MANAGE THIS DOLLARS GOING FORWARD AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM, WE ALL KNOW THE ARPA IS GONNA BE ENDING BY THE END OF 2024.
SO WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC ON HOW YOU SPEND THE DOLLARS ON HOW YOU HAVE MANAGED THIS FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
UM, SO WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS OF THIS BODY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE ECONOMY RISE, THAT, UM, THE FUTURE NEEDS AND THOSE RECURRING COSTS WILL BE COVERED BY THIS, UM, FUND BALANCE BECAUSE OF THE END OF THE ARPA FUNDING.
SO WHEN THE ARPA DOLLARS, WHEN IS THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THE ARPA DOLLARS? IS IT 24 OR 25? THE END IS DECEMBER, 2024.
SO YOU ONLY HAVE ABOUT HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 AT THAT POINT.
AND WHEN WE WERE PUTTING OUR BID IN FOR THE WORLD CUP FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, UM, WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE OUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE DOLLARS THAT POSSIBLY MAY COME INTO THE CITY AND HOW THAT MAY, UH, CHANGE OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST IN THE FUTURE? SO THE BEAUTY OF OUR, OUR, OUR OFFICE IS HOW CONSERVATIVE WE ARE IN GOING TO THE REVENUES PROJECTIONS.
AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE ARE NOT EVEN INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE, UM, GROWTH IN OUR, UM, FUTURE YEARS.
SO WE ARE NOT INCLUDING THOSE FIFA PROJECTIONS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN OUR REVENUES.
BUT DID YOU ALL DISCUSS THAT AS A DEPARTMENT ON WHAT THOSE DOLLARS COULD POSSIBLY BE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IF WE WERE TO LAND THE WORLD CUP GAMES? THE 2026? CORRECT.
SO IF, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE IN FISCAL YEAR 27.
UM, SO WHICH AT THIS POINT IS MAYBE ON THE FIFTH YEAR OF OUR FIVE YEAR PROJECTIONS.
SO NO, I DON'T INCLUDE IT AND NOT, UM, I'M NOT PLANNING TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AT THIS POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, I REMEMBER, UH, DECEMBER OF 20, 20, 20 13, UH, YOU WERE IN THAT, UH, MEETING WHEN KELLY DOW WAS, UH, GIVING THE, WHAT WE, WHAT MAYOR PARKER, UH, HER TEAM CALLED THE BOOTCAMP FOR OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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WERE A NUMBER OF US NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I REMEMBER KELLY DOW GOT UP AND, UH, HE, HE SAID, WHEN, WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCES OF THE CITY, THAT IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.AND I REMEMBER THAT, AND THAT'S BEEN NINE YEARS AGO.
I REMEMBER READING THE LONG RANGE MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL, UH, REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED IN 2012, THAT COUNCIL HAD APPROVED IN A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND, AND, AND LOCAL, THERE WAS A BIG TEAM, MAYBE 40, 50 PEOPLE ON THAT TEAM.
AND THEY COME UP WITH ALL KIND OF SUGGESTIONS.
I I, I DON'T SEE WHERE ONE OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS WERE EVER, UH, WERE, WERE EVER IMPLEMENTED.
AT LEAST I, I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT, BUT MY CONCERN IS, IS IS THAT, UH, WHEN I HEARD THAT THE CONTROLLER JUST SPEAK CONCERNING, UH, YOU KNOW, FOREWARNING US NOT TO SPEND MONEY THAT ON RECURRING, IF WE GET EXTRA MONEY, DON'T MAKE IN RECURRING BILLS WITH IT.
KINDA LIKE WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX RETURN, INSTEAD OF PAYING OFF YOUR DEBT, YOU GO AND BUY A NEW CARD AND YOU GOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT NOW, SO, SO YOU INCREASE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR TOTAL DEBT.
AND, AND I, I JUST DON'T, I WANT THE CITY TO BE, TO BE ON FIRM FINANCIAL STATUS, BUT EVIDENTLY WE HAVE NOT LISTENED TO THE CONTROLLER, HIS ADVICE, AND, AND WE, WE'VE SPENT MONEY ON RECURRING BASIS.
AND SO I I, I JUST WONDER WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITH, UH, US FACING THE, UM, THE POSSIBLE, UH, LAWSUIT, UH, BEING THAT'S BEING PROMOTED, UH, ARE, ARE THAT'S OUT THERE NOW CONCERNING PAY PARITY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA, WE'RE GONNA IMPACT, BE IMPACTED BY ALL THAT, BUT I, UH, I THINK THAT ALL OF US, WELL, YOU AND I WILL BE OFF OF COUNCIL BY THEN, BUT, UH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE OUT OF THE CITY.
IF, IF I CAN, IF I CAN QUICKLY, UM, CLARIFY BACK IN 2013, YOU ARE RIGHT, UM, THAT WE HAVE A HUGE, UM, FINANCIAL ISSUES AT THAT POINT.
UH, BUT YOU RECALL WHEN MAYOR TURNER CAME, WE DID THE PENSION REFORM.
THE, THE LARGEST ISSUES AT THAT POINT IS THE UNSUSTAINABLE OF THE PENSION COSTS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE FOR THE, THE THREE UNIONS.
SO AT THIS POINT, UH, THAT IS SUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF THE WAY HOW WE HAVE THOSE, UM, CORRIDOR SYSTEMS, UM, WHICH IS NOT EASY TO GET.
AND SO, UM, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THE PENSION REFORM HAS BEEN DONE.
AND SO THAT HELPS A LOT TO REDUCE THOSE BOTH UNTONED LIABILITY AND THE CITY CONTRIBUTIONS COSTS GOING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, THANK YOU CHAIR.
UM, AND MS. HEMO, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND I WANT TO BE AMONG THOSE TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY AND WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU MOVE, UH, FROM YOUR POSITION AT THE CITY.
BUT, UH, TO YOU AND TO THE CONTROLLER AND TO MY COLLEAGUES AND IN PARTICULAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, UM, I WANT TO CAUTION YOU BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING BOTH SELECTIVE MEMORY AND ILLUSTRATING THAT YOU'RE NOT READING VERY CAREFULLY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE US, BECAUSE AT LEAST IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE UNFI UNDER $50,000, THERE'S USUALLY SOME FINE PRINT THAT SPEAKS ABOUT HOW THAT IS.
IN ADDITION, IT'S A DOLLAR THAT'S IN ADDITION TO AN ORIGINAL CONTRACT THAT WOULD PUT THAT NUMBER UP OVER 50,000, THUS TRIGGERING THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE CITY.
AND ITS PRUDENT ACTIVITY TO PUT THAT FORWARD AND CALL IT TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
AND AS I SAT WITH YOU IN THAT SESSION WITH KELLY DOW AND MS. EMO IN 2013, THERE WERE ISSUES IN FRONT OF THE CITY THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH HEAD ON.
WE HAVE NOT STUCK OUR HEADS IN THE SAND, NOR NOR ARE WE DOING THAT TODAY.
AND I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF VARIOUS STRUCTURAL IMBALANCES.
AND THE CONTROLLER, I THINK, HAS BEEN COMMENDABLE IN HIS, UH, REGULAR, BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
UH, AND FOR THAT, I THINK HIM, UH, THERE ARE THINGS WITH OPE THAT WE MUST DEAL WITH, BUT THERE ARE REGULAR THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS TO DEAL WITH.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO THAT, THAT'S, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT BUSINESS AND WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO THINK OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A, UM, A GENEROUS PORTION OF FEDERAL MONIES COMING OUR WAY THAT WE HAVE HAD TO BE VERY GOOD STEWARDS ABOUT.
AND WE ARE LEARNING, UM, AS WE GO, CERTAINLY.
AND, UH, OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN WITH THE GLO AND ELSEWHERE ARE REMINDING US OF WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AND AGAIN, BE GOOD STEWARDS.
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MY NARRATIVE ADDS TO THIS DISCUSSION, I JUST WANT US TO BE CAUTIONED, UH, TO BE, TO, TO BE CAUTIOUS, UM, THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE ATTENTIVE AND VIGILANT.BUT I THANK YOU 'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT MUCH OF WHAT YOU'VE SAID.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE? OKAY, MR. VICE CHAIR, IF, UH, JUST A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
'CAUSE I HAVE SAT NEXT TO DIRECTOR EMAIL FOR QUITE A, QUITE A WHILE, AND I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK HER.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFICULT, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST ALLUDED, THIS IS A VERY, UH, DIFFICULT JOB.
UH, WE'RE DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, HUGE BUDGETS AND, AND THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FACTIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ALL THESE DECISIONS MAKING.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, UH, DIRECTOR EMO AND I WILL SIT HERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND SAY ALMOST THE EXACT OPPOSITE THINGS.
AND SHE DOES IT WITH, UH, GRACE, UH, PROFESSIONALISM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK, PUBLICLY THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT, UH, HAS ALWAYS, UH, CONTINUED TO OPEN THE DIALOGUE EVEN WHEN WE'VE HAD DIFFERENCES OF OPINION PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY.
UH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY A KEY IN GOVERNMENT AND SOMETHING THAT, UH, HOPE THAT, UM, EVERYONE AROUND THIS, UH, HORSESHOE WILL, UH, TAKE WITH, UH, YOU AS AN EXAMPLE FROM DIRECTOR EMO, THAT EVEN WHEN TIMES WERE TOUGH AND PEOPLE DISAGREED, SHE CONTINUED TO KEEP THAT DIALOGUE OPEN AND PROFESSIONAL.
AND I THINK THAT'S HOW PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
SO, WISHING YOU, UH, THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO WELCOME MR. DOUG SMITH WHO HAS A QUESTION REGARDING TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
MR. SMITH, CAN YOU PLEASE, UH, TAKE THE MICROPHONE AT ONE OF THE PODIUMS? SURE.
I THINK THERE ARE EIGHT OFFICES HERE IF YOU SHARE.
OKAY, BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF.
UM, BEFORE I START, UH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON DIRECTOR.
DID, DID YOU HIT YOUR MIC, DOUG? I'M SORRY, BUTTON.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK DIRECTOR EMO PROBABLY AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
I'VE HASSLE HASSLED HER MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE OUT OF THE ENTIRE PUBLIC.
AND SHE STILL SMILES AND GREETS ME WHEN SHE COMES INTO THESE MEETINGS AND SHE'S GOING TO BE MISSED, AND I WANTED TO THANK HER FOR THAT.
SO, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND, UH, I GOT SIX PAGES HERE ON THE FIRST TWO PAGES.
UH, I SHOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, THAT, UH, WENT TO S IN, UH, 2021, AND AT THE BOTTOM IT SHOWS $176 MILLION.
AND ON THE, ON PAGE THREE, THAT'S ON PAGE TWO, ON PAGE THREE, THERE'S ANOTHER $20 MILLION THAT WENT TO THREE 80 AGREEMENTS.
THEN ON PAGE FOUR IS THE CALCULATION USING PROP H AND PROP ONE, SHOWING THE ALLOWABLE PROPERTY TAXES TO BE COLLECTED IN THE NEW BUDGET IS 1.279 BILLION.
AND THEN ON PAGE FIVE, THE PROPERTY TAX AMOUNT, AND I'VE CIRCLED ALL THESE AND PUT ASTERISK THIS PROPERTY TAX AMOUNT, UH, IN THE NEW BUDGET IS 1.204 BILLION.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE TOURS AND THREE 80 AGREEMENTS ARE REFLECTED IN THE PROPERTY TAX THAT'S ALLOWED TO BE COLLECTED.
ARE, ARE THEY IN THE ALLOWABLE AMOUNT AND THEN TAKEN OUT TO BE PAID, OR, I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS.
AND REGARDING THE, UH, PROP ONE AND PROP H CALCULATION, UH, THIS SHOWS FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THE NEW STATE LAW, UH, LIMITED TAX INCREASES TO 3.5%, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CALCULATION, UH, TO SEE WHERE WE STAND AND HOW, UH, WHICH ONE WE'RE ACTUALLY USING.
AND ALSO IN THE BUDGET, UH, THEY, UH, DID NOT HAVE THE NO NEW TAX CALCULATION BECAUSE THEY SAID THE STATE HAD NOT PROVIDED THE FORMS. AND I WAS WONDERING IF THAT CALCULATION HAS BEEN DONE NOW FOR THIS YEAR.
AND FINALLY, UH, ON PAGE SIX, CONTINUED DEBT CONTINUE.
ON PAGE SIX, I LISTED THE, UH, WESTCHASE DISTRICT, UH, THE THREE 80 DISTRICT.
AND THEY HAD HUGE PLANS IN THEIR, UH, WHEN THIS DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013, AND THEY WERE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE $445 MILLION OVER THE
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LIFE OF THE AGREEMENT.AND YET LAST YEAR, IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE SIX, UH, THEY ONLY RECEIVED $500,000.
SO I'M NOT SURE, THEY ALSO HADN'T COMPLETED SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY SHOW ON THEIR, PRIMARILY THE SEVEN ACRE PARK, UH, IN WEST EIGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT FOR $25 MILLION.
AND LAST, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT PAGES ONE AND TWO, AND I CIRCLED THREE TOURIST DISTRICTS THAT ACCUMULATED $60 MILLION WORTH OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING UPTOWN, MEMORIAL CITY AND UPPER KIRBY.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE RICH GETTING RICHER AND THE REST OF THE CITY STRUGGLING.
SO I, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, I THINK, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT FAIR.
UH, DIRECTOR, ANY RESPONSE OR I CAN ONLY RESPONSE WHAT IS, UM, WITHOUT CALCULATORS AND GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS.
SO IF YOU DO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, I PROBABLY WOULD ASK YOU TO PUT THAT IN WRITING SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH THE THIRD PARTY INFORMATIONS ACT REQUEST, THAT WAY WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU, UM, UH, PROPERLY.
UM, BUT QUICKLY LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT, UM, ON PAGE FOUR, I THINK YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT WHY THERE'S A 4.5% VERSUS THE C PPA POPULATIONS.
AGAIN, THE PROP ONE IS BASED ON THE LOWER OFF.
UM, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UM, THE 1.279 IS THE LOWER OFF CALCULATIONS BASED ON THE CPI PLUS POPULATIONS.
THE 4.5% THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO IS ACTUALLY THE 1.376 MIL, UH, MILLION BILLION IN HERE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE TOOK THE LOWER OFF, WHICH IS THE 1.279.
WHAT ABOUT THE STATE LIMIT? UH, WITH THE NEW STATE LAW OF 3.5%? WHERE IS THAT CALCULATION? THE STATE? SO IT, YOU ARE RIGHT.
SO IT IS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW TO INCLUDE THOSE CALCULATIONS IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 22 CALCULATIONS.
SO ONCE IT'S DONE, THEN YOU WILL SEE THAT ATTACHED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 22 OR FISCAL YEAR 23 MAY BE THE PRIOR YEAR CALCULATIONS.
BUT ONCE IT'S DONE, THEN WE WILL INCLUDE THAT IN THE, IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
UM, I CANNOT INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE, THE DETAIL OF THAT FORM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE INFORMATION FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT'S.
UM, SO GOING BACK TO THE
UM, SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU HAVE THE C INCREMENT, YOU DEDUCT THE CITY ADMIN FEES.
UH, AND THE INCREMENT THAT THAT IS A DUE TO, TO THE TURS IS AS STATED IN HERE.
SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROP ONE CALCULATION, IT IS BASED ON THE NET TAXABLE VALUE.
SO THE TURS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROP ONE BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE NET TAXABLE VALUES FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE, UM, THE SETTING OF THE TAX RATE, WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH DURING THE TRUTH AND TAXATIONS SOMETIMES IN SEPTEMBER.
AND DOUG, IF YOU WANT TO SEND MY OFFICE OR THE MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE, ALL THE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER TODAY, WE'LL GET THOSE ANSWERS BACK TO YOU PROMPTLY.
CAN, CAN I JUST POINT OUT ONE THING THAT I FORGOT TO POINT OUT IN THE TOURISM CALCULATION, THE CITY TUTES HOW TOURISM MONEY GOES TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEY TOOK IN $176 MILLION AND A GRAND TOTAL OF $3 MILLION WENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THAT REALLY IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET, UH, COMPARED TO THE NEEDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBACH.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE, UH, THE STATE SETS THESE TURS UP AND I BELIEVE IT'S FOR, UH, UH, THE STATE SAYS, TALKS ABOUT BLIGHTED COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO TRY TO REDUCE THOSE.
SO AFTER MAYOR TURNER GOT IN THE OFFICE, HE, HE, HE GOT THE, SOME OF THE TOURISTS TO, TO GIVE MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND, UH, THE BEST I REMEMBER THAT, THAT HELPED US TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
HAS THAT HAPPENED, UH, SINCE THEN ON A REPEATED BASIS OR JUST A ONE TIME? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE UNI MUNICIPAL SURFACE FEES? YES.
SO WE DO HAVE THE MUNICIPAL SURFACE FEES IN THE JOHN FUND.
WOULD, WOULD IT, WOULD YOU SAY THAT, THAT IT'S SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF FIRE EEMS AND POLICE? THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, IS THAT, THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR
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FIRE EMS AND POLICE.WHEN YOU SAY ABOUT THE COST OF FIRE, UM, IS IT FIRE POLICE AND EMS FIRE, FIRE, ALL THREE OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HPD, THE, THE HFD AND THE EMS? NO, DEFINITELY NOT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE COST, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, UM, THE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THE COST OF POLICE AND FIRE ALONE IS ALREADY OVER A BILLION DOLLAR.
AND SO, UM, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
AND THEN, SO THE REVENUES YOU GOT FROM THE MUNICIPAL SURFACE FEES, UH, AND, AND THAT VARIES, RIGHT? EVERY SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I DON'T HAVE IT, IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IS IT ABOUT $20 MILLION PER YEAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I I KNOW THAT, THAT I HAVE POSED THIS QUESTION MANY TIMES AND Y'ALL HAVE ANSWERED IT MANY TIMES, AND THAT IS DURING THE BILL WHITE ADMINISTRATION, WE PASSED THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, EXCLUSION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COLLECT MORE MONEY.
I, I STILL THINK WE'RE CALCULATING IT WRONG, JUST SO I'LL BE ON THE RECORD FOR THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT WAS A PASSED TO, TO HELP, UH, US TO PAY FOR FIRING POLICE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? WILL DIRECTOR EMO UH, FROM CITY COUNCIL? I WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
UH, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL, UM, VERY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, VERY WELL PREPARED.
UM, AND YOU BREAK DOWN A LOT OF COMPLEX ISSUES FOR US AND A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND RECEIVE IT.
UH, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, WE WILL MISS YOU HERE AT THE CITY.
I'M SURE, UH, YOU WON'T BE FAR AWAY.
UM, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
UM, IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB TO BE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA.
UM, BUT YOU HAVE REPRESENTED US EXTREMELY WELL AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS.
UM, I'M SO PROUD OF MY DEPARTMENT AND, AND I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE DOING WHAT I DO WITHOUT THE, UM, SUPPORT AND ALL OF THOSE, UM, UM, KEY EXPERTS I HAVE IN MY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING MR. WILL JONES.
I HAVE MELISSA KY, IF YOU ALL HEARD, UM, ARE REEFER SHEEN.
OF COURSE JERRY ADAMS IS LEAVING TOO.
UH, BUT I'M BLESSED TO HAVE THAT AND SO I'M ALSO BLESSED THAT NOW THE NEXT, UM, INTERIM WILL BE WILL JONES.
AND SO HE IS VERY, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE CITY AS WELL.
SO, UH, I'M SURE HE WOULD, HE WOULD PROVIDE, UM, THE SAME OR EVEN MORE, UH, FROM WHAT I HAD GIVEN YOU TODAY.
AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON AUGUST 2ND, 2022 AT 10:00 AM THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.