[FY 2024 Budget Workshop: Finance]
[00:00:20]
OKAY.AND AGAIN, ON, ON, I ALSO APPRECIATE RECOGNIZING THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR.
SO I DO EXPECT FOR US TO, UM, THIS YEAR IS JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE MEASURING, WHY WE'RE MEASURING IT, AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, AND SO IT'S GOING TO, IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME GROWING IN THAT AREA.
AND ALSO AS WE, UM, MATURE IN OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, IN ORDER TO, UH, MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF, UH, REVIEW WILL REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT,
SO, UH, I DO LIKE THE CONVERSATIONS, UH, AROUND IT.
AND I GUESS WHILE IT'S WAITING, I CAN AT LEAST DO MY ORG CHART AND INTRODUCE THE TEAM.
UM, SO I'LL BE WAITING FOR THE PRESENTATION TO LOAD UP.
I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, MY, MY EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT'S HERE.
UM, SO I HAVE MY, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WILLIAM BRYANT, UM, SHEILA MURPHY.
SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE'S OVER OUR BUSINESS OFFICE.
UM, YOU'VE ALREADY MET ESE WHO'S OVER THE FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS.
MELISSA DEBOWSKI, WHO'S OVER THE TREASURY AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.
YOU ALL KNOW JADA GREENFIELD OVER PROCUREMENT, UM, ARE, RASHID REEF IS OVER OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING AND OPERATIONS.
UH, YOU ALL KNOW VENITA JONES, UM, WHO'S OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AND YOU ALL KNOW JESSE BOUNDS AS WELL, WHO'S OVER AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT.
IF YOU CAN JUST GO TO SLIDE FIVE.
SO AGAIN, ONE OF THE, UH, THE KEY CHANGES SINCE I'M THE FIRST DEPARTMENT, I'LL KIND OF WALK THROUGH, WHAT YOU'LL SEE THAT'S DIFFERENT TO FOR THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE ALIGNMENT AND HOW MY DEPARTMENT ALIGNS WITH THAT.
UM, SO THE PRIORITY AT 98%, I MEAN, NOT SURPRISINGLY, IS SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
AND THEN WITH 4% BEING RESILIENT HOUSTON.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE MY PROGRAMS THAT FALL UNDER SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND THEN UNDER THE KEY INITIATIVES, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THE KEY INITIATIVES THAT'S IN THE MAYOR'S STRATEGIC GUIDANCE, UM, THAT I ALIGN TO IN MY DEPARTMENT, IS TO PROMOTE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOME-BASED BUDGET, UH, OP E, UM, OPEN FINANCE AND, UH, FEDERAL FUNDING AND COMPLIANCE.
AND I'M, I WAS GLAD MAYOR PROM TOUCHED ON THE OPEN FINANCE 'CAUSE THAT IS A NEW TOOL THIS YEAR WHERE CITIZENS COUNCIL CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE BUDGET DATA OF DIFFERENT CHARTS AND GRAPHS THAT SHOWS, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THE BUDGET CAN BE BROKEN DOWN.
UM, AND AGAIN, OUTCOME-BASED BUDGET, THIS IS GONNA BE OUR FIRST YEAR.
UM, THAT, AND I KEEP SAYING THAT 'CAUSE I WANNA SET EXPECTATIONS, AND THAT AS YOU TALK TO THE DEPARTMENTS, JUST UNDERSTAND WE, THIS IS A A IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING.
UM, WE KIND OF IMPLEMENTED IT AS WE WENT.
SO SOME OF THE PROCESS YOU'LL SEE NEXT YEAR MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
AND AGAIN, THE CITIZEN SURVEY, 'CAUSE I HEARD WHAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW CITIZENS WILL BE INVOLVED, THAT THE SURVEY NEXT YEAR WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
UM, I THINK IN THE SURVEY THAT, THAT WE DID THIS YEAR, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED WAS, HOW DO CITIZENS WANT TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE BUDGET? UM, AND SO AGAIN, WE, WE, I ANTICIPATE WE WILL ONLY EXPAND THAT AS WE GO.
AND I HEARD SOME GOOD POINTS, UH, ON, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND TARGETS.
UM, SO YEAH, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THOSE TARGETS THAT IS DEFINITELY GONNA NEED SOME WORK.
UM, SO WE DO WELCOME THE QUESTIONS, BUT JUST UNDERSTAND THIS IS
[00:05:01]
THE TIME WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO LEVEL SET HOW THIS WILL BE, AND WE WILL FINE TUNE IT AS WE GO.SO AS YOU SEE THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS, UM, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF IT.
UM, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, YOU'LL SEE THE EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE A LISTING OF ALL OF MY PROGRAMS, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THEM IN DETAIL.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE, UM, HOW IT COMPARES TO LAST YEAR.
SO OVERALL, MY BUDGET FOR FY 24 30 1 MILLION, WHICH IS, UH, AN INCREASE OF 2.4% COMPARED TO THE FY 23 BUDGET.
AND AS YOU SCROLL DOWN AND YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAM, THE CHANGES BETWEEN THE PROGRAM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE I JUST WANNA PREPARE, YOU'LL SEE SOME PRETTY BIG CHANGES BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS AS YOU LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE DONE THIS.
SO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAD, WE REALIGNED IN 24, SO YOU'LL SEE SOME PRETTY BIG SWINGS IN BETWEEN, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS A 2.4%.
SO AGAIN, WE ARE TRYING TO LEVEL SET AND, AND SET THE BASELINE FOR WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU WILL PROBABLY NOTICE SOME BIG CHANGES IN BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, UH, IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE, THE, THE CHANGE OVERALL FOR THE YEAR.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S, I HAVE A TOTAL OF, UH, 190.9 FTES.
SO, UH, WHAT I'LL DO IS TO GO THROUGH EACH OF MY PROGRAMS AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THAT.
SO THE FIRST PROGRAM I WANT TO DISCUSS IS THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THIS IS THE DIRECTS OF FINANCIAL REPORTING OPERATIONS, INTERNAL CONTROLS, COST ANALYSIS, CAPITAL, FIXED ASSETS, TRUST FUNDS, MANAGEMENTS, AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.
SO WE ACTUALLY HANDLE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR, FOR 10 DEPARTMENTS, ACCOUNTS, PAYABLES, AND RECEIVABLES FOR 10 DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THIS WITH EVERY PROGRAM.
IT DOES INCLUDE, UH, THE, THE MUNICIPAL PAY INCREASES AND AGAIN, ALIGNING, UH, THE FTES WITH THE OBB.
AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THIS PROGRAM, A GENERAL FUND AND THE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND FOR A TOTAL OF 9 MILLION.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WE HAVE HERE.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COLLECTION RATE FOR EMS, UM, COLLECTION RATE FOR VENDOR MANAGEMENT REVENUES AND COST PER INVOICE, UM, AND INVOICES, PAYMENTS PROCESS WITHIN PAYMENT TERMS. SO STARTING OUT, THIS IS WHERE, WHERE WE THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO START FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE FOR COLLECTIONS, THEY GOT A TARGET OF, UH, 43%, AND THAT'S THE MANAGE THE REVENUE STREAM AND MAXIMIZE REVENUE COLLECTIONS.
UH, COLLECTION RATE FOR VENDOR MANAGEMENT REVENUES, 35%, MANAGE THE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT IS TO MANAGE THE REVENUE STREAM AND MAXIMIZE REVENUE COLLECTIONS, UH, COST PER INVOICE, UM, AND THEN INVOICE, UH, INVOICES PROCESS WITHIN PAYMENT TERMS. SO A LOT OF, SOME, SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES YOU WILL SEE WILL BE OUTPUT.
UM, AND, AND TO ME THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU MISS WHAT, HOW MUCH OF SOMETHING DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO DO.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THE, THE FTES THAT TIE TO THAT, IT DOES MAKE SENSE THAT YOU SEE HOW MUCH OF SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO, BUT ALSO EFFICIENCY MEASURES ARE IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, HOW WELL ARE WE DOING THEM.
UM, SO YOU, YOU SHOULD SEE A MIX OF THAT BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
AND AGAIN, UH, WE'RE LEARNING AS WE GO.
SO, UH, WE DO WELCOME THE, THE, THE FEEDBACK AND INPUT, BUT I THINK THERE, THERE SHOULD BE A MIX OF THAT TO REALLY GET A GOOD IDEA OF, OF, OF THE PERFORMANCE.
AND SO I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT PROGRAM, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS AND KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR DEPARTMENTS TO FOLLOW ME.
YOU WILL SEE THIS PROGRAM IN PROBABLY JUST ABOUT EVERY DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ESSENTIALLY SOME OF THE OVERHEAD COSTS, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXECUTIVE SUPPORT, THE, UH, THE IT COSTS, UH, SOME OF THE HR COSTS.
AND WE PURPOSELY PUT ALL OF THESE TYPE OF COSTS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THOSE SERVICES SUPPORT ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. UH, RIGHT NOW, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A, UH, A, A A SYSTEM THAT COULD ACTUALLY GO AHEAD AND ALLOCATE THOSE PROGRAMS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE COST, UH, BY PROGRAM.
SO WE WANTED TO CAPTURE THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AS A SEPARATE PROGRAM.
SO AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO FOR MY DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, THIS TIES TO SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ABOUT 3.7 FTES, AND IT'S ALL IN GENERAL FUND.
AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AGAIN, IN WHICH MY OFFICE, THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE FALLS UNDER THE PERFORMANCE MANAGER I HAVE OF MYSELF IS HOW, HOW ACCURATELY AM I MANAGING MY BUDGET? UM, AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THE EXPENDITURE VER VERSUS BUDGET, UM, UTILIZATION.
SO FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THEY EXPECT TO SEE THAT FOR MOST DEPARTMENTS, AND AGAIN, ON THE REVENUES THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND SO WITH THE EXPENDITURE, YOU SEE, THE TARGET SHOWS 98%, MEANING THAT I'M NOT SPENDING ALL OF MY BUDGET AND THAT THERE IS SOME, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCY BUILT IN THERE.
SO THAT IS THE TARGET, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE ALL, HOPEFULLY ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT IT'S 98%.
AND OF COURSE, ON THE REVENUE A HUNDRED PERCENT, I WANNA MAKE SURE WHATEVER REVENUE WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE, THAT WE RECEIVE AT LEAST A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT, IF NOT MORE.
[00:10:01]
AGAIN, UH, LEVEL SETTING FOR WHICH YOU'LL SEE FOLLOWING ME, THAT'LL BE A PROGRAM FOR JUST ABOUT ALL DEPARTMENTS.AND THEN, UH, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DEBT MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS RUN BY MELISSA DEBOWSKI.
AND THIS IS, UH, AGAIN, FOR OUR, OUR CIP, UM, WE WORK WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS IN DEVELOPING THAT.
UM, MAINTAIN ASSET REPLACEMENT MODELS, MAINTAIN ASSET REPLACEMENT MODEL FOR FLEET.
AND IT, UM, AND AGAIN, THAT DOES INCLUDE THE, UM, THE MUNICIPAL PAY RAISES.
AND AGAIN, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THIS PROGRAM, GENERAL FUND, AND WE DO HAVE SOME IN THE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND, AND THEN SOME OF THE PROGRAM MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WE HAVE, THERE IS, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME FINANCIAL POLICY SET THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MEASURE OURSELVES AGAINST THAT, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE CIP APPROVED BY COUNCIL BEFORE THE END OF THE, THE FISCAL YEAR.
UH, SO THAT IS THE WAY WE WANT TO MEASURE OURSELF, ENSURE SUBMISSION OF THE, UH, FOR THE THREE ACTUARIAL EVALUATION REPORTS TO THE PENSION BOARD REVIEW, UM, WHICH IS A, A DATE THAT WE HAVE TO MEET FOR THAT, UM, TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE STATUTE AND TO REVIEW ALL OUTSTANDING DEBT ANNUALLY FOR, UH, PURPOSES OF IDENTIFYING REFUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE, WE REVIEW ALL OF THE FOUR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES.
ALL OF THAT HAPPENS UNDER MELISSA DEBOWSKI.
AND THEN OF COURSE, AGAIN, IN THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, UH, WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEBT SERVICE EXPENDITURES AS THE PERCENT OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE MONITOR ANNUALLY.
UM, SO THAT'S THE CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRAM.
UH, SO NEXT WE HAVE THE CITYWIDE PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS RUN BY JEDI, GREENFIELD, YOU ALL KNOW.
UM, SO I DO WANNA SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND SOME OF THE, ESPECIALLY THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS ONE.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE A SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AS A PRIORITY 67 FTES.
IT'S FUNDED MAJORITY IN GENERAL FUND SEVEN, FUND FOUR, WE GOT ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 8.9 MILLION.
AND OF COURSE, THIS HANDLES THE CITYWIDE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
SO THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES HERE, UH, ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THE FIRST ONE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE DAYS TO COMPLETE FORMAL INVITATIONS TO BID.
UM, SO WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IN OUR FY 23 ESTIMATE, IT SHOWS 247 DAYS, CLOSE TO EIGHT MONTHS.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID, UH, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, FY 23, IS WE WILL UNDERWENT A PROCUREMENT RESTRUCTURE.
AND, UM, PART OF THAT IS FOR US TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AS THIS RESTRUCTURE THAT THAT TIME EIGHT MONTHS IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE, UM, TO GET A ITB BID OUT.
SO THE TARGET WE HAVE NOW IS TO GO FROM EIGHT MONTHS TO FOUR MONTHS, SO 120 DAYS.
UM, SO AGAIN, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT FOR, FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO ME TO RESTRUCTURE THE PROCUREMENT, THAT, THAT WE ACTUALLY SEE THE RESULTS AND WE SEE A DECREASE IN THE TIME THAT IT TAKES.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT PERFORMANCE MEASURE, AVERAGE DAYS TO COMPLETE FORMAL BEST VALUE BIDS.
UM, AND AS YOU SEE THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO 12 MONTHS.
UM, AND WE KNOW THAT'S TOO LONG.
AND SO WITH THE RESTRUCTURE THAT WE DID, WE'RE LOOKING AT CUTTING THAT IN HALF TO SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND AN AVERAGE DAY IS TO COMPLETE DIRECT AWARD PROCUREMENTS FROM, UH, PROJECT ACCEPTANCE TO COUNCIL AWARD GOING FROM 89 DAYS TO 45 DAYS.
SO WE HAVE SOME PRETTY AMBITIOUS GOALS IN THE PROCUREMENT, UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO REPORTING ON THAT AS WE GO.
JED HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF STEPPING IN AS THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER AND IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES.
SO AGAIN, UM, AS PART OF THE OUTCOME-BASED BUDGET, WE WANNA HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
THE NEXT ONE, WE HAVE DISASTER RECOVERY.
UM, THIS IS, AGAIN, IT'S RUN BY ARIF RASHID, 5.5 MILLION.
SO THIS PRIORITY ACTUALLY TIES TO RESILIENT.
HOUSTON OVERSEES DISASTER RECOVERY FOR CITY OWNED ASSETS.
UM, THIS INCLUDES MANAGING AND REPORTING OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS.
UM, IT'S ABOUT 736,000 THERE FOR, UM, FUNDED OUT OUT THE GENERAL FUND.
AND WHAT WE LOOK AT IS WHEN WE GET A NEW DISASTER, IDENTIFY AND SUBMIT DAMAGE TO CITY ASSETS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DISASTERS RECOVERY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE OF OUR TARGET THAT 60 DAYS THAT WE MEET THAT, AND THEN A NUMBER OF PROJECT WORKSHEETS CLOSE OUT REQUEST SUBMITTED TO THE STATE WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
AND OKAY, THE NEXT, UH, PERFORMANCE OR PROGRAM WE HAVE IS ENERGY MANAGEMENT.
AND AGAIN, THIS ONE IS TIED TO RESILIENT HOUSTON, ABOUT 2.3 FTES.
AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, YOU WILL ALSO SEE IT IN THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
FOR FINANCE, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT, OUR NATURAL GAS CONTRACT.
UM, AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN A HUNDRED PERCENT RENEWABLE.
UM, SO YOU'LL SEE THERE AGAIN, THE TARGET IS A HUNDRED PERCENT, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THIS YEAR, UM, AND THE AMOUNT OF UTILITY REBATES RECEIVED FOR ENERGY PROJECTS.
SO WE'RE AIMING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REBATES WE RECEIVE, UH, FOR ENERGY RELATED ENERGY EFFICIENCY RELATED PROJECTS.
AND THEN, UM, THE NEXT ONE IS MORE OF JUST A A, AN OUTPUT, JUST IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW HOW MUCH, UH, CONSUMPTION, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, SO WE LOOK AT MEGAWATTS HOURS BY ONE, UH, YEAH, 1.2 MILLION
[00:15:01]
MONITORING, UH, TO AVERAGE PROGRESS TOWARDS OPTIMIZING BUILDING ENERGY USE.SO I I, AND THE REASON WHY I SAY SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IMPORTANT SHOW OUTPUT, BECAUSE WE CAN AT LEAST SEE WHERE WE ARE.
AND THE GOAL IS HOPEFULLY WE CAN START REDUCING SOME OF OUR, OUR CONSUMPTION, UH, BASED ON ENERGY EFFICIENCIES.
OF COURSE, WE, WE WOULD GROW AS, YOU KNOW, CITY FACILITIES GROW.
BUT AS WE, OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE OUR, OUR FOOTPRINT AND OUR CONSUMPTION.
UM, AND THEN TREE PLANTING GOAL, WHICH MAY SEEM OUTTA PLACE HERE ON OUR ENERGY.
BUT IN OUR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT, WE DO HAVE A GOAL OF PLANTING A HUNDRED, YEAH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND TREES PLANTED BY 2024, UM, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING 80,000, UH, THIS YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE DID 20,000 IS OUR ESTIMATE.
UM, SO AGAIN, THAT'LL ALSO, YOU'LL SEE A SIMILAR, UH, PROGRAM, I'M SURE LIKE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN, UM, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES IS THE NEXT PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO IT'S ABOUT 16.1 FTES.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WILLIAM BRYAN OVERSEES THIS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, TOTAL FUNDING ABOUT 2.7 MILLION 869,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND, ABOUT 1.8 MILLION.
SO THIS IS A, A IMPORTANT ONE.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THERE ARE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS WHERE AS FINANCE, WE ACTUALLY, UM, MAINTAIN THEIR FINANCIAL OPERATIONS.
THEY, THEIR CFO ESSENTIALLY REPORTS UP THROUGH FINANCE.
UM, SO THAT INCLUDES, RIGHT NOW THE, THE IT DEPARTMENT INCLUDES THE FLEET DEPARTMENT, INCLUDES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND EVEN CITY COUNCIL AS VENITA ACTUALLY HANDLES YOUR BUDGET.
UM, AND SO THIS, AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF CLIENT DEPARTMENT SUPPORTED, AGAIN, IT'S AN OUTPUT, UM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WITH THE FTES THAT WE HAVE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE MANAGING.
AND I DID PUT A TARGET OF, OF, RIGHT NOW IT'S FOUR.
AGAIN, IT COMES TO THAT LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FINANCE CONSOLIDATIONS, UH, CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND SEE WHERE IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO GROW THIS, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
AND I DO EXPECT OVER TIME IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, UM, AS WE, AS IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO, UH, MANAGE THE FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS.
AND WHEN WE DO THAT, IT'S A VERY CLOSE, UH, OP OPERATION WHERE WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE SLA AGREEMENTS ON THINGS THAT WE WILL PROVIDE TO THEM.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO WANNA MONITOR HOW WELL WE'RE DOING THAT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE SENDING OUT, UH, SURVEYS.
AND FROM THE RESULTS OF THOSE SURVEYS, WE CAN DETERMINE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, THE FINANCIAL PLANNING AND BUDGETARY SERVICES, AGAIN, THIS IS OUR FP AND A, THEY HANDLE THE CITYWIDE BUDGET.
UM, THEY ALSO HANDLE THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTING AND THE AD HOC ANALYSIS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 18.5 FTES IN THERE.
UM, AND THEN WE INCLUDED THREE ADDITIONAL FTES AS A RESULT OF THE LEGAL, UH, FINANCE CONSOLIDATION.
SO IN, IN 23, WE DID CONSOLIDATE THE LEGAL FINANCE.
SO NOW, UH, WE HANDLE THEIR, THEIR BUDGET FOR THEM.
UM, AND SO IT'S ABOUT, AND IT'S ALL GONNA GENERAL FUND ABOUT 3 MILLION.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE MEASURING HERE, SINCE WE'RE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITYWIDE BUDGET REPORTING, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE, THE BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL UTILIZATION.
AND AGAIN, WE AIM TO NOT EXCEED OUR BUDGET AND HAVE EFFICIENCIES BUILT IN THERE TO WHERE WE COME IN UNDER THE BUDGET.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A TARGET OF 98%.
AND AGAIN, ON THE REVENUE CITYWIDE, NOT JUST FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, MAKING SURE THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE AND HOPEFULLY MORE, UH, WITH OUR CONSERVATIVE BUDGET AND SALES TAX.
UM, AND THEN ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, UH, AND THIS IS THE, THE PROGRAM WHERE WE REALLY CLOSELY MONITOR THAT EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT AND AIM TO INCREASE, UH, THAT FUND BALANCE ABOVE THE 7.5%.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL MEASURE OURSELF AGAINST AS WELL.
AND THAT'S THE FINANCIAL PLANNING AND BUDGETARY.
UM, AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
AGAIN, THAT'S A REEF RASHID'S PROGRAM, ABOUT 7.2 FTES.
UM, AND THIS IS TASKED WITH DIRECTING AND MONITORING GRANT ACQUISITIONS, MANAGEMENTS AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES, UH, TO BE USED BY ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS PRIMARILY A JOURNAL FUND FUNDED, AND, AND ABOUT 77,000 IS OUT OF THE REVOLVING FUND FOR A TOTAL OF 957.
AND ONE OF THE MEASURES WE HAVE HERE, AUDIT FINDINGS.
I KNOW ZERO MAY SEEM LIKE A, A, A, YOU KNOW, STRANGE TARGET, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AUDIT YOU ALL, YOU ALWAYS WANNA HAVE ZERO.
UM, AND WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM THERE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN, IN 23 AND 24, SO FAR, WE, WE ARE, ARE MEETING THAT AND THEN COMPLETING, UPLOAD SINGLE AUDIT REPORT TO THE FEDERAL, UH, AUDIT CLEARING HOUSE WITHIN 30 CALENDAR DAYS.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT TARGET IS AT 30 DAYS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.
AND THE NUMBER OF GRANTS PLACED IN CLOSING STATUS IN SAP, AND WE SAY 160.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE, WE, THAT'S ONCE WE MAKE SURE WE MAXIMIZE ALL OF THE, THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO US AND GET THOSE GRANTS CLOSED OUT SO IT'S NOT LINGERING.
SO, UM, THOSE, THAT'S THAT PROGRAM.
[00:20:01]
AND THEN, UH, OF COURSE WE HAVE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT, UH, WHICH IS THREE FTES.AGAIN, SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IS ONLY IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S JESSE BOUNDS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, UH, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT.
UH, SO, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY, UH, IMPORTANT PROGRAM AS WELL.
UM, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE WORK THAT JESSE'S DONE WITH THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WEBSITE AND THE DETAILS ON HOW WE'RE TRACKING THAT, UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT PROGRAM.
THERE ARE OTHER INITIATIVES, UH, THAT JESSE HAS A LOT OF INPUT IN THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO WE DO WANNA MEASURE THE CLIENT SATISFACTION RATING.
UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS NUMBER OF IN-HOUSE CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS UP TO 24, WHERE WE CAN GO AND MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND SEE WHERE, UH, JESSE AND HIS TEAM CAN BE IMPACTFUL IN BRINGING EFFICIENCIES.
AND THEN THE NUMBER OF LEAN SIX SIGMA GREEN BELT CERTIFIED, UH, HAVE A TARGET OF GETTING TO SIX AGAIN, ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU GET THOSE, UH, THE, THE DEPARTMENTS TRAINED, AND THE MORE LEAN SIX SIGMA, THE MORE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO DO THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TREASURY, AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, RUN BY MELISSA DEBOWSKI IS 3.3 FTES, A TOTAL GENERAL FUND OF 1.8 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY MA UH, MANAGES OUR PROPERTY TAX.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THE PROP ONE CALCULATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SALES TAX CALCULATIONS, UM, THAT PERFORM THE ANNUAL TRUTH IN TAXATION AND SETTING OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE RESEARCH, ANALYZE AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS, PROPOSED TAX LAWS.
UH, SO THEY DO A LOT WITH JUST 3.3 FTES.
SO SOME OF THE MEASURES WE HAVE, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX, UH, PROJECTIONS AND ANALYSIS.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO HOW WELL WE'RE ACTUALLY PROJECTING.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A VARIANCE, UH, OF 2% WITHIN WHAT WE SAY THE BUDGET WILL BE AND WHERE THE ACTUALS WILL LAND TO KIND OF GAUGE OUR, UH, EFFICIENCY THAT IT ACTUALLY PROJECTING.
'CAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT 23 AND 2023, YOU SEE IT'S ABOUT 15.5%.
AGAIN, THAT WAS THE RESULT OF COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SEEING, UH, GROWTH, UNEXPECTED GROWTH FROM WHERE WE PLANNED THE BUDGET.
WE LIKE TO TRY AND BE AS CLOSE AS WE CAN.
AND THEN THE VARIANCE OF THE PROPERTY TAX BUDGET WHERE WE SHOW, UH, 0%.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE BUDGETING AT THE CAP.
SO THERE, WE, WE AIM TO NOT HAVE ANY VARIANCE THERE.
AND THEN SALES TAX BUDGET, AGAIN, IF A VARIANCE ARE TARGET 7.6%, WHICH IS REASONABLE COMPARED TO, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW LARGE OF A VARIANCE WE'VE SEEN IN THE SALES TAX COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I THINK I SHOWED A HUNDRED MILLION AND, UM, 22 AND THEN 85,000,023 FROM WHAT WE BUDGETED.
UM, SO IT IS A CHALLENGE TO TRY AND GET A VERY ACCURATE PROPERTY TAX, UH, I MEAN, UH, SALES TAX PROJECTION, BUT WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES TO BE WITHIN A VARIANCE OF 7.6% OF THE, THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL.
AND SO THAT, THOSE ARE MY PROGRAMS AND THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I'LL GO THROUGH EXPENDITURES BY FUND.
UM, SO YOU'LL SEE, UH, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, MY PROPOSED BUDGET IS 31.2 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 2.4%.
UH, PRIMARILY MY BUDGET IS IN GENERAL FUND WITH 23 MILLION AND ANOTHER 7.8 MILLION IN THE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND.
UM, AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL, UM, THE GENERAL FUND, MY BUDGET OF 23 MILLION, 18 MILLION OF THAT IS PERSONNEL OR 77%.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND, UH, 93% OF MY BUDGET IS PERSONNEL.
AND THEN, UH, I'LL MOVE ON TO THE REVENUE BY PROGRAM.
UM, AGAIN, I KNOW IT DOESN'T SHOW ON THE SLIDE RIGHT THERE, BUT, UH, LOOKING AT, AGAIN, THE REVENUE IS INCREASED BY 3.3%, GOING FROM, UH, AN ESTIMATE OF 2.2, UH, ZERO 4 BILLION TO 2.278, UH, BILLION.
AND REALLY THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE SALES TAX WILL BE JUST LOOKING AT, SINCE WE DO MANAGE THE, THE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX.
SO THE MAJORITY OF MY, THE REVENUE YOU'LL SEE IS RELATED TO THE PROPERTY.
SO WHILE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION AS YOU LOOK AT OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
SO THE REVENUE FOR THAT SHOWS IN, UH, MY PROGRAM, THE TREASURY, BUT ESSENTIALLY THAT'S THE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO 2.2 BILLION, UH, IS THERE FOR THE, THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, 2 MILLION IS WHAT I SHOW IN THE REVENUE FOR THE REVOLVING FUND.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, THAT'S NOT REALLY REVENUE, IT'S JUST A REIMBURSEMENT 'CAUSE IT'S A, A CHARGEBACK FUND.
UM, AND THEN ON THE REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS, I ALREADY TOUCHED BASED ON THAT IN THE FIVE YEAR AS WE LOOK AT THE, UH, PROPERTY TAX INCREASING BY 7.65%.
AND THEN, UH, OF COURSE ON THE SALES TAX, WE DECREASED BY 3%.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, FIRST QUESTION.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM, AND THANK YOU WILL.
[00:25:01]
THIS IS GREAT.THIS IS GREAT HOW YOU KEEP TRACK OF ALL THIS STUFF.
UH, THE 13 PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE HIRED IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
YOU'RE ALREADY HIRING SOMEONE.
WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED.
JARED HAS, IS PUSHING WAY TO GO PROCUREMENT, FULL STEAM AHEAD, JET.
YOU GUYS DON'T HANDLE THE PUBLIC WORKS PROCUREMENT, CORRECT? YOU DO HANDLE WE DO.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, NOT JUST THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET TO COUNCIL, BUT THEN THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET, BUT I'LL, I'LL SAY THAT FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE TIME IT GETS TO GET TO WORK.
UM, BUT REALLY, REALLY THANK YOU ON THAT.
UM, GET SHORTENING UP THAT TIME PERIOD THAT'S LIKE WAY TOO LONG.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA NOT WANNA DO, DO BUSINESS HERE.
UM, ALL ON THE, YOUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT, SO THAT'S A LITTLE HARDER.
BUT WHERE YOU DO FACE THE PUBLIC IS IN THE PROCUREMENT.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR GOALS THERE.
AND ALSO, UM, WHERE I THINK THAT WE COULD, WHERE I'VE KIND OF ALWAYS BEEN FRUSTRATED, AND I KNOW YOU'RE JUST DOING GRANTS MANAGEMENT, I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE DOING COMPLIANCE, BUT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE MORE EMPHASIS ON GETTING PEOPLE INFORMATION AND DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION ABOUT GRANTS.
I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE HAPHAZARD HOW WE FIND OUT ABOUT GRANTS.
SOMEBODY WILL SEND ME A COMPOSTING GRANT AND I'LL SEND IT TO PUBLIC TO SOLID WASTE AND, YOU KNOW, UM, MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON A NUMBER OF GRANTS WE'RE GETTING INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT GETTING ANY FINDINGS OR WHATEVER.
LIKE HOW MANY GRANTS ARE WE SEEKING? HOW MANY NEW GRANTS ARE WE SEEKING? UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHERE WE CAN BUMP UP THE NUMBER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PERFORMANCE MEASURE.
AND I DON'T, DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE BANDWIDTH WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT TO REALLY DO THAT PROACTIVE WORK.
I KNOW IT FALLS TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO KIND OF FIND THEIR GRANTS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
BUT THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND REALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THE OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING.
UH, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT KEEPS US KIND OF, UH, FOCUSED ON, ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, SO THANK YOU.
OH, ON MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE OPEP, YOU'D BE HIRING SOMEBODY FOR OPEP.
DO YOU, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTING CONTRACTS DOES THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOW? I KNOW WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WITH, UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHO, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF SUPPLEMENTAL HELP DO, DOES THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE, I THINK, WITH OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME CONSULTING HELP WITH, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SALES TAX, UM, BECAUSE TRYING TO DO THOSE PROJECTIONS THAT WE, WE LIKE TO HAVE EXPERTS TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY AND, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S DRIVING IT AND, AND WHERE WE EXPECT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT TO GO.
BUT A LOT OF OUR, OUR MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FALLS UNDER OUR, OUR, UH, FINANCIAL REPORTING AND OPERATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNAL CONTROLS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE COLLECTIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE A BIG NUMBER, SORRY, CHAIR.
IT'S LIKE $50,000 OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MAYBE I'M, DON'T YOU USE LIKE MASTER VISORS AND ALL THAT? RIGHT.
AND I THINK I'M MIXING, UM, ALL CONSULTING
SO SOME OF THE, WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE OUR AUDITING AND, UH, AND NOT JUST, UH, MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, BUT OKAY.
SO IT'S JUST ON ANOTHER THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDE 12 WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT, YES.
WE SEE THE, THE LAST LINE IS THE TREE PLANNING INITIATIVE.
UM, AND SO THE, THE TARGET GOAL IS 80,000 TREES PLANTED.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS A TREE PLANTING GOAL AND HOW THAT RIGHT.
TIES IN WITH YEAH, NO, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND THE ONLY REASON YOU SEE THAT THERE IS BECAUSE WE MANAGE THE, UH, THE ELECTRICITY CONTRACT.
AND WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE MADE THAT DEAL ON THAT CONTRACT, THERE WAS SOME, UH, INCENTIVES THAT, UH, NRG WOULD PLANT, WHAT IS IT? A HUNDRED THOUSAND TREES.
SO SINCE THAT FALLS UNDER US TO MANAGE THAT CONTRACT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
THIS IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHAT YOU'LL SEE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE A MUCH, UH, THAT THEY REALLY HANDLE THE TREE PLANNING.
THIS IS JUST THAT PORTION THAT TIES TO THE CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE INCENTIVE THAT WE WERE PROMISED.
DIRECTOR JONES, ON, ON YOUR WORKFORCE ANALYSIS.
PAGE 27, IS IT MISSING A HEADING OR, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO READ THIS CORRECTLY.
UH, WORKFORCE ANALYSIS AS OF, UH, 4 24.
UH, YEAH, SO, SO IS THAT THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS, BUT IT'S NOT HEADED.
OH, IS THAT RIGHT? MAYBE? OH, NO, I THINK IT'S MEANT TO GO.
[00:30:02]
YEAH, MAYBE I AM MISSING A HEADINGWELL, LET ME, I'LL, I'LL GET THAT UPDATED.
BUT I THINK IT'S TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE SUMMATION, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO YOU HAVE SEVEN AND NINE IS 16 AND 42 AND 66 1 0 8.
SO JUST GIVE ME THE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THOSE TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ARE THAT HAVE THE HEADINGS CORRECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR JONES.
WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
I'LL START WITH MS. DIANA AGAIN.
UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE FINANCE PORTAL.
IT WAS A REALLY COOL TOOL TO BE LOOKING THROUGH.
UM, WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE RECORDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE COULD NOT FIND VENDOR NAME, VENDOR ID AND OR CONTRACT ID FOR CLOSE TO 9% OF THE 23 CHECKBOOK RECORDS.
THAT'S ABOUT $23 MILLION NOT PROPERLY RECORDED.
I'M ASKING, UH, WILL YOU COMMIT TO ENSURING ALL ENTRIES ARE REGISTERED PROPERLY FOR THE 2024 BUDGET BY POLICE STAFF IN ORDER TO ENSURE PROPER ACCOUNTING? OKAY, THAT'S, THIS IS A WORKSHOP RELATED TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
IF YOU WOULD SEND ME THAT IN WRITING, I WILL TAKE THAT UP WITH THE IT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT WHO CONTROLS THAT SIDE OF IT, OR POLICE, WHICH IS AT THREE O'CLOCK TODAY.
SO IF, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING RELATED TO FINANCE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, WE'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS.
UM, I GUESS I WILL ASK, DID YOUR DEPARTMENT INCUR ANY LATE FEES, LATE PAYMENT FEES THIS YEAR? I DON'T KNOW IF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, YES.
UM, SO LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE VIDEO OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, INCURRING LATE PAYMENT FEES DUE TO SHORT STAFF.
UM, SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS YEAR OR THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK ON ACCOUNTS PAYABLE? PROBABLY.
I DON'T, I, I'M ASSUMING I'M HERE SEEING, LOOKING AT MS. DIRECTOR JONES, AND I DON'T SEE THAT THERE IS AN AFFIRMATION TO THAT, SO.
UM, PARIS, I JUST WANNA SAY I'M REALLY PROUD OF US AS A CITY FOR INCREASING THE DISASTER COST RECOVERY MANAGEMENT, UM, AND ESPECIALLY WITH HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHING.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE LAKEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY THAT'S BEEN CLOSED SINCE HARVEY.
UM, I'M ALSO WONDERING WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM SAID FUND? AND HOW COULD A CITIZEN ADVOCATE FOR A PUBLIC ASSET, UM, TO RECEIVE FUNDS SUCH AS ROADS, SCHOOLS, BUS STOP COVERS, ET CETERA? SO, ONCE AGAIN, SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, GIMME YOUR FIRST QUESTION AGAIN ON THE, UM, UH, THE FIRST QUESTION WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE WERE PLANS TO USE ANY OF THE DISASTER COST RECOVERY FUNDS FOR THE, UM, LAKEWOOD LIBRARY, LAKEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY? SO, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LIBRARY.
WHAT DISTRICT IS IT IN? UM, I COULD GIVE THAT AN ANSWER AT A SEPARATE TIME.
SO WHEN WE GET TO PARKS AND RECREATION, THAT'S WHERE COMMUNITY, UM, PROJECTS LIKE THAT COME ABOUT.
SO THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO ASK IT.
OR YOU HAVE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WILL BE ASKING THAT QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ALLOCATED IN CIP, WHICH ISN'T WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW OR IN ANY OTHER TYPE OF INITIATIVE.
NO, THERE'S NOTHING ALLOCATED IN CIP, BUT THE, THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT'S HAPPENING WITH, UM, A PROJECT OFF OF TIT WELL, UM, BRADY'S LANDING.
UM, WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE TIT WELL, UM, LIBRARY, BUT THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY OVER TO THIS COMPLEX.
AND I'M ADVOCATING TO GET THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY, UM, REMODELED.
I KNOW IT FLOODED, FLOODED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
AND SO MY, UM, UM, ACTUALLY ARGUMENT TO PUBLIC WORKS AND TO, UM, THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT IS THAT IF WE ADDRESS THE FLOODING IN THE AREA, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE LIBRARY UP.
SO THAT'S CONVERSATIONS THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT IT'S NOT IN THE CIP.
SO MY ERA, UH, LIBRARIES IS AT TWO O'CLOCK NEXT.
SO I WROTE THAT QUESTION DOWN, AND I WILL ASK THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES IF THERE'S ANY MONEY FOR THE LAKEWOOD LIBRARY
[00:35:01]
IN DISTRICT B, CORRECT.EITHER IN CIP OR IN THIS BUDGET.
UM, YEAH, THAT WAS JUST, UM, IS THERE A WAY FOR CITIZENS TO ADVOCATE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC ASSETS, UM, RECEIVING DISASTER COST RECOVERY FUNDS, SUCH AS LIKE PUBLIC ROADS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED? UM, CITY BUS COVERS AND BENCHES, UM, AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR CITIZENS TO HOW WE COULD ADVOCATE FOR ADVOCATE THESE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE USE ON A DAILY BASIS.
I WOULD, IF YOU FIND A BUS COVER THAT NEEDS REPAIR OR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS REPAIR, WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THAT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I WOULD CHANNEL THAT THROUGH YOUR PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND YOU HAD ANOTHER ONE, I THINK YOU HAD A THIRD ONE I REMEMBER, RIGHT? UM, I DO, I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED IT, BUT IT WAS, UM, JUST WHAT KIND OF EQUITY ASSESSMENTS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET CREATION PROCESS? WHAT KIND OF EQUITY, AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME, SO NOT BAD.
UH, WHAT KIND OF EQUITY ASSESSMENTS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET CREATION PROCESS? EQUITY ASSESSMENTS? I DON'T THINK EVERYTHING
I THINK EQUITY COMES INTO PLAY IN A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO WITHIN THE MAYOR'S, UH, INITIATIVE.
I MEAN, MAYOR TURNER IS VERY MUCH INTO, UM, MAKING SURE THAT, I MEAN, PART OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES IS ABOUT EQUITY, PART OF THE PARKS INITIATIVES AND RECREATIONS INITIATIVES ABOUT EQUITY.
PART OF THE, A LEAF COMMUNITY CENTER WAS ALL ABOUT EQUITY.
I THINK EQUITY COMES INTO PLAY IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
UH, WHETHER IT'S THIS BUDGET OR PREVIOUS BUDGETS, WHETHER IT'S PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE DRAWING BOARD TODAY OR FUTURE PROJECTS.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED WITHIN THE BUDGET, THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF DOLLARS.
THE PERCENTAGE EXPENDITURES WENT UP IN THE MAYOR'S, UH, COMPLETE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
SO THAT'S PARTICULARLY ABOUT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THAT'S ABOUT EQUITY.
SO I WOULD SAY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, UH, HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN ADDRESSING YOUR QUESTION ON EQUITY, UH, AND DISTRIBUTION OF MONEY WITHIN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT MOST NEEDED.
WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE FIRST, FROM THE FOLKS IN THE NORTHEAST SECTION ABOUT OPEN DITCHES.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF O OPEN DITCHES IN, IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH BELT ELLINGTON AREA, WHICH HAS BEEN, IS AN UNDERSERVED AREA THAT WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS FOR.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE AGAIN THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL RECEIVE COUNCIL, UH, DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT THEY CAN USE AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR COUNCIL PERSON AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR OPINION IS SHARED WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL TO USE SOME OF THOSE COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVANTS FUNDS FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE, WHETHER THEY'RE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THEY'RE BUS COVERS, WHETHER THEY'RE OPEN DITCHES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE IN THIS BUDGET THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MONEY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OPEN DITCH PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, AND ALSO THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE EQUITY AND UNDERSERVED AREAS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT DISTRICT, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS, WE, WE ARE GONNA GET AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
I WISH IT WAS MORE, MAYBE THERE'S AN AMENDMENT COMING THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER PROBABLY WILL RECEIVE AN ALLOCATION OF DOLLARS FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
SO I WOULD INVITE YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU GET WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND STRESS YOUR IMPORTANCE.
HEY, YOU MISSED THE FIRST ONE, SO WE GOT YOU FOR THE SECOND ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
THOUGHT, THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT.
QUESTION IS, SO I HEARD CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN, STATING THAT THIS BUDGET RELIES ON 160 MILLION FROM CO FUNDS THAT ARE EXPIRING, AND WE ARE HEADING TOWARD A FISCAL CLIFF.
SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW REVENUE STREAMS IN PLACE? AND, AND ALSO, YES, THE, THE CONVERSATION AROUND EQUITY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED ON E BASED ON EQUITY AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED? YOU KNOW, LIKE THE WEST STREET RECOVERY COMES TO MIND FOR ME, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE DON'T DIVERT FUNDS FROM THESE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US MOST.
SO THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION AND I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL ONE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD.
AND THANK YOU MA'AM FOR COMING FORWARD WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.
[00:40:01]
IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION RIGHT NOW.UH, I THINK THE MAYOR, HE EXPLAINED EARLIER THAT EVEN WITHOUT THE ARPA DOLLARS TO FEDERAL DOLLARS, THAT WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THOSE ARPA DOLLARS DID GO A LONG WAYS TO HELPING, UH, PUT US IN A POSITION TO HAVE A, A MUCH HIGHER FUND BALANCE THAN I THINK ONE OF THE HIGHEST FUND BALANCES IN RECENT HISTORY.
WHAT THAT DOES IS ENSURE THAT OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT IS HEALTHY FOR THE YEARS AHEAD, THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAY, UH, BE AHEAD.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL STATE, I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE OVERALL, THINKING THAT WE JUST CAME OUT OF A PANDEMIC.
WE'VE HAD SEVEN NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE, IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH, TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE OF $400 MILLION, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH WITH OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW, MAYBE EVEN INCREASE IT BASED ON THE SALES TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES THAT MAY COME IN WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, EQUITY.
I THINK, UH, ALL OF US SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REPRESENTED, ALL NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE CERTAIN RESOURCES.
I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT FORTH THAT AS A PRI PRIORITY.
UM, AND, BUT WE'RE GOING INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION, RIGHT? SO, UH, YOU ALL, AS THE VOTERS WILL HAVE A, UM, DECISION TO MAKE IN NOVEMBER ON WHO SITS UP HERE, AND THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND, AND LOOK AT THIS ADMINISTRATION FOR CARRYING THE BALL THIS FAR AND IT'D BE THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER.
SO MS. KELLE, DID YOU, UM, SEE THE FIRST PRESENTATION ON THE FIVE YEAR TREND? I DID.
SO IT, IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK, UH, I'LL DOVETAIL ON, ON COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S COMMENTS IS THAT, SO IN, IN CITY ORDINANCE WE'RE REQUIRED TO HOLD 7.5% IN WHAT WE CALL FUND BALANCE.
UH, THAT'S ABOUT ROUGH NUMBERS, $200 MILLION.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER $400 MILLION IN THAT.
SO THE REQUIRED 7.5 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $220 MILLION IS SITTING THERE.
THE REASON WHY THAT'S GOOD IS WE'RE GOING TO THE CREDIT RATE IN AGENCIES AND THERE ARE STANDARD IMPORTS, FITCH AND, UM, WHAT'S STANDARD PORT'S, FITCH AND MISSING ONE.
MOODY'S, GOD, I CAN MISS THEM.
AND, UM, THEY DO OUR CREDIT RATING, WHICH AFFECTS OUR, OUR, OUR DEBT THAT WE TAKE OUT.
AND THEN WHEN WE GO TO THE MARKET, SO YOU SAW TODAY IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAD I THINK FOUR ITEMS RELATED TO, UH, SOME DEBT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOME SHORT TERM TO, AND THEN SOME LONG TERM THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO TO NEW YORK, I THINK IT'S IN JUNE OR JULY WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO A MASSIVE, UM, ISSUANCE OF, UH, OF DEBT PAPER.
SO WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE IS AS INTEREST RATES GO UP, MM-HMM
WE INCUR WHEN WE GO TO ISSUING THOSE, IN THIS CASE, IT'S GONNA BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS FOR THE AIRPORT.
THEY LOOK AT OUR CREDIT RATING.
THAT'S PARAMOUNT TO US MAKING SURE THAT WE MANAGE THE BUSINESS IN A FISCAL RESPONSIBLE WAY.
AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE 400 AND SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS IN THE TWO 20 OVER THE 7.5, THE CREDIT RATE AND AGENCIES ARE PROBABLY GOOD, LOOK VERY STRONGLY AT US.
AND I WILL STATE ALSO THAT EVERY STATE, EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS, ARPA DOLLARS, EVERYONE HARRIS COUNTY DID, CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, ET CETERA.
UH, THE WAY WE USED OUR APA FUNDS WERE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE.
WE WERE ABLE TO USE IT BECAUSE WE WERE INCURRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OVERTIME ON POLICE BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENT ACTIVITY THAT WE SAW DURING COVD.
THINGS, YOU KNOW, WERE HAPPENING THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT.
SO INSTEAD OF IN LIEU OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, WE WERE ABLE TO USE ARPA DOLLARS, WHICH BUILT UP OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SITTING AT 400 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.
I THINK WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF HANDLING THAT TO ANTICIPATE THE BUILDUP.
I THINK IF YOU SAW IN, UH, WILL JONES' PROJECTIONS, WE GO NEGATIVE IN 20 FISCAL YEAR 26, I'M SORRY, POSSIBLY, POSSIBLY IF WE DO NOTHING.
BUT THEN YOU MENTIONED ALSO REVENUE STREAMS AND I'LL THROW IN EXPENSE REDUCTIONS.
[00:45:01]
ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT A NEW COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT.COME BUDGET SEASON, FISCAL YEAR 25, ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS YOU CAN BRING IN ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSE CUTS YOU CAN DO.
AND THAT'S IN ANTICIPATION OF FISCAL YEAR 26 WHEN THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING NEGATIVE, YOU JUST LEAVE THINGS AND THEY RUN ACCORDING.
NOW WE TOOK A VERY CONSERVATIVE, I SAY EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE, LOOK AT OUR SALES TAX REVENUE.
THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE A POSITIVE LOOK AT THAT AND GO, UHOH, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.
I I WORK WITH HIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND I IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE DO, WE WORK WITH WILL JONES AND HIS STAFF EACH AND EVERY DAY.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM.
THEY'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE, THEY'RE SMART, THEY DO AN ABSOLUTELY HARD JOB AND THEY MAKE IT LOOK EASY.
AND I'M SURE WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS SITTING IN THIS CHAIR DRIVING BFA, THEY'LL HAVE THE SAME THINGS TO BE TO SAY ABOUT THAT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THEM.
AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THAT DEPARTMENT DO A DARN GOOD JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
SO THAT WAS A LONG ANSWER TO A SHORT QUESTION, SO I'LL APOLOGIZE, BUT, UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
HOPE YOU STAY FOR THE OTHER CAN ASK MORE QUICK.
YOU WERE A GOOD PARTICIPANT LAST YEAR, CAN ASK.
JUST IF YOU, IF WE DO SEE HIGHER SALES TAX REVENUES THAN ESTIMATED AGAIN THIS YEAR, IS THERE A PROCESS TO SHIFT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR TO ALLOCATE SURPLUS REVENUES RECEIVED TO DEPARTMENTS LIKE HOUSING THAT HAVE LONG, LONG, OUTSTANDING NEEDS? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAD DOUG SMITH, BUT HE'S NOT HERE.
DOUG, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, I HOPE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER.
SHE MISS AMANDA, SHE GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT YES, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE OPEN FINANCE DATA PORTAL AND I DO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UH, I'M A DATA PERSON MYSELF AND, UM, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET THOSE THINGS CLEANED UP.
UM, SO I WAS HAPPY IT WAS RELEASED THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I'LL PROBABLY HAVE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR THAT LATER ON, UH, JUST AS I KEEP LOOKING AT THE DATA.
UM, SO OVER THE YEARS, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULE BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED CIP THROUGH PLAN HOUSTON AND JUST THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND ALSO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS FUNDED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOLLARS.
SO, UM, THIS, SINCE THIS BUDGET PROCESS INVOLVED GENERAL FUNDS, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, IS OVER 40% OF WHAT MAKES UP THE BUDGET, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TOWARDS MORE ACCESSIBLE PROCESSES FOR THOSE PUNS.
AND THAT'S A, WHEN WE SUM THIS UP ON MAY 31ST, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING IN A LOT OF THOSE COMMENTS AFTER WE GO THROUGH INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS AFTER WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
UM, AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION JUST REFERRING TO THE PRESENTATION BEFORE, WHAT IS THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND? THAT IS OUR RAINY DAY FUND.
AND THEN, UM, YES, I THINK THAT'S MY QUESTIONS.
WHERE WAS THAT? WHAT PAGE? IT WAS 20 MILLION, RIGHT? YES.
OH, AND I ALSO APPRECIATED THE NEW FORMAT.
UM, I THINK, UH, IT IN TERMS OF JUST THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND HIGHLIGHTING THE FTES, SO, AND, AND ALL OF THAT.
AND WE WORKED HARD ON THAT, UH, THAT FINANCE TOOL, THAT TRANSPARENCY TOOL.
WE STARTED THAT WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN 2018, 1919 THAT, UH, I CO-AUTHORED WITH CONTROLLER CHRIS BROWN.
WE SAW A PRESENTATION OF A FIRM THAT DID IT IN LOS ANGELES AND WE REALLY LIKED IT.
WE WANTED TO TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT.
SO IT TOOK US A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET IT DONE.
BUT, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON IT AND I INVITE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
OUR LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER, MS. TAHIRA RAZA, NOT HERE.
[00:50:01]
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AS ALWAYS, DIRECTOR JONES, GREAT JOB.WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A MOMENT TO TRANSITION INTO THE BETTER FORMAT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT THAT LAKEWOOD LIBRARY.