[Press Conference: "Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget"]
[00:00:19]
I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO JOIN ME AND I'M OVER SILENCE TO, UH, HONOR REVEREND LAWSON WHO PASSED THIS MORNING.
REVEREND LAWSON IS AN ICON AMONG ICONS.
HE IS ONE OF THE REASONS OUR CITY IS SO GREAT.
HE HELPED US DURING THE PERIOD OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, LIKE PROBABLY NO OTHER INDIVIDUAL IN THE COUNTRY.
'CAUSE HOUSTON BENEFITED FROM HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS CHARACTER, AND UH, IT SADDENS US.
BUT IT KNOW GOD DOESN'T ALLOW US TO CHOOSE WHEN WE LOSE A LOVED ONE, BUT HE DOES ALLOW US TO CELEBRATE THEIR LIVES.
SO I'M CERTAIN IN THE COMING DAYS ALL OF HOUSTON WILL JOIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE THIS GREAT MEN'S LIFE.
OUR CONDOLENCES GO TO THE LAWSONS FAMILY AND THE WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY.
SO IF YOU WOULD, UH, JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, I GUESS IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THIS MORNING.
I WONDER BEFORE I GET, MAKE CERTAIN, I RECOGNIZE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THIS, UH, THIS CITY OWES YOU DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER A THING THAT I SAY THIS MORNING, IN FACT I HAD A SCRIPT, BUT I DON'T NEED A SCRIPT TO ADDRESS THIS BUDGET.
I'M GONNA LEAVE SOME OF THE DETAILS TO MELISSA, THE RAW NUMBERS, BUT I'M GONNA CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 2025 BUDGET.
BUT IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE I'LL SAY THIS MORNING, I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS AWAY BECAUSE IT'S ACCURATE AND PROBABLY REFUTES A LOT OF WHAT I HEARD IN THE PRESS THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET DRESSED WHEN YOU'RE THE MAYOR AND YOU'RE HEARING IT'S GONNA HAPPEN THIS WAY, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN THIS WAY.
I JUST WISH OCCASIONALLY PEOPLE JUST ASK ME BECAUSE THIS BUDGET WILL NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES.
THE 2025 BUDGET WILL NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES AND IT WILL NOT REDUC REDUCE SERVICES.
IN FACT, I'M GONNA DOCUMENT IN A MOMENT, IT'S IMPROVING SERVICES.
SO I WANT EVERYONE ALSO TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS SWORN IN AT 1201 ON JANUARY 1ST THAT WE WERE $160 MILLION SHORT OF NECESSARY REVENUE, SHORT OF WHAT THE CITY BRINGS IN VERSUS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HOUSTONIANS FOR THEIR SERVICES AND THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY.
$160 MILLION SHORTFALL, WHICH I INHERITED MY ADMINISTRATION.
YOU SAY, WELL HOW ARE WE INTRODUCING A BUDGET THIS MORNING THAT DOESN'T RAISE REVENUE BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA USE THE MONIES LEFT IN THE GENERAL FUND IN 2022.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOT 4 62 0.01 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTENDED IT TO BE FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES.
IT WAS TO PLAY CATCH UP WITH YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOUR FUTURE.
BUT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAS SPENT ARPA MONEY TO BALANCE THE BOOKS AND THAT'S WHAT I INHERITED ON JANUARY ONE.
THIS BUDGET WILL REFLECT MY COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON WHEN I WAS A
[00:05:01]
CANDIDATE.MY HIGHEST PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE BUDGET PLACES HUGE ATTENTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
OF THE $3 BILLION THAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND IN GENERAL FUNDS, 68% OF IT GOES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FIRING POLICE OUTTA THE TOTAL BUDGET OF SEVEN, OF 6.7 BILLION, 7% BEING INCREASED PRIMARILY FOR SALARIES AND MAINTENANCE.
BUT THE BUDGET ADDRESSES MY MY COMMITMENTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITY FINANCES.
SO LEMME WALK YOU THROUGH HOW WE GET TO A BUDGET THAT I THINK IS RESPONSIBLE AND PROTECTS OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND HOUSTONIANS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE IMPROVEMENT IN CITY SERVICES SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE MONTHS AND I WASN'T PREPARED TO RAISE TAXES OR CUT SERVICES IN THE SHORT FIVE MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
IF WE COULD POSSIBLY DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY, WORKING WITH MY TEAM, WORKING MELISSA, GETTING THE EXPERIENCE FOR MY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER SINCE JANUARY.
WATER PLAN THAT IS REDUCING THE CALLS TO 3 1 1 RESPONSE TIME TO HOUSTONIANS HAS IMPROVED.
SOLID WASTE IS PICKING UP GARBAGE AND RECYCLING ON THE SAME DATE, FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS.
THE PERMITTING CENTER IS DOING A TURNAROUND OR PERMITS IN BETTER TIMEFRAME.
YOU MIGHT SAY FOR EXAMPLE, HOW SOLID WASTE DOING BETTER IN IMPROVED SERVICE.
WE HAVEN'T RAISED TAXES, WE HAVEN'T DONE DEALT WITH A GARBAGE FEE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY'RE RECRUITING FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY'RE RECRUITING THEIR NEIGHBORS.
THE VACANCY RATE WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IN SOLID WASTE WAS 27% VACANCY.
THAT'S THE REASON SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE TWO WEEKS OR MORE FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR RECYCLING PICKED UP.
FRIDAY MORNING, I'LL BE AT THEIR SHOP AT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO LET THEM KNOW FIRST OF ALL THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEGOTIATION WITH CITY EMPLOYEES, WHICH WE WON'T FORGET.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ALLOW US TO MEET HERE TODAY.
IMPROVED MORALE, THE PUBLIC NOTICES IT AND THEN THE HOME RUN SINCE I TOOK OFFICE IS COLLABORATION.
I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY TALKING ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WE'VE ESTABLISHED WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THREE COMMISSIONERS WHO TOLD ME THEY SHARE THE COST.
WE REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE IN THEIR PRECINCT.
BRIAN HELPING US WITH THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER PUBLIC FACILITY IN MEMORIAL PARK THAT WILL SERVE COUNTY AND CITY EMPLOYEES.
ADRIAN GARCIA, LONGTIME FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE IS ASSISTING US IN IN HIS PRECINCT AND TOM RAMSEY TALKING ABOUT WORKING AND COLLABORATING, HAS TOLD ME THAT HE WILL SHARE THE COST OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN HIS PRECINCT 50 50.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD IN 25 WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, WE'RE GONNA DO MORE COLLABORATION.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES.
LEMME EXPAND ON THAT COLLABORATION.
THE CITY WAS GONNA SPEND 11 MILLION WHEN I WAS SWORN IN RELOCATING THE MONTROSE LIBRARY CURRENTLY SINCE AN ICONIC
[00:10:02]
HISTORICAL BUILDING THAT BELONGS TO ST.A DEAL HAD BEEN CUT THAT FEW KNEW ABOUT TO MOVE TO METRO, THE THE MONTROSE LIBRARY OVER ON WESTHEIMER, VERY CLOSE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ON THE SECOND STORY, THIRD STORY OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING BEHIND THE HAMBURGER JOINT.
WHEN I SAW, WHEN I SAW IT, I SAID, NO, NOT ON MY WATCH THE TURS, THEY'RE GONNA SPEND 11 MILLION REDOING MOST.
WE'RE TALKING TO LEGACY CLINIC ABOUT A DRIVE THROUGH PHARMACY OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THAT LOCATION.
THE MEMORIAL CITY TURS IS GONNA BUILD US A NEW FIRE STATION TO REPLACE THE WORNER IN
WE BROKE GROUND THE OTHER DAY AT WEST.
THEY'RE GONNA ASSIST US IN OUR STREETS, INFORMED US THEY HAVES TO HELP US.
WE'RE GONNA DO A BE AND IN HOUSTON.
AND IF YOU DRIVE AROUND HOUSTON, OUR FREEWAYS AND MANY OF OUR ROADS HAVE NOT BEEN MAINTAINED FROM A APPEARANCE.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND OF COURSE THE LAND OFFICE.
JOHNNY MATA, WHEN WE, HE WAS HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TALKING ABOUT A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY SAID IT WAS HISTORIC TO HAVE A STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN OFFICIAL APPEAR AT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE GONNA GET ADDITIONAL PROCEEDS FROM HUD THROUGH THE OFFICE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THINGS ARE IN PLACE TO GET THROUGH 2025 WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
WELL, LET ME ALSO TELL YOU ABOUT THE CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE SERIOUS CHALLENGES.
AND I TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CONDITION DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
I ACTUALLY SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN WE DIDN'T KNOW THE TRUE STATE OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AND WE'RE STILL LEARNING ON A DAILY BASIS WHERE WE CAN HAVE SAVINGS EFFICIENCIES.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ELIMINATING WASTE AS I STAND HERE AND TALK TO YOU.
YOU KNOW THE PREVIOUS MAYOR AT THE HORSESHOE, I'M WATCHING TV AS A CANDIDATE, SAYS THAT THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT AND THE COST ARE UNSUSTAINABLE.
BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT TO THE NEXT MAYOR.
OKAY? WE ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
WHAT I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO HELP USE 2025 AS A PATHWAY TO 2026, WE'RE GONNA PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE EXCEPT PROBABLY POLLARD'S PARK METER,
WE'RE GONNA LISTEN TO HOUSTON IS WE'RE GONNA SEE WHERE THE COST SAVINGS HAVE GOTTEN US AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.
PUBLIC SAFETY BEING NUMBER ONE, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE POLICE OFFICERS A NEW CONTRACT IN A YEAR.
WE RELY ON OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
LEMME EXPOUND ON THE FIREFIGHTERS.
WHEN I GOT SWORN IN ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, AS I'VE MENTIONED, WE WERE $160 MILLION SHORT OF NEEDED REVENUE.
IT WAS BEING COVERED BY ARTHUR.
SO IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF A FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT, I WANT YOU TO REALIZE, AND I WANT PRESSED TO REPEAT, WE HAD A $60 MILLION SHORTFALL IN JANUARY.
WE'RE COVERING THAT WITH THE LAST OF THE APA FUNDS.
THE LAST OF THE ARPA FUNDS, WHICH WE GOT IN 2022 TO BALANCE THIS YEAR'S BOOKS.
THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE SCHEDULED TO GO TO TRIAL IN MARCH.
THE HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER ADVISORS WAS SAYING IT WAS GONNA BE 800 OVER BILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE JUST ON THEIR BACK.
COURTS HAVE BEEN VERY FAVORABLE ACROSS THE STATE TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DO TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS, GIVE AND TAKE MEDIATION.
[00:15:01]
SIX 50 MILLION WAS THE PROPER AMOUNT.LOOKING OUT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE TAXPAYERS.
SOME HAVE POLITICIZED IT, SOME RUN IT UP AS HIGH AS THEY CAN TO SCARE THE PUBLIC ACT LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE FISCAL CONSERVATIVES.
THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS ARE THAT THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR EIGHT YEARS.
SO IF YOU ADD UP THE ARREARS OVER EIGHT YEARS AND WHAT YOU'VE GOTTA PAY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH A CONTRACT, IT'S A BIG NUMBER.
IT WOULD BE A BIG NUMBER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS HEALTH OR PARTS, EIGHT YEARS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS FOR IT.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO GET THAT AGREEMENT AND IT IS A SHAME THAT IT'S BEEN POLITICIZED.
ACTUALLY CONDEMNED THE MORNING AFTER FIREFIGHTERS.
WERE SAVING PEOPLE IN KINGWOOD.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR POLITICS WHEN WE'RE WRITING A BUDGET OR PLAY GAMES.
THERE'S A TIME TO CAMPAIGN AND THERE'S TIME TO GO TO WORK.
THE TIME TO WORK IS BEFORE US.
I'M GONNA ASK MELISSA IN A MINUTE, I GO OVER THE RAW NUMBERS.
I THINK I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF WHERE THE CITY OF HOUSTON FINDS ITSELF.
AND LEMME ALSO ADD THIS AS WE GO FORWARD AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR POOLS OF MONEY.
I'M WORKING WITH THE STATE LEADERSHIP AS I THOUGHT THERE IS A REAL STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT AUSTIN IS GONNA GIVE US ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, BUT WE NEED SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
NO ONE TERM PARK WE NEED TO LOOK FOR, WHICH I DID LAST SESSION WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, HOTEL OCCUPANCY PACS, THREE MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION FROM GEORGE BROWN.
$3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
WHAT IF WE DID THAT 10 MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION FROM GEORGE BROWN, BE MONEY TO FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH SHOWS BADLY BEEN NEGLECTED, IT WOULD FREE UP MONEY FOR OUR PERSONNEL.
I'VE BEEN ON CYNIC FINANCE FOR YEARS.
IN 2011 WE WERE 10 BILLION SHORT.
YOU MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, YOU DON'T CRITICIZE IT.
AND ONE THING FOR CERTAIN WITH THIS BUDGET IS THE TRANSPARENCY.
WHAT HAS ANYBODY EVER TOLD HOUSTON HOW UNDERFUNDED WE'VE OPERATED GOING BACK SEVERAL MAYORS PICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH I CAMPAIGNED AGAINST SELLING CITY PROPERTIES TO FUND CITY GOVERNMENT ONGOING OPERATIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ASKING, YOU'RE ASKING ME QUESTIONS.
I'M GONNA LET MELISSA COME UP.
BY THE WAY, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE CHART, WE'RE GROWING LESS IN 25 THAN WE HAVE THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WE'RE BEING PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE AND LIKE I SAID WHEN I STARTED YOU ARM EVERYTHING ELSE, THE BUDGET DOES NOT RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.
IT BILLS PART SUSTAINABLE AND BEYOND PATH TO 26.
WITH THAT SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE TIME NOT TO FIX THINGS.
I INHERITED A MESS ON MANY FRONTS AND IT'S TIME TO GO TO WORK.
MELISSA, WILL YOU COME AND GIVE US SOME RAW DATA THAT, UH, WILL SUPPORT THIS FINE BUDGET? THANK YOU.
I JUST, I WANNA PIGGYBACK ON THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.
I KNOW HE, UH, GAVE ME A COMPLIMENT, BUT IT REALLY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT ALL THE, UM, DEDICATED EMPLOYEE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW A OF THEM ARE TODAY, THEY PUT IN THE LONG HOURS, THE NIGHTS, THE WEEKENDS, UM, AND ALSO OUR PARTNERS AT THE DEPARTMENT, ALL DEPARTMENTS.
UM, IT'S REALLY BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, SO THANK YOU ALL.
SO FOR THE F 25 PROPOSED BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS, LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IS 6.7 BILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF FOUR 42 MILLION OR 7% COMPARED TO THE SY 24 CURRENT BUDGET.
THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET SPECIFICALLY AS PART OF THAT 6.7 BILLION, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS 3 BILLION AND THAT REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 0.1%.
[00:20:02]
AS THE GRAPHIC SHOWS FROM THE FY 24 CURRENT BUDGET, THAT INCREASE IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO PAY INCREASES OF THREE AND HALF PERCENT FOR THE POLICE, WHICH IS THE FINAL YEAR OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT.AND LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH A NEW CONTRACT FOR POLICE IN THE FUTURE.
THE INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, ALSO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRAFT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT'S BEING NEGOTIATED WITH THE FIRE AND RELATED TO THAT DRAFT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
UM, AS WE'VE MENTIONED IN PAST BUDGET AND DISCLOSURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE BUDGETED BASE PAY OF 10% FOR FFY 20.
AND ALTHOUGH THE BASE PAY, IT INCREASES TO THE INDIVID INDIVIDUAL RANKS AND STEPS, IT'S STILL BEING WORKED OUT WITH LOCAL 3 41 AND THAT WILL BE DETAILED OUT IN THE CONTRACT, UH, ONCE IT'S FINALIZED.
FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION, THE FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $10 MILLION FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PAY, LIKE WE DISCUSSED IN THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ANTICIPATED, UH, DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT OF $30.6 MILLION FOR DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT.
AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THE PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY OUT OF THE $3 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET, 1.7 BILLION OR 68% OF THE GENERAL FUND SPENDING EXCLUDING DEBT AND PAY AS YOU GO, IS DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR FIVE POLICE CADET CLASSES AND FIVE CADET CLASSES.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN OUR MUNICIPAL WORKERS AS THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE NOW BEGUN AND ARE ONGOING ON A NEW CONTRACT FOR THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES THAT WILL COVER INCREASES FOR THOSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN ECMA 25 AND BEYOND.
AND WE ARE LOOKING, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, FOR EFFICIENCIES AND COST SAVINGS.
UM, AND AS THE INITIAL STEP OF THOSE, UH, WAYS TO IDENTIFY THOSE COST SAVINGS, WE DID WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, ALL THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR DIRECTORS, UM, TO TALK ABOUT AND WORK WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY WHERE THEY COULD FIND EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS.
UM, THE MAYOR, I THINK HAS SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS.
SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A MORE TARGETED APPROACH THAT, UM, INCREASED EFFICIENCIES BUT DID NOT IMPACT SERVICES.
UH, AND SO THROUGH THOSE INITIAL EFFORTS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, THIS BUDGET INCORPORATES 11.7 MILLION OF DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET REDUCTIONS.
BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
SO YOU'LL SEE IN THE COMING WEEKS, UM, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, WE'LL BE TAKING A BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH AND TAKING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION AND WASTE AND FUND ADDITIONAL WASTE TO REALIZE SAVINGS.
ALL OF THIS IS TO HELP US SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS MORE WISELY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON THE SERVICE DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY MENTIONED.
SO AS WE LOOK FOR THOSE EFFICIENCIES AND COST SAVINGS, THOUGH WE CAN'T DISCOUNT THAT WE ARE UNDER STRICT LIMITATIONS ON OUR REVENUES.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, THIS BUDGET DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ON TOP OF THE PROPOSITION ONE AND H CAP.
UH, AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE, UM, ANY GARBAGE FEES, BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REVENUE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONFRONTS THAT OUR PEERS IN TEXAS DON'T HAVE TO CONTEND WITH.
UH, WE HAVE OUR OWN LOCALLY IMPOSED REVENUE CAP ON TOP OF THE STATE CAP.
WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, NO DEDICATED REVENUE TO SUPPORT SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS AS OTHER CITIES DO.
AND WE HAVE NO GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FROM THE CITY ON UTILITY LIKE MOST OF OUR PEERS.
SO I THINKER MENTIONED IN HIS SPEAKING NOTES THAT ALL THE OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE AND THIS F 25 BUDGET IS BUILDING TOWARDS THE FY 26.
SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING THROUGH DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, TO IDENTIFY ALL THOSE OPTIONS THAT ARE STILL UNSTABLE.
JUST TO SPEAK ON THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CAP, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE OUR OWN LOCAL CAP IN ADDITION TO THE STATE CAP AND THIS BUDGET COMPLIES WITH THAT LOCAL CAP AND THE STATE CAP AS WELL.
BUT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS THE LARGEST FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND COMPROMISES ABOUT 50% OF ALL GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
[00:25:01]
TOUCHING ON THE ARPA UTILIZATION, THE MAYOR, UM, DID COVER THAT ALREADY.UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THROUGH THE, UH, PREVIOUS USE OF ARPA FUNDING, UM, YOU YOU'LL SEE TOMORROW IN MY FIVE YEAR, UM, FORECAST PRESENTATION, UM, THAT WILL BE A SPECIAL CALLED THEA MEETING.
UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT FUND BALANCE AND DRAWING DOWN THAT FUND BALANCE TO CLOSE THE BUDGETARY GAP FOR THIS YEAR.
AS I DID MENTION THE $11.7 MILLION OF EXPENDITURE SAVINGS, BUT LARGELY THE FY 25 BUDGET IS BALANCED BY UH, MAKING A DRAW ON FUND BALANCE.
SO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A PROJECTION FOR THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $280 MILLION, WHICH IS 11.1% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
IT STILL REPRESENTS $91 MILLION ABOVE OUR MINIMUM OF 7.5% AND BRINGS THE FUND BALANCE BACK MORE CLOSELY IN LINE WITH WHERE A FUND BALANCE WAS PRE COVID.
THE BUDGET DOES ALSO FUND THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH REPRESENTS AN ADDITIONAL $25 MILLION.
I THINK THAT THE BUDGET, LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, F 25 IS A PATHWAY TO BUILDING TOWARDS FY 26 AND WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET GAP THAT EXISTED GOING FAR BACK.
AS HE MENTIONED, SEVERAL MAYORS, THE RECURRING REVENUES AND THE RECURRING EXPENDITURES DON'T MATCH DON THE LINE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE DRAWING ON FUND BALANCE TO CLOSE THE FY 25 BUDGETARY GAP.
AND THOSE CHALLENGES ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA CONFRONT IN FISCAL 25 TO BILL TOWARDS FY 26.
LIKE I MENTIONED, UH, THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL CALL BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW TO GO OVER THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST AND UH, I THINK THAT INCLUDES MY, MY SPEAKING POINTS FOR TODAY.
AS DISCUSSED DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OFFICE, WE WANTED TO DO A REVIEW OF EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND WE'LL HAVE ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA PROBABLY NEXT WEEK OR CERTAINLY NEXT WEEK, A CONTRACT WITH ERNST AND YOUNG TO DO A CITYWIDE EFFICIENCY REVIEW.
AND, UH, EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT WILL BE EXAMINED.
FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T BELIEVE EVERY DEPARTMENT NEEDS A PRESS PERSON.
I DON'T THINK EVERY DEPARTMENT NEEDS A GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS PERSON.
IF YOU GET TO THINKING HOW MANY WAYS ARE THERE TO CONTACT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OPERATIONS, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO GO TO JUST ONE CALL CENTER.
SO JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN BEING HERE AND WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE CAN STILL FIND EFFICIENCIES.
OF COURSE, IT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL AS MELISSA REPEATED HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER WHAT THE MAYOR CERTAINLY, UM, IN THE NINETIES, THE REVENUE CAP IS SIGNIFICANT AND THEY PASSED IT AND SENT A BILL TO THE ORIGINAL BILL WITH HOUSTON UNDER THE STATEWIDE REVENUE CAP.
BUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND AUSTIN WERE SUCH AND THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE PUBLIC PASSED THE HOUSTON VERSION.
SO IT ENCOURAGES US TO FIND OUR EFFICIENCIES, OUR COLLABORATIONS AND HAVE 25 BE A PATHWAY TO PREPARE FOR 26.
I'M GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
CAN WE MICROPHONE PEOPLE THAT I, WE'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB, MARY, THAT THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
LAST, THE REVENUE THAT HER AGENCY GETS AND SAID THAT WE NOT METRO MONEY, IT'S NOT THE CITY'S MONEY, IT'S TAXPAYER'S SUBJECT BROUGHT, EXPECT A LARGER CONTRIBUTION OF ONE TAX TO THE
[00:30:02]
CHALLENGING TIMES.UH, REINFORC A GOOD SELECTION.
I MADE BROCK THAT UH, SHE REALIZE THAT MOST OF THE METRO FUNDS ARE RAISED INSIDE THE STATE OF HOUSTON, BUT SHE ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED A RELIABLE, SAFE, AND CLEAN METRO SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST PRIORITY TO MAKE WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO DEPEND ON IN THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
BUT LEMME REINFORCE WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
WE CAN REMEMBER BOB LANIER ADDRESS CITY FINANCES AS FORMER CHAIR OF METRO.
SO I'M NOT PROPOSING THAT THIS MORNING.
I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THE OTHER EFFICIENCIES AND THE COLLABORATIONS THAT ARE MENTIONED.
BUT'S CORRECT THOSE CITY, CITY FUNDS BELONG TO THE PUBLIC AND I THINK THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO USE THEM WISELY.
I KNOW AUSTIN IS WATCHING METRO FUNDS.
METRO HAS SOME VERY AMBITIOUS PLANS THAT UH, I THINK DESERVE REVIEW.
IF BE DID ALL THE THREE PROPOSED BRT ROUTES METRO WOULD BE BROKE, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ASSIST US IN TREAT REPAIRS, DRAINAGE OR OTHER NECESSITIES THAT NOW THEY'RE GONNA PARTNER WITH US.
THE WESTHEIMER ANNOUNCEMENT THE OTHER DAY WAS REALLY PROFOUND THAT THEY'RE GONNA ASSIST THE CITY FROM ONE OF OUR MAJOR TRAFFIC ARTERIES AND THERE'S GONNA BE OTHERS QUITE FRANKLY.
SO, UH, ALL I'M GONNA SAY IS GREG IS, UH, PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS NOT GONNA DO ANY GOOD TO HAVE A CITY WITHOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE DESERVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AT THE EXPENSE OF A TRANSIT SYSTEM.
IT'S GOT A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE BANK THIS MORNING.
DID Y'ALL HEAR? I SAID IT WITH A B.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING CITY WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ADDRESSED, WE WON'T NEED A TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE GONNA NEED A TRANSIT SYSTEM BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
THEY'RE ALREADY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND MY NEIGHBORS RUN OVER AND HIGH FIVE ME BECAUSE THE RECYCLING OF GARBAGE WAS PICKED UP IN THE SAME DAY.
MAKES SOLID WASTE FIRST TIME IN IN YEARS.
THE PERMITTING SYSTEM IS TURNING PERMITS AROUND BROKEN WATER MAINS ARE BEING ADDRESSED QUICKER.
WE'RE GETTING THERE BUT WE'RE NOT THERE.
25 GIVES US A PATHWAY TO GET TO 26 AND I'M GONNA WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND COST SAVINGS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
BUT EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
LITTLE BIT OF A SOURCE SUBJECT, BUT ONE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS WE LOOK NEW SOLUTIONS, UH, OTHER CITIES HAVE CONTRIBUTION FOR NEW HIRES.
IS THAT ON TABLE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT IT? EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, I JUST SAID EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN A PART OF OUR DISCUSSION THUS FAR, MUCH.
BILL, DOES THE INCLUDE MILLION FROM THE RECENT? I'M SORRY, WHAT DOES THE BUDGET INCLUDE AROUND MILLION FROM THE RECENT RULING? NO, MA WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING WITH THOSE LAWYERS.
THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A SETTLEMENT.
YOU, I HAVE A REAL TENDENCY TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW THIS COMES, COMES FROM 50 YEARS IN LEGISLATURE AND TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN MY BEST FRIEND.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH THE DRAIN LAWYERS, THERE'S ON THE TABLE REGARDING THAT, BUT, UH, I CAN TELL YOU IS FOR ME THAT THE LAWYERS CAN MARK AND UH, YOU KNOW, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER, EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
SO THOSE PLAINTIFFS IN THAT LAWSUIT I'VE WORKED WITH PROBABLY BOB JONES 40 YEARS, THEY CARE ABOUT, THEY CARE ABOUT MY ADMINISTRATION.
SO EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS GONNA COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE GREATNESS OF OUR CITY.
BECAUSE LEMME TELL YOU, I YOU AND I KNOW HOW HOUSTON GOES IS HOW THE STATE OF TEXAS IS GONNA GO.
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UNDERSTANDS THAT GREG ABBOTT WAS A DISTRICT JUDGE HERE AND I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF STATE LEADERSHIP.THERE'S JUST BEEN NO RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALL PEOPLE NAMES DURING THE HEATED CAMPAIGN STATION, WHICH WE ALL GO THROUGH, IT'S HARD TO SIT DOWN AND GET THEM TO, TO ASSIST YOU.
WE'VE OVERCOME THAT THIS YEAR.
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, MIKE NICHOLAS, ONE OF THE BEST I'VE MADE IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WAS ALREADY WORKING WITH THE LAND COMMISSION OFFICE AND WE'RE GONNA SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
SO ALL I SAY IS, AND I DON'T ANSWER THE BOTTOM LINE IS, UH, WE'RE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PLAINTIFF ON THE HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? DOING WHAT I LIKE TO DO.
UM, LEMME ASK YOU, YOU TABLE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LIST, BUT, UH, ALL THE ABOVE AND I'M NOT GONNA DO WORK FOR YOU, BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DISCUSSED WAS GONNA INTERFERE.
I THAT WAS AN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU COME TO WITH A REASONABLE PROPOSAL THAT YOU'VE DONE YOUR RESEARCH AND TALK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES, TO CENTRAL HOUSTON AND TO HOUSTON FIRST AND THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE AND THE WORKERS THAT NEED TO PARK.
YOU GOTTA CONSIDER ALL THAT AND WE CAN GET SOMETHING ON.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT GOVERNANCE, UH, PROP A PASSED THREE MEMBERS, CAN ANY OF THOSE ITEMS THAT, THAT YOU WANT ME TO LIST ANY CAN BRING ME THOSE PROPOSALS? AND I WOULDN'T BE SHOCKED IF THEY DID.
THESE MEMBERS CARE ABOUT HOUSTON TREMENDOUSLY.
YOU ARE SMART CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE,
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS ALL THE ABOVE.
THERE MAY BE ITEMS THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD SUGGESTIONS OF WE'RE GONNA FIX AND HAVE A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PICTURE.
THE ONLY REASON I RAN, YOU KNOW, THINGS WERE WORKING WELL, I WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN A RACE.
I'D BE IN THE STATE SENATE TODAY, BUT I AND HOUSTONIANS WERE CONCERNED THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH SPEND BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.
ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT, THAT NOW WE'RE FINDING FOR NOT VIABLE, THEY'RE NOT FINANCED.
SO ANYWAY, I'M NOT GIVING YOU A SHORT ANSWER.
AND UM, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC HAVE TO GO TO WORK, YOU FIVE CADE ARE COMING UP OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HEARD, UH, FROM FORMER CHIEF THAT HE WANTED OFFICER LAST WHO TOLD US THAT HE WOULD LOVE, HAVE SO MUCH MORE FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO THIS PART CALLS FOR 75 CADET.
HOW YOU GET TO THAT NUMBER? GOOD QUESTION.
FIRST, COLLABORATION CHIEF, BEFORE HE WAS MADE ACTING CHIEF WAS MAKING PROGRESS WITH 86 AGENCIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I HELD THE FIRST MEETING HE TOOK THE HANDOFF, HAS BEEN MEETING REGULARLY WITH EVERYONE THAT YOU COULD MEET.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LOSS ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THEY DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.
LITTLE YORK ON THE NORTH SIDE, NORTH SIDE OF THE STREETS IN HARRIS COUNTY, PATROLLED BY DEPUTIES HARRIS, SOUTH SIDE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEY DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.
SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT COLLABORATION.
AND I, I QUESTIONED IN THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT BRINGING THE DPS TO TOWN.
THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS.
THEY GET INVOLVED IN THE CHASES.
WE NEED THEIR HELICOPTERS, WE NEED THEIR FORENSIC LABS.
SO YES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE FORCED MULTIPLIERS BY COLLABORATING WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES.
AND I WAS READING AN ARTICLE, BELIEVE OR NOT BRONX, ABOUT SIX THIS MORNING ABOUT AUSTIN MAY BE GOING TO RESERVE OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, I WANNA WORK WITH THE EMPLOYEE GROUPS AND SEE ABOUT IF THE
[00:40:01]
RETIREES CAN BE BROUGHT BACK ONLINE, CERTAINLY IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND I'M GONNA SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
I'VE SEEN MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONFRONTING TODAY.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE, WHICH IS A HIGH PRIORITY.
MIKE NICHOLS ONE IS GONNA MAKE THIS THE MOST AFFORDABLE.
WE USED TO SAY LARGE CITY IN AMERICA.
HIS GOAL IS ANY CITY IN AMERICA.
AND WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS IN A VERY HUMANE WAY, COMPASSIONATE WAY, AND GET THE HOMELESS OUT THE PUBLIC SPACE.
WE AND I 12 FOUNDATIONS YESTERDAY, WE'RE GONNA RAISE THE MONEY, GIVE HOUSING TO THE HOMELESS.
WE'RE DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH, OBVIOUSLY CASE WHERE THE CITY COULD USE A LITTLE MORE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE HOMELESS TO SEEK SHELTERS.
YOU KNOW, I COULD SPEND THE TALKING ABOUT FOR HOPE, WHICH IS MY MODEL.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CAMPAIGN.
THEY DON'T HAVE A HOMELESS IN SAN ANTONIO.
HAVE ONE BECAUSE THE TOURISM AND THE RIVER.
SO THEY HAVE AN OVERNIGHT LOCATION AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.
ABOUT 800 INDIVIDUALS STAY THERE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
PORTA CANS, SHOWERS, FOOD BANK FEEDS THEM, THEY'RE PROTECTED.
IN FACT, YOU'RE GETTING ME WORKED UP.
I'M GONNA GO UPSTAIRS AND GO TO WORK.
IF WE CAN GET OUTTA HERE AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO DO IT.
I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS A PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING YOU, WHETHER YOU EVER RUN FOR OFFICE OR NOT.
AND I THINK SUNDAY WE'RE GONNA QUESTION WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE? AND THAT'S GONNA ADDRESS THE BUDGET.
IT'S GONNA MAKE THE CITY GREATER THAN THE ONE WE WOKE UP IN THIS MORNING.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.
I MORE OFFICERS AND RETAIN THEM.
WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC IN THE POLICE THAT YOU SEE THAT MONEY BEING, LEMME TELL YOU A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM THERE AGAIN, YOU CAN'T SOLVE A PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T ADMIT YOU HAVE ONE.
AND I'M THE FIRST ONE IN YEARS THAT'S GONNA REALLY HOW IMPORTANT THE FORENSIC LAB IS.
YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB ARRESTING FOLKS, VIOLENT OFFENDERS OR TAKEN TO COURT, BUT THEY CAN'T PROCEED AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE OR FIND THEM INNOCENT UNLESS YOU DO A BALLISTIC TEST.
IT'S RUNNING ABOUT A YEAR NOW TO GET A GUN CHECK, A BALLISTIC TEST, WE'VE GOTTA DO BETTER AT THE FORENSIC.
UNIQUE PERSONNEL ON THE STREET.
YOU GOTTA HAVE FORENSICS, YOU GOTTA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT TO OUR DISTRICT JUDGES.
SOME ARE WORKING HARD AS THEY CAN AND SOME ARE NOT.
WE'VE GOT 900 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON TODAY CHARGED WITH MURDER OR CAPITAL MURDER AND HAVE NOT BEEN IN COURT YET.
THEY'RE EITHER OUT ON BOND OR THEY'RE FUGI AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE.
THE MOST DANGEROUS POPULATION AND PROFILE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHERE WE PUT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MONEY OFFICERS, FIRE AND POLICE.
I SPOKE TO 76 POLICE CADETS A MONTH AGO.
THE GOOD NEWS IS PEOPLE WANNA BE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS.
NOW GETTING BACK TO THE FIRE NEGOTIATIONS, I SPOKE TO A FIRE CLASS THAT HAD 31 CADETS UNHEARD OF IN THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHY? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CONDITIONS THEY WERE WORKING ON, WHAT THEIR CONTRACT LOOKED LIKE.
I ACTUALLY TALKED TO GENERAL SERVICES THE OTHER DAY ABOUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AND THE FIRE STATIONS, THE ONES I SAW AT KINGWOOD PLYWOOD, COVERING HOLES IN THE FLOOR, MOLD EVERYWHERE.
BUT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT I RAN INTO AND I GOT DOWN HERE, GENERAL SERVICES ASKED ME FOR PERMISSION TO TALK TO THE FIRE UNION BECAUSE THE FIRE UNION KNEW WHERE THE COMPLAINTS WERE.
I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DO, YOU HAVE PERMISSION? WELL, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO TALK TO THE
[00:45:01]
FIRE UNION.THAT'S HOW DETERIORATED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE FIRE AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
WE DEPEND ON FIRE, THEY SAVE OUR LIVES.
SO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, COULD BE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT JUST PERSONNEL FORENSICS EQUIPMENT.
YOU OUGHT TO TALK TO THE, THE BOTH DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE TO USE.
CARS ARE, ARE WORN OUT FIRE TRUCKS.
WHERE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GIVES TO FIRE TRUCKS.
THEY'VE FALLEN, THEY'VE FALLEN APART ON THE WAY TO A CALL.
AMBULANCES, WE NEED MORE AMBULANCES.
THE PUBLIC WOULD BE SHOCKED TO LOOK AT THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND DISTRIBUTION OFS ACROSS THIS CITY.
WHAT AM I GONNA DO? OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS IT IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THERE ARE CORPORATIONS ACROSS HOUSTON THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON I TO START NAMING THEM THAT WILL BUY US AN AMBULANCE.
NOW, WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUT THEIR NAME ON SIDE OF IT, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BUDGET THAT WORKS.
UM, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THERE'S ALSO A, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, I VERY UM, BAD SITUATION AT THE COUNTY JAIL RIGHT NOW.
SO AS YOU ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'M THE MAYOR, BUT I ROUTINELY TALK ABOUT, I WAS TALKING TO THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION YESTERDAY AND THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A VARIETY OF POCKETS AND AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES, I LOOKED AT THEM, PEOPLE I'VE WORKED WITH FOR YEARS, GOOD PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I SAID, I SHOULDN'T BELIEVE Y'ALL HAVE BROUGHT UP A COUNTY JAIL.
10,000 PEOPLE, ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY INSIDE THE JAIL.
DANGERS TO THE DEFENDANTS, DANGERS TO THE CORRECTION OFFICERS AT A COST OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE'VE GOT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, HOUSTON RESIDENTS IN LOUISIANA THIS MORNING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR DEFENSE COUNSEL.
THEN YOU GOT ANOTHER LARGE GROUP IN POST TEXAS OUTSIDE OF LUBBOCK.
THERE'S NO DIVERSITY IN POST TEXAS.
I SPENT 24 CHRISTMASES THERE WHEN I WAS MARRIED.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANNA SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME IN ONE OF THEIR JAILS.
SO ONE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AS FORMER CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I KNOW HOW BROKEN THE HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS, CERTAINLY WITH HOW THEY TREAT DEFENDANTS AND CORRECTION OFFICERS.
AND IT COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
LEMME TELL YOU WHAT YOU ASK THE OFFICIALS.
DO THEY EVER GET TO TALK TO THEIR FAMILY, THEIR CHILDREN? YOU KNOW, FAMILY IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS YOU USE TO GET SOMEONE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.
WELL TRY BEING IN POST TEXAS AND BEING FROM WARD TEXAS AND DO SOMETHING THAT CORRECTION OFFICER DOESN'T LIKE.
THAT'S THE REAL WORLD, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE GOTTA SPEAK OUT ON IT AND I'M THE MAYOR, BUT I'M GONNA SPEAK OUT WHEREVER PEOPLE ARE BEING ABUSED AND IT COMPROMISES PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S A, IT'S A POWDER CASE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
COULD MY COMMISSIONER FRIENDS GO TO WORK WHEN YOU JAIL? AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BUILDING ANOTHER ONE.
GET PEOPLE TO COURT, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, TURN THEM, FIND THEM INNOCENT.
IF THEY'RE REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS, I'VE HAD A GUN IN MY FACE.
SOMEBODY PUTS A GUN IN YOUR FACE.
THAT'S THE REASON WHEN YOU HAVE TDCJ AND I'M GETTING AWAY FROM, FROM CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I CARE ABOUT HOUSTONIANS.
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THEM.
AS LONG AS YOU GOT A, LEMME TELL YOU ANOTHER ONE, Y'ALL, I HELP YOU REPORT IF YOU WANNA COVER SOMETHING 12 O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
THE BACK DOOR, THE GARAGE DOOR ON SAN JACINTA IS RAISED.
DEFENDANTS ARE RELEASED, SOME HAVE FAMILY, SOME HAVE A LAWYER.
MOST HAVE NO ONE TURN LOOSE AT MIDNIGHT BECAUSE THEY GET CREDIT FOR THE NEXT DAY.
THAT'S WHAT OVERCROWDING DOES TO YOU.
YOU MAKE POOR DECISIONS, EASY, SLOPPY, DANGEROUS DECISIONS.
SO I HAVE RAISED PAIN FOR YEARS AND I'LL KEEP TALKING AS THE MAYOR.
GOOD LORD LET AT LEAST THE SUN COME UP.
BUT THEY LET THEM OUT AT MIDNIGHT, NOWHERE TO GO.
THEY GO THEN GET ON A METRO TRAIN TO GET OUT THE ELEMENTS.
[00:50:01]
FOR BEING A SO WELCOME TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE.SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.
REAL THANK SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE FOLLOW UP.
AND I'M, UM, I WANTED ASK YOU ABOUT, SO YOUR IN, WE TALKED ABOUT INCLUDE ASKING MONEY OR HOW IS THAT, I'LL ASK ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY INFLUENCE IN AUSTIN AND I'LL BE DOING IT MYSELF.
YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCIES? HOUSTON LOBBY TEAM DON'T NEED 17 OUTSIDE LOBBYISTS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? YEAH, I CAN TALK TO GREG AB HE AND I DISAGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I KNOW HE CARES ABOUT HOUSTON.
HE WANTS HOUSTON TO BE A GREAT CITY.
HE'S VERY INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MED CENTER AND TM THREE.
SO YES, HE UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
I'LL GET AFTER 'EM WHEN THEY'RE WRONG.
I'LL BID IT ON THE SENATE FLOOR, BUT THERE'S A TIME TO COME TOGETHER TO WORK THINGS OUT.
ONE LAST QUESTION WE HAVE, AND IT'S STILL A WORKING PROCESS, SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WE THE FINAL PRINT, BUT UH, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT TIME.
WOULD YOU THINK THIS BUDGET, WHICH HAS NO TAX INCREASE HELP, YOUR ARGUMENT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD HELP YOUR LOBBY? YOU SPEAK COUNSELING.
THEY REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICT.
SO LET'S, LET'S JUST GO SUGGEST WORK.
JUST IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF EXPAND ON THE CONCLUSION, INCLUDE GARBAGE FEES, BUDGET.
OBVIOUSLY GARBAGE FEE IS BEING KICKED AROUND HERE.
UH, IT COULD BE SUPPORT 24 COUNCIL, BUT WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S GOING TOWARD 26.
SEE, THAT WOULDN'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL THE ABOVE ON THE TABLE TO BE CONSIDERED.
SO, UH, ALL I SAY IS IT'S A WORKING PROCESS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE A GOOD BUDGET FOR 2020.