[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6541566,"mediaKeyId","3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e","parentId",3388104,"title","Residents say Metro funds should prioritize transit and trails; council and staff point to safety and capital limits","audioSeconds",1280,"startMs",1667000,"endMs",2947000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e&start=1667&end=2947","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e/thumbnail_1667000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541566/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Residents-say-Metro-funds-should-prioritize-transit-and-trails-council-and-staff-point-to-safety-and-capital-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541566-fc426fd4a365fdb363477a6f78d70b5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436916&Signature=kEyCOIm2zAssOxEbNGFLtQVs9bkOfUeTh~SjJx8SrnBSB~V29Jj0E6Dcsak0tTvrDAdl9moPdm1PgYXbsSrebzFhy3L9o6Dj3u3pT5RU74Te7L9vDcw0B3xYp9RdE1nsK~kKTaS~2ILhhqPNyl1ybjCk7RiORXjgKJXC13kLWFSwl8MN19LgvzfsGZ9Sf-a~0H7~3uMz7KnYLpEG~q06KOb2656TQ3biM1fazOsdsxYj8J5uRaXwuG1uh-ag-0RNQZn3OPwFILNgUzGkLLKz5aRLRv6RpMQ0XetAspx9a3gVZa8RCo5gqmiJUXMJCKldo7k7nJpSeqQXie-zxkPh~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-05-17T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple residents urged the city to direct Metro-related funds toward transit operations and better connectivity, arguing that safety and reliability problems on bus routes and orphaned trails reduce ridership and mobility options.

Joseph Panzarella, a District C resident, said he would prefer Metro money go to transit service rather than street lights and traffic enforcement. Council Member Alcorn and staff replied that the city receives a quarter-cent sales tax share that is intended for mobility and that the administration has used some of that money for traffic enforcement and street-lighting projects; Alcorn said he personally favors spending on transit but that the administration was looking under every available revenue source.

Ricky Cardenas and other residents cited the Harrisburg Hike And Bike Trail and the Northline (Red Line) rail corridor as examples where connections, cleaning and safety would increase usage; several residents described missed or unreliable buses on routes they or family members rely on and urged more transit-focused investments rather than repaving streets without transit service.

Director Sims and Mario (administration staff) said Metro and the city coordinate on capital and safety work; they noted some corridor safety efforts include Metro PD, HPD and management districts. Officials said capital intersection, sidewalk and crossing improvements are primarily addressed through the city’s capital improvement budget rather than the operating budget presented at the town hall.

Ending: City staff and council pointed residents to upcoming capital budget and Metro planning processes and said safety and connectivity remain priorities; they encouraged residents to participate in the relevant workshops and to report specific problem locations for targeted attention.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Town Hall - May 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents asked why roughly $26 million in Metro-related funds are being used for traffic enforcement, street lights and repaving rather than transit service; officials said the funds are part of the quarter-cent mobility allocation and that Metro has shifted some resources toward safety and basic operations.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541569,"Residents press Houston leaders on crime, police raises and data sharing; council points to upcoming HPD budget workshop",100,1553000,1653000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e&start=1553&end=1653","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e/thumbnail_1553000.jpg","/articles/6541569/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Residents-press-Houston-leaders-on-crime-police-raises-and-data-sharing-council-points-to-upcoming-HPD-budget-workshop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541569-e8c858bf8c5978d33b28c9b67a4ab5a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436916&Signature=XQILmFpPBCGpQG3C0srJox5edahjQi3zLjeZRJlTCQnE-UZSn9gpCCg5mV~PjRuIkyBryYh0SvAxHn8flS0OdghxCHWnTvd1N2QENjP6SSQtc7Uzo3~3OVyypG4A1-CwcX8c9dQmCYgP6dBfvZ03qEXrGNUaAzORnPB-Mvya85q7FtK-~Tzf~m6qr3EE2CHnVfXtHs9POVE-2CvK7N3wedlSg~y2X1IJKedPkePeLnBHmmeeU3vSlji8fmIrPHUw9FFjhZ58Zojb4bCXiaSCxSCgBWNcF~xW8QUf~dgPqJlAfHwLzYvKvWZ09i6SfTekIi8Vd-NBdHLnenMHmnFWDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents at the town hall pressed city officials on public safety, asking for increased visibility at parks and trails, timely enforcement of chronic problem gas stations and clarity about Houston Police Department data use and policy.

Rob Block, a Northside resident, asked whether the city supports HPD use of an ICE database reported in the Chronicle and whether the budget could restrict HPD from immigration enforcement. He said he had “seen…HPD is now doing immigration enforcement” and asked whether budget language could limit that activity.

Council Member Alcorn said he had heard questions about the issue at a legal budget workshop but did not have conclusive information at the town hall and directed residents to an HPD budget workshop scheduled for Tuesday for more discussion. Alcorn added, “I don't have a lot more information other than that” and offered to get residents a longer answer after further review.

Several residents, including Miss Holston and Jack Filinski of Neartown Montrose Super Neighborhood, said they were concerned about property and neighborhood services that they said were being reduced by budget cuts; Miss Holston specifically asked for greater police visibility on the Harrisburg Hike and Bike Trail and at Eastwood Park. Alcorn said the administration has put additional funding toward public safety raises to attract officers and that public safety remains a top priority for council and the mayor.

Sam Wagner asked whether the larger share of the general fund devoted to police and fire would have performance indicators; Council Member Alcorn said performance measures are an important focus of the Ernst & Young work and that departments are working with the consultants to improve KPIs; Alcorn said quarterly dashboards will publish KPI progress online.

Ending: Officials encouraged residents with questions about policing and other departments to attend the HPD workshop and other departmental budget hearings next week; they said they would follow up on specific policy questions raised at the meeting.","Public commenters raised safety concerns at parks, trails and transit; the meeting included questions about a reported HPD use of an ICE database and whether budgeted police raises and staffing increases will include performance metrics.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541574,"Houston officials point to procurement consolidation, voluntary retirements and departmental moves to narrow FY26 gap",0,1085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e&start=1085&end=1085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e/thumbnail_1085000.jpg","/articles/6541574/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-officials-point-to-procurement-consolidation-voluntary-retirements-and-departmental-moves-to-narrow-FY26-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541574-8a99cd3ad5f4923e7fec83d719364948/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436916&Signature=S~UYQ9OLu7IJ~cdC3foaP8cThUxDiJYog4LA4i3mr8eY1TH~m-2l4PEEENfxNTjc0yshAzwRASWmb2oe2UvXydo57Z0G45Rv591O5r5AMXRs7pf3PGUV2zm7y0t985a3uFC9CPge~YlpDvFIhkhYv3FpETWScqWgyHOPT68V0VgEM7lZyFeHa~f9-o0Nt5liCY1R5l4fUjym7Eayy0wdjuJuEBnrfl~IYA6Mnsk5WQsHuQjLOo~7BH46oKR2C7UlKAeeajv-n8zG7ri8kAqJlWVIiwu9LOGASAihv~moQBe~vajbZvItw7cTrJwI0qpD6TELm2rTaGOXgOTgmsXO2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and finance staff described specific efficiency and organizational actions they say narrowed the FY26 budget gap, including procurement consolidation identified by an Ernst & Young review, voluntary retirements and shifting some services from the general fund to enterprise funds.

Council Member Alcorn said the Ernst & Young review found procurement and organizational inefficiencies and recommended consolidations and category management; he said procurement consolidations and renegotiations were estimated to yield savings (Alcorn cited about $18 million tied to procurement consolidation and a management-savings line in the budget of about $17.175 million).

Paula Lichampanet explained that several departments were asked to reduce their budgets, that more than 1,000 employees citywide accepted voluntary retirement packages (employees outside police and fire were offered three months' pay), and that some functions — including code enforcement and 311 customer service — are being paid for out of enterprise funds such as water and drainage to reduce pressure on the general fund.

Officials said some savings are immediate (for example, lower payroll after retirements and elimination of vacancy lines) while other savings tied to restructuring and procurement will be realized over time. Lichampanet said the budget includes $70 million in expenditure savings from retiree savings, pension adjustments, streetlight and signal electric savings, OPEB trust implementation and various consolidations.

Officials at the town hall also said Metro is being asked to reimburse roughly $26 million for traffic enforcement and related costs, and that certain program transfers (for example, transfers tied to traffic enforcement) are part of the revenue adjustments included in the FY26 proposal.

Ending: City officials said the efficiency work will continue after budget adoption and that some savings assumed in the FY26 proposal will require implementation and monitoring.","Council members and finance staff said procurement consolidations, a voluntary retirement program and reclassification of functions to enterprise funds are expected to produce significant savings in the FY26 budget, but some savings are projected to take effect over time.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541579,"Houston’s proposed $7 billion FY26 budget draws on reserves, staffing cuts and pay raises for police and fire",964,9000,973000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e&start=9&end=973","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388104-d8f9878f9f763eeff9e9311d80baef5e/thumbnail_9000.jpg","/articles/6541579/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houstons-proposed-7-billion-FY26-budget-draws-on-reserves-staffing-cuts-and-pay-raises-for-police-and-fire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541579-4910d364f55b23466bd37531ecf1b71e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436916&Signature=WEDrlPrpZUioMlhhaQl~ebyAD97dIux6GZ9npYt5zW4RRJpaEpWT1GBwISCQeUd1OLs88kuvDRcJnEC8YBKF7mHqi8wuH-IwCvhWhSrAIM~cgvcUlm9rFwcBXJnkVFEpFMmZkgUaH9rT-IOceFxq58WT0v7IxdDqkcRZyhwPNUlbB1Tyvi9kaXL8ezWYSZol6TuRfGIivuhMO2EHE5ZRPWA0g11B90H7GENS1g2SgATyuSk~yHulxyrfGJSCIOsC7npD0H0Lc0wcVK887H0HU6yZ31fX3Wksu-qmzrVL6s7lPOlcWG-G-AhKZ-E-OQI~cktxDQHIuPtnzEX0ID55PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston officials presented the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on Saturday, outlining a $7.0 billion spending plan that relies on efficiency measures, voluntary retirements and a one-time draw from reserves to close a remaining $107 million gap.

Paula Lichampanet, a finance department presenter, said the FY26 citywide expenditure plan including debt service and pay-go is $7.0 billion, about $160 million (2.3%) higher than the FY25 current budget, and that the general fund portion of the budget is roughly $3.0 billion.

The budget keeps a general fund reserve equal to 10.8% of expenditures (less debt service and pay-go), above the 7.5% minimum in city financial policy. Lichampanet told the meeting the plan uses a $107 million drawdown from the fund balance for FY26 and also includes a $12 million replenishment to the budget stabilization fund.

The proposal would fund pay increases included in negotiating positions: a 3.5% raise for municipal employees, a 3% raise for fire-classified employees and a 10% raise for police-classified employees based on the proposed police contract. The FY26 budget also funds five police cadet classes and nine fire cadet classes and provides full pension funding for the city’s three pension systems, Lichampanet said.

The finance presentation put total FY26 general fund revenue (excluding other funds) at $2.9 billion, driven primarily by property tax (about 50.7% of the general fund revenue budget) and sales tax (about 31.3%). Lichampanet said the budget assumes a modest sales tax increase and a property tax calculation that reflects Proposition 1 and H adjustments and a 2.46% CPI figure used in the January receipts.

Council Member Alcorn described several measures used to narrow an initial $230 million gap: roughly $52 million of revenue adjustments (including a $20 million interest increase and transfers), $70 million of expenditure savings from consolidations, retiree savings and service efficiencies, and the voluntary retirement program. He said more than 1,000 employees citywide accepted the voluntary retirement offer, which reduced payroll costs and contributed materially to the reductions in this budget.

Lichampanet said the FY26 general fund FTE count is 13,075.4 and that personnel costs comprise about 61% of the general fund budget (personnel vs. non-personnel). She also noted the budget continues to rely on non-property tax sources for enterprise functions — for example, water and sewer, aviation and other enterprise funds — and that some functions moved to enterprise funding to reduce general fund pressures.

The presentation and council remarks referenced an Ernst & Young efficiency review the administration has used to identify procurement, organizational and performance-measure changes the city hopes will produce longer-term savings. Alcorn said some procurement consolidations were projected to yield savings (he cited an $18 million figure tied to procurement consolidations and a roughly $17.175 million management-savings line baked into the budget).

City officials closed the briefing by inviting residents to follow department budget workshops next week and to submit questions; several members of the public then asked about specific departments and service impacts.

Ending: Officials said FY26 represents a year of smaller general fund spending than FY25 and significant one-time measures; they signaled ongoing budget work, further departmental workshops and possible future proposals to address structural revenue shortfalls going forward.","City officials presented a $7.0 billion FY26 proposed budget that relies on efficiency savings, a $107 million draw from reserves and voluntary retirements to close a roughly $230 million initial gap; the plan includes proposed raises for municipal, fire and police employees and preserves a fund balance above policy minimums.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents say Metro funds should prioritize transit and trails; council and staff point to safety and capital limits

Residents press Houston leaders on crime, police raises and data sharing; council points to upcoming HPD budget workshop

Houston officials point to procurement consolidation, voluntary retirements and departmental moves to narrow FY26 gap

Houston’s proposed $7 billion FY26 budget draws on reserves, staffing cuts and pay raises for police and fire