Houston’s Proposed Trash Fee Wouldn’t Be a New Line. Here’s Where You’d See It
The plan would start at $5 a month and rise to $25, while city leaders say it could save $17.5 million.
- On Tuesday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire unveiled a budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-27 introducing a $5 monthly administrative fee for solid waste to help close a projected deficit exceeding $200 million.
- Facing what he called a "broken financial system," Whitmire proposed shifting the Solid Waste Department from the city's general fund to a municipal utility, moving away from reliance on property taxes.
- The plan includes a right-of-way rental fee projected to generate $100 million annually, while the $5 fee will appear on water bills as "Solid Waste Cart and Administrative Fee" starting in July.
- City Controller Chris Hollins questioned the proposal's transparency and long-term impact, noting the fee could rise to $25 per month by 2032 if future councils approve subsequent increases.
- Council members will hold budget workshops throughout the month before a scheduled vote on June 3, ahead of the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Mayor Whitmire proposes $7.5 billion Houston city budget
Houston Mayor John Whitmire unveiled the city’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget, a $7.5 billion spending plan, an increase of $384 million (5.4%) from the current budget. For the third budget cycle in a row under Whitmire’s administration, the city will not see a property tax increase, staying at 51 cents. Whitmire called it a “transformative financial plan” covering the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. He also introduced struct…
Houston mayor unveils FY2027 budget proposal with new municipal fees
Facing a "broken financial system" and years of structural instability, Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Tuesday unveiled a FY2027 budget proposal that introduces new municipal fees for garbage and infrastructure to avoid what he called an "unaffordable" property tax hike.
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