The following is from an article posted by a Democrat from Houston.
A copy of the Controller’s report, called “Weathering the Storm: Houston’s Financial Preparedness for Natural Disasters”, is here, and the press release that announced the report is here. I don’t know how many times I can say that Houston’s financial problems are mostly about lack of sufficient revenue without crossing into full-blown crankery, but I’m here to say it again anyway. The two simplest things we can do about that – not the easiest, but the simplest – are revise or remove the stupid revenue cap and impose a trash fee like every other damn city does.
The tax revenue cap is there because Houstonians voted to have it there. In fact, it received nearly 64% approval. It was the November 2004 General Election.
I don’t know what world some people live in but I know that in this economy I don’t see people voting to increase their taxes. It must be nice not to have to worry about money or the cost of groceries. It must be nice not to know if you’ll have a job next week or two weeks from now. But if Democrats think that the way to get more people to vote for Democrats is by promising them that they will pay more for city services, good luck getting people to vote for you.
The Mayor and Council could pass the trash collection fee without a vote, and I will assume that is what they will do. They have already raised our water bill by about 100%. What I don’t know is that the number of water lines not breaking is decreasing, which is one of the most common complaints made to the city. I was surprised that many candidates running against incumbent city council members did not focus on that issue. City Council is considering increasing the water bill again, with a potential range of $300 to $400 per month, a typical payment in Houston.
As to what San Antonio charges, here is the rate. Lower, maybe much lower than what I have read that may be proposed. Corpus Christi, a smaller city, also has a fee of $5, but seniors only have to pay $2.50.
Democrats need to pay attention to what the Republicans do, as it is a key to their success. Not the redistricting, but to lower the property tax.
Homeowners in the Lone Star State might remember receiving serious property tax breaks just two years ago.
Thanks to two Texas property tax bills hitting the ballot this fall, more relief could be on the way.
The proposed legislative package includes increased homestead exemptions as well as a property tax cut for businesses. If approved by voters in November, homeowners and business owners could receive $10 billion in tax relief funds.
We pay a fee that is supposed to go directly toward infrastructure repair. That fee is known as the Rain Tax. One of the first things they did was use the money to pay city employees and then transfer a significant portion to fund projects like Hike & Bike Trails.
Annise Parker, who was the mayor in 2010, is now running for County Judge. Want more misuse of tax money, or maybe a county-wide HERO ordinance? I realize that some Gay men and women will call me a homophobe, but that is okay; they are entitled to their opinion just like I am entitled to my opinion.
Rain Tax
The following is an AI summary
In Houston, a portion of the “drainage fee” (also known as the “rain tax”) was allocated to hike and bike trails, but the practice has been the subject of multiple lawsuits and controversy. The fee was meant to fund street and drainage projects exclusively, and recent court settlements have sought to ensure the funds are used as voters originally intended.
Background on the drainage fee and Rebuild Houston
- In 2010, Houston voters approved a city charter amendment called Rebuild Houston.
- The amendment created a drainage fee, added as a line item on water bills, to pay for street and drainage repairs.
- The fee is calculated based on the square footage of impervious surface (concrete, asphalt, etc.) on a property.
Allegations of misuse
- Soon after the fee was passed, a lawsuit was filed alleging the ballot language was misleading and that funds were not being used for their stated purpose.
- The city was accused of shortchanging the dedicated fund for streets and drainage over several years.
- Some of the drainage fee money was used to build hike and bike trails as part of the Bayou Greenways Initiative, which leveraged drainage infrastructure for recreational purposes.
Recent lawsuits and settlements
- In 2019, Houston-based engineers Bob Jones and Allen Watson filed a lawsuit arguing the city was misusing the money.
- After a series of court decisions, including a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court against the city in January 2025, the city was ordered to allocate more money to the drainage fund.
- In April 2025, a settlement was reached allowing the city to gradually increase its funding for street and drainage projects and address the shortfall.
Current status
- The legal settlement has moved forward, and city officials have committed to dedicating funds as voters originally intended.
- While recreational trails may be developed alongside drainage projects by entities like the Harris County Flood Control District, the legal battles emphasize that the city’s drainage fee is specifically for drainage and street infrastructure.
Let us work on being more efficient. Perhaps those who want to pay more taxes could gather their friends and families to go litter collecting on weekends. Or mowing those yards that they sometimes complain about?
