Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on October 14, 2026

Agenda

1. Mayor’s Report (tax rate discussion)
2. Public Hearing
3. Consent Agenda (items that require a vote, like purchases, resolutions, ordinances, etc.)
4. Council Member Pop-Off*

* I do not cover pop-off in my notes this week.

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Mayor’s Report

Mayor Whitmire remarked on the city’s property tax rate, which council voted on today. The mayor proposed keeping the property tax rate at $.51 per $100 of value, the same as it has been since 2023. This year’s budget shortfall will increase from $22M → $88M, but Whitmire said raising the tax rate is not necessary because “even with the new numbers, we’re so far ahead of the projections.” To save money, Whitmire plans to continue addressing inefficiencies, reducing duplication, rooting out corruption, and even suggested more retirement incentives, all of which he said will build credibility with the public. He is committed to not raising taxes to maintain affordability, a top concern. Instead, the city will “do more with less.”

Whitmire said it’s not necessary to raise the tax rate because they will balance the budget without it. He plans to seek revenue and cost-sharing with the county and funding from the state during the next legislative session. Comparing Houston to other cities with “huge deficits,” he said, “It’s amazing how successful we’ve been in comparison to other jurisdictions. But you don’t hear much about it because we’re doing it quietly. We really don’t toot our own horn. We do not have a PR machine like other municipalities.”

To illustrate the city’s ability to do more with less, Whitmire said that 311 calls have gone down, there are more police than ever, and that police/fire/EMS employees aren’t retiring or leaving because of better benefits. “We do have critics, but it is so easy to be a critic when you’re not having to submit a plan.”

CM Pollard remarked on the city’s two property tax revenue caps, one enacted by Houston voters in 2004 and one by the state in 2019. The city is eligible to raise the tax rate this year but is choosing not to. He asked if the city did raise the tax rate to the max allowable of $.55, a) what would that cost the average Houstonian, and b) what improved city services would they get for that extra expense? Pollard called the tax rate a “shared sacrifice” that Houstonians pay in expectation of city services. He said the city should inform the public about the tax rate, what they get in exchange, and decide what to do based on feedback.

• Mayor Whitmire asserted his authority by saying, “It’s about leadership; my leadership. We do not need to show projected possibilities because I’ve decided we’re not raising taxes.” He listed recent improvements at the Solid Waste department, repaved streets, and $500M spent on drainage (unclear what time frame). Whitmire said, “It’s just unbelievable how some jurisdictions continue to raise taxes not just once — some raise taxes repeatedly without answering some of the questions that you raise.” He feels optimistic about funding from the state during the next legislative session and said they are talking with the federal government about the importance of Houston’s water system to the fuel industry.
• Finance Director Melissa Dubowski answered Pollard’s question about a hypothetical tax raise. She said if the city raised the property tax rate to $.55, the average Houstonian who pays property tax would pay $100 more per year. It would yield ~$87M for the city annually.

As a taxpayer, CM Castex-Tatum appreciates the tax rate remaining flat, but as a council member, she sees needs at the city that require funding. She suggested that every tax entity in the area (Harris County, the city, HISD, etc) get together to make a collaborative plan about who gets to raise taxes when.

CM Peck supported the tax rate. She said it’s easy to raise the tax rate, “but if the money is going towards a broken system, what’s the point?”

CM Alcorn said they can’t ignore that the county just raised the tax rate by 7.6%, after raising it 8% after Hurricane Beryl. “It just doesn’t look good if we turn around right after that happens and raise the tax rate.” Alcorn called Houston a “low-cost / low-service city,” which might not be what every Houstonian wants. She pushed back against the mayor’s claim that the city is doing more with less, saying “we’re doing more with more,” and then listed examples, such as improved trash service because of the new $5 fee, park funding from the state, and county collaboration with BARC. Even so, Alcorn said these departments are still underfunded. She said people understand that services, including cops and firefighters, cost money. She understands the timing and rationale of keeping the tax rate flat, but at some point the city will need more money. “As a taxpayer, I don’t want to live in a low-service city.”

CM Martinez said this is the most transparent conversation the city has ever had regarding the tax rate. He supported the tax rate remaining flat but suggested a review of department fees and other revenue sources, like scooter vendors, digital billboards, and a Solid Waste transfer station.

CM Flickinger said that inflation has exceeded wage growth, causing an affordability crisis, so it’s important not to raise taxes, especially when other entities are. He said the city is able to do more with less, such as improvements at Solid Waste. He talked about the corporate concept of “continuous improvement.” He said the property tax cap is a misnomer and the city can always go to the voters to get an exemption.

CM Pollard considers the city a service corporation, with the council as its board of directors and the public as its shareholders. He again advocated for informing the public about what a tax rate increase would mean and letting the people decide what they want.

Mayor Whitmire called this tax rate process “very transparent,” and said, “I don’t know if it’s ever been done in recent history that the council members got this involved or were even allowed to be this involved in the tax rate.” (I reviewed my notes for the property tax rate vote discussion in 2025 and there was a similar lengthy discussion).

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Public Hearing on the Proposed Tax Rate

Finance Director Melissa Dubowski explained the factors that went into tax rate estimates. She said this tax rate will lower the fund balance by 2.39%, but still within the acceptable range. The projected shortfall for this fiscal year will swell from $22M → $88M.

Several CMs had questions but they were technical and over my head.

CM Pollard advocated again for communicating with the public about the property tax rate, and potentially raising it to address rising city costs.

The council then voted unanimously to approve the $.51 tax rate.

Agenda Items, Selected Works

• Item 4 approved $381K to renew each firefighter’s annual state certification.
• Item 8 approved an additional $90K to renew the contract for the HEART program, a workforce program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Item 12 agreed on a $24M settlement for the company hired to expand the Northeast Water Purification Plant in 2019. The company filed a lawsuit against the city seeking “significant funds beyond the amount set in the guaranteed maximum price contract.” The support document says the city shares the cost of the lawsuit with four water authorities, but I don’t know what that means for the $24M settlement.
• Item 13 approved a $434K emergency spending contract for environmental services. The item uses funds from the police construction fund and the fire construction fund, but does not list a company to be contracted with or specifics on what the funds will be used for, like an address where the work will be done.
• Item 15 approved the agreement and $300K contract with Houston Land Bank to facilitate the reimagination of the Sunnyside Landfill.
• Item 26 appropriated $10.5M (preapproved funding, contract forthcoming) for improvements to Tanner Road in District A. CM Peck thanked the mayor and said this project has been on the books since 2014.
• Item 27 approved $584K for armored car services.
• Item 28 approved a $1.5M, three-year contract for the company that evaluates HPD officers for promotion to commander, lieutenant, and sergeant.
• Item 29 approved a $5.1M, three-year contract with the company that maintains the city’s pools.
• Items 31-38 all appropriated funds, renewed contracts, or extended contracts with companies doing drainage and wastewater work for the city.

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Who took these notes? And what resources did they use?

My name is Emily Hynds. I am a writer, small business owner, producer of the monthly storytelling series Grown-up Storytime, and lifelong Houstonian. I am not a journalist or government official. I am a local government enthusiast who believes meaningful change starts at home. These notes are presented from my point of view and with my framing and are not comprehensive. Your notes will certainly be different and I would love to read them if you attend.

I watched this City Council meeting via HTV: https://www.houstontx.gov/htv/

While compiling these notes I used the following sources:
https://houston.novusagenda.com/agendapublic
https://houwatch.com
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/houston/2026/10/07/563800/houston-officials-unveil-48-million-initiative-to-address-homelessness-as-citys-shelter-sees-long-wait-times/
https://www.houstonlanding.org/inflation-population-calculation-explaining-houstons-property-tax-revenue-cap/

You can find your City Council Member and their contact info at: https://www.houstontx.gov/council/whoismycm.html

Thank you to the volunteers who proofread these notes.
My Patreon is patreon.com/emilytakesnotes.

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