Proposition A – ReBuild Houston - Oppose
Background
In 2010, the City of Houston proposed a charter amendment that
would create a “lockbox” fund which would hold and protect monies earmarked for
infrastructure and drainage projects. Shortly
after the very narrow passage of the “lock box” charter amendment (51%), city
leaders imposed a drainage fee on every piece of real property in Houston (with
the exception of government-owned property and churches).
Subsequently a lawsuit was filed and in 2015, the charter
amendment was deemed null and void by the Texas Supreme Court citing misleading
and deceptive ballot language by the City. The ballot language did not mention to voters
that they would be financially penalized with a substantial fee when/if the
measure passed. The Court directed the city to hold a new election with clear
ballot language. Since its inception seven years ago, approximately
$1.8 billion has been collected through the ReBuild Houston “lock box” program,
including an estimated $785 million in drainage fees. That’s a lot of
money collected with no noticeable results.
The City of Houston has raided funds that should have been utilized
for street and drainage repair and has spent those dollars on parks, bike
trails and over 500 Public Works Department salaries. Additionally,
transparency on the utilization of the funds has been nonexistent and the
“lockbox” is not, and never has been, locked. Voting no on this measure will
send a message to the city’s elected leadership that the people who live and
work in Houston deserve honesty, integrity and transparency. Houston did not
vote to impose a drainage fee on itself the first time around in 2010, and we
shouldn’t vote to continue the fees until such time as the City of Houston
provides clear and transparent proof that the funds will be spent on the
projects that will ease flooding and provide marked improvement in the
conditions of our roadways.
What Will Change?
Mayor Turner says, “If Prop A fails, the city will lose a
"dedicated" funding source for flooding, drainage and street
improvements.” If the measure fails, the City should repeal the drainage fees
imposed on Houstonians and eliminate the “lock box”. They should consider proposing
a fully thought-out pay-as-you-go plan that truly improves the current
infrastructure and road situation.
If the measure passes, elected officials will continue
collecting drainage fees, and once again “promise” to restrict the funds for
use on drainage and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we have heard that promise
before.
Proposition B – Firefighters’ Pay Parity - Support
Background
Following pension cuts created
within the 2017 legislative session “pension reform” legislation, and a break
down in collective bargaining negotiations, Houston Firefighters launched a
petition drive to force a vote of the citizens of Houston on pay parity.
Firefighters garnered 60,000 Houston voter signatures shortly after which
qualified the pay parity issue to be placed on the ballot for voter
approval. Proposition B is a vote to grant equal pay for firefighters’ and
police officer’s for similar job titles/responsibilities. While comparing
police to fire is as equal to comparing apples and bananas, there is something
to be said for paying fair wages to maintain a solid and reliable public safety
workforce.
What Will Change?
A yes vote on Proposition B will
force the City of Houston to fairly compensate Houston’s firefighters and to
negotiate in good faith. Mayor Turner has been on the campaign trail claiming that
Houston cannot afford to fairly compensate our firefighters. His message has
been to threaten layoffs which will reduce services and negatively impact public
safety. Mayor Turner has failed to
acknowledge that he has added over 2,000 NEW FTE’s to the
Houston payroll since taking office in 2016. Just recently the Mayor and
City Council approved a $52 million dollar raise for Houston Police
Officers. Under the passage of Proposition H in 2006, $90M in
tax dollars were earmarked for police, fire, and emergency medical services each year. The public has been
provided no accounting of where the over $900,000,000.00
tax dollars collected over the period since Proposition H was approved has been
spent. From the looks of it, none
of that money has gone to the firefighters. We believe efficiencies could
certainly be identified to cut spending and maintain our firefighter workforce
and public safety.
Houston’s firefighters deserve to
be treated with fairness and equity by elected leaders.
#tb
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