City, county fear that state wants to pick our pockets

[white cloud]

City and Harris County officials may not agree on much, but they are unified in their approach to the legislative session: They want Austin to stay out of Houston.

As state lawmakers confront a budget shortfall estimated by the Texas comptroller at $15 billion, local leaders' traditional fears of having to pick up a greater share of the financial burden are soaring. Lobbyists for the city and county acknowledge that most of their efforts in the next six months will involve fending off new rules or regulations that require local governments to spend money without any way to pay for it.

"As will all of the big cities in Texas, we're going to primarily play defense," said Mayor Annise Parker. "They have a huge budget hole that they're going to have to work through in Austin, and we want to make sure there are no unfunded mandates coming at us."

Possibilities abound for what local officials consider unwelcome meddling. Proposals already on the books for caps on property taxes or appraisals could have the effect of shifting control over local affairs to the state, officials said. If cities and counties collect less money, they may grow increasingly dependent on state funding, a development that has been disastrous in California, said Darrin Hall, director of the mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7375445.html

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1. We're all going to feel the cuts to come.

Parker is one tough Mayor and I believe she'll be a strong fighter for Houston.

I liked what Parker said about job creation in Houston. Houston currently accepts the lowest bidder for contracts regardless of where the company is based. She wants to add a preference for contracting with local businesses.

[sonias]

2. It's not "Austin to stay out of Houston" really

So let's clear that article sound bite a bit. Really what they mean is the "Texas Legislature" - i.e. the nut-bags from all over the state, should stay out of Houston. The city of Austin and the City of Houston are actually good friends and we play well together.

But I totally agree with the sentiment - the Lege is going to rape, pillage and plunder all local taxing entities - starting with school districts and then cities and counties. It's the first trick in their bag for the phony pledge of "no new taxes". The main way the state Legislature skirts their responsibility is to pass the buck (i.e. the bill) on to some other taxing entity. So they can lie -"you see it wasn't us that raised your taxes, it was your city or county or school district".

And if you look at your property tax bill for last year you will see that the #1 item on that bill is for your local school district. And that amount is huge compared to the county and city tax rate. This is where taxpayers get confused and when they get angry, they get angry at their local school boards. Where the anger should be directed to - is the Texas Legislature and their state Reps and Senators and all statewide elected office holders. They're the ones who keep voting to fund less and less of our public education system.

I really feel for Mayor Parker and Mayor Leffingwell (Austin) and other Mayors in all Texas cities because the Lege has the power to spit on them and they very frequently do. This year will be especially brutal for all of us.

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3. I'm sure most Texas Mayors are also on defense

vs. state of Texas. I haven't seen the numbers, but I'm sure most cities are already working with their own budget problems. I should have broadened my response earlier. :)

[sonias]

4. Hey no problem

I know you weren't taking a swipe at us. :hug:

But you're right - all cities and counties across the state have or are already cut budgets and the last thing they need is for the state to be dumping their responsibilities onto them. And public education is the primary responsibility of the state - says so in the Texas Constitution!