[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6619290,"mediaKeyId","2838308-c8edc519de747f3b40f606ddab001c9f","parentId",2838308,"title","City presentation warns overtime in fire, police and solid waste could add about $72M to general‑fund spending","audioSeconds",1854,"startMs",2186000,"endMs",4040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838308-c8edc519de747f3b40f606ddab001c9f&start=2186&end=4040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838308-c8edc519de747f3b40f606ddab001c9f/thumbnail_2186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619290/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/City-presentation-warns-overtime-in-fire-police-and-solid-waste-could-add-about-72M-to-generalfund-spending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619290-f9948aea725586e7a745a4a758dbd0e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775901639&Signature=YQaVnVdhio~IUtksaWIcCRp42Gi92NV4H6FKAvaMk9NxY7oqhGfUtpiTbb4QpjM2-KM6sKtb9FSf0HvIZDE~Y-RsEDuF92EbHJ6-Wu7Tptq9xuFisDdikKqfjZXFtxSGMcD14REhOVeQJOcKmmVFIDVhsP7-gMSQp-wz3wCKX0G3hBxXbb6RGqdVVUTYoyTYwvK0NSIPgfDjVIzl-b828Jdr7v7k9SP8t9DXjfO9PDapacKTGaqA-2iBMgZwM2WU2VvJk3RNAtz6lFVzXapgBaAtH7oM5~bJfR~Zz83vzHcpUrNM2jRw7Ybn-fN3dk~~1P-WAPhPV1iIB07Pyasy5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","Deputy City Controller Will Jones told the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee that overtime is a major driver of the city's projected fiscal shortfall and that three areas—fire, police and solid waste—account for the bulk of the increase.

Jones said overtime represents about $65 million of the FY2025 general fund personnel budget and that the controller's office projects combined overtime for fire, police and solid waste could exceed department budgets by roughly $72 million; the monthly report already captured about $59 million of that increase. Jones told the committee the controller's office is monitoring a potential structural shortfall of about $330 million in the FY2025 operating budget once recurring and nonrecurring items are carried forward.

Jones reviewed department‑level trends. Solid waste, he said, has exceeded its overtime budget in seven of the past ten years and is projected to spend about $7.1 million in FY2025, roughly double its 2016 level. Jones highlighted persistent staffing shortages for critical classifications—senior side‑loader operators and refuse truck drivers—and said average overtime hours and payouts are concentrated among a relatively small set of employees. \"The average solid waste overtime worker already received about $13,000 in overtime pay\" through the July–March payroll window Jones analyzed, he said.

For the Houston Police Department, Jones said overtime has exceeded budget every year in the last decade and the FY2025 projection of about $39.8 million surpasses the current budget by roughly $26.1 million. Jones noted a possible additional exposure of about $12 million if federal grant funding does not cover overtime related to certain initiatives. \"Police has been able historically to manage overtime through vacancy savings,\" Jones said, but that buffer is eroding as vacancies are filled.

Fire department overtime showed the largest year‑over‑year increase. Jones reported an FY2025 projection of about $88 million in overtime, almost triple the 2016 figure and roughly $42.7 million above the current budget. He flagged multiple causes: overtime, an increase in phase‑down pay (a program that allows eligible firefighters nearing retirement to remain on payroll while using accrued leave and retaining active insurance), expanded special pays, and response costs tied to the winter storm Enzo that are not eligible for federal reimbursement.

Jones described actions the city has taken to recruit and retain staff—pay increases, limited sign‑on bonuses and additional cadet classes for HPD—but said those measures had not yet produced a sustained reduction in overtime. He told the committee the city had added vehicles to the solid waste fleet and increased contracting for heavy‑trash pickup, but overtime trends continued upward. Jones also said the controller's audit division plans a formal engagement to probe overtime drivers and payroll controls.

Committee members pressed for operational alternatives and more granular data. Council Member Joaquin Martinez and others asked for deeper analysis of how service delivery models and shift patterns might reduce overtime. Council Member Abby Kamen cautioned that many solid waste employees are low‑paid and work strenuous schedules; she urged care in any policy changes affecting those workers. Fred Flickinger asked what percentage of overtime payout results from more hours worked versus higher hourly overtime rates after recent pay increases; Jones said pay‑cycle hours and payroll data were part of the staff analysis and offered to provide additional breakdowns.

Jones concluded that, with salary savings unlikely to offset the projected overtime exposure, the fund balance may be the remaining near‑term option to cover costs unless other revenue or expenditure changes emerge. The committee asked for follow‑up information on hours, top earners, and details about premium and double‑time payments introduced in recent collective bargaining agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Budget and Fiscal Affairs - Apr 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy City Controller Will Jones told the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee that overtime for fire, police and solid waste is at or near record levels and could increase general‑fund personnel spending by tens of millions this fiscal year; auditors will examine overtime practices further.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6619295,"Houston finance offices report diverging year‑end projections; controller includes $100.3M drainage transfer",1191,60000,1251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838308-c8edc519de747f3b40f606ddab001c9f&start=60&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838308-c8edc519de747f3b40f606ddab001c9f/thumbnail_60000.jpg","/articles/6619295/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-finance-offices-report-diverging-yearend-projections-controller-includes-1003M-drainage-transfer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619295-d013675b91c1e4b060dba88a3d976ae9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775901639&Signature=Ot68PMTKz1t4uMAasHxDNP~iP9mSKUcG6rrgDs8ew3lY4MRWRtsYIuEciQ1e~Qa6Y2XZu1~v54zuuG35-a2OkSS3pMNcpAGiz0Ddu2thFfG0RhZp7bwdxIuq7XGFyNQX9bju67Xop56v-pXEnXQ7M1-IupkQ4rMKYcChC6HV-lc6Urjo0oP-vWMi0fDJFzOLPb1JcK6FlDkHOj5IGAVBVkI4SxeWUyzwOb15isako4~0IDiw87pl~8uRVV1J3n0XZU9sgg2-YUveTeYNc9SJfU560v4TU392fJTzW4BQBsYmb-T2UfFdgw7AKhJs2CpeOzk6T~V94SP0vr0hebLJ0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Controller Chris Hollins told the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee that his office is \"projecting an ending fund balance of $228,000,000 or 8.8% of expenditures less debt service and pay as you go for fiscal year 2025.\" He said that figure was about $121.2 million lower than the finance department's projection.

The gap between the two projections stems, Hollins said, from different revenue and expenditure forecasts and from the controller's inclusion of a roughly $100.3 million required transfer from the general fund to finance city drainage projects this fiscal year. Finance Director Melissa Dubasky said the finance department's 8+4 report shows a higher projected fund balance of $349,200,000, or 13.5% of estimated expenditures excluding debt service and pay‑as‑you‑go.

The difference does not mean the city is out of reserve; both presenters said the fund balances exceed the city's target of holding 7.5% in reserve. But the divergence matters for the FY2026 budget discussions under way: Dubasky described the 8+4 report as the staff estimate produced \"immediately preced[ing] the general appropriations, which we'll be bringing to council at the end of this month.\" Hollins and Dubasky both noted that many estimates will still change as more revenue and expenditure information becomes available.

Both offices reported net increases to revenues and expenditures since the January report. Revenue upward revisions called out by the controller include an additional $32.3 million from sale of capital assets tied to TxDOT condemnation of the HPD South Central substation and roughly $18 million from higher‑than‑anticipated ambulance fees. On the expense side, both offices listed large upward adjustments for public safety: Hollins and Dubasky reported an increase of about $54.6 million in the fire department (overtime, special pay, phase‑down and storm response costs) and roughly $20.4 million in the police department (overtime and funding for a sixth cadet class).

Other amounts cited in the presentation include: a $3.7 million transfer from the combined utility system tied to consolidation of 311 services; increases in licenses and permits (about $1.55 million); and a $9.1 million projected decrease in intergovernmental revenues tied to lower municipal service fees from a local tax increment area. Enterprise funds showed mixed results: aviation operating revenues were down about $14.9 million, while combined utility system operating revenues rose about $53.3 million.

Committee members pressed staff on several items during the question period. Council Member Abby Kamen asked whether reimbursements for firefighter deployments typically exceed actual expenditures; Dubasky said reimbursements generally cover the costs and, in some cases, produce a net gain. Council Member Julian Ramirez asked for more detail on the $9.1 million intergovernmental shortfall; Dubasky said about half of that shortfall was driven by the Uptown TIRZ not transferring its full municipal service amount based on updated taxable‑value projections. Dubasky agreed to provide the committee with more detail on the formula used to allocate that charge.

On disaster spending, Dubasky told the committee that, as of Feb. 28, the city had paid $93.1 million in debris removal invoices and received $99.7 million in funding, including $77 million from FEMA and $22.7 million in state reimbursements.

As the meeting closed, both Hollins and Dubasky emphasized that the reports represent a snapshot ahead of the FY2026 budget and that estimates will be refined. Dubasky noted capital and operating timing effects that can create month‑to‑month shifts in projections. The committee will consider the general appropriations ordinance and budget materials later in the month.

","Controller Chris Hollins and Finance Director Melissa Dubasky presented differing projections for the city's fiscal 2025 ending fund balance, a gap driven largely by the controller's inclusion of a required transfer for drainage projects and differing revenue and expenditure assumptions.","actionData","errors"]

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City presentation warns overtime in fire, police and solid waste could add about $72M to general‑fund spending

Houston finance offices report diverging year‑end projections; controller includes $100.3M drainage transfer