[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6427235,"mediaKeyId","5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8","parentId",5906816,"title","Houston and Harris County health officials report ongoing collaboration; discuss options for deeper consolidation","audioSeconds",549,"startMs",4103000,"endMs",4652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8&start=4103&end=4652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8/thumbnail_4103000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6427235/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-and-Harris-County-health-officials-report-ongoing-collaboration-discuss-options-for-deeper-consolidation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427235-9947a820fbd52bedbb85665380bd28f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492291&Signature=NRNbIqQRdYB1lgzOyiGGdSE-0chUq4knlOCwmK14CME4CBOf7qyHKSW5iU9fgVyQrj~wKM7Y12CDJRTfbSiFrlbGOIoP28O4Bigegpixd8jAG3Sef5tRaF8pHM31V3QsW8kqOz8bFwPh62t7khIzHW3dB8nh7mpoa~~Tv5jdmnkqKe3Be4SIohdqs9w6U34mC9HLgZiN2OfOuJhxAukwcjjimw55oYkBVmFPaRIY~Oq8cKqFJKSwxm2NqEL62yHY2~w1oDKnpozYx7kjUBTnGN6GXx5DpHK9IwDHWXKLQA13OW5E~AqROFgZKDz-0HlWHJM7liJdYQVY8jj5RUJOSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","Houston — Harris County Public Health Director Leah Barton and Houston Health Department Director Dr. Tran briefed the committee on Oct. 20 on progress under the Feb. 2023 interlocal agreement and on possible next steps to expand collaboration, including longer‑term options that could require new taxing authority.

Barton, who said she and her new counterpart had jointly prepared materials for a Commissioners Court briefing on Oct. 30, emphasized the scale of existing collaboration. \"I have learned so much about the collaboration that's already happening,\" Barton told the committee, citing shared community health assessment and improvement planning, joint emergency preparedness and coordination on public‑information messaging.

Both directors pointed to concrete shared activities: a combined community health assessment and community health improvement plan (CHA/CHIP) process timed to serve mutual reaccreditation needs; coordinated responses for mass events and public‑health emergencies such as vaccination logistics and wastewater surveillance; and quarterly or reestablished operational coordination across environmental health, laboratory services and clinical services.

Barton and Dr. Tran identified data tools and electronic medical record (EMR) systems as key next steps to deepen collaboration. Barton noted Harris County's updated Epic implementation and said an EMR upgrade at Houston Health could unlock patient‑level data linkages and referrals across jurisdictions. \"If we're able to get that upgrade, you would see a lot of natural, data sharing that could happen through that,\" she said.

Both directors asked the committee and council for stable general‑fund support; they stated that heavy reliance on grants reduces stability for long‑term prevention programs. Barton described a longer‑term aspiration — a regional public‑health taxing authority or district — as a \"pie‑in‑the‑sky\" option that would require legislative action and broad regional buy‑in.

Public commenters urged the city to preserve public‑health jobs and services, expand maternal‑health access, and treat behavioral health and substance‑use care as core public‑health responsibilities. Laura Gallier, a District C resident who spoke during public comment, warned against cuts and urged reinvestment in mental health and substance‑use treatment. Another speaker, a social worker, urged deeper work to \"decarcerate\" mental‑health responses and recommended clinician leadership in public‑health agencies.

The committee asked for follow‑up materials on the CHA/CHIP timeline, a data‑sharing roadmap and cost estimates for EMR upgrades. Directors said they would return with a joint list of priority investments and potential funding sources.

Provenance: Joint presentation and Q&A on the Feb. 2023 interlocal agreement, community health assessment alignment, emergency response coordination and EMR/data‑sharing plans, followed by public comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget and Fiscal Affairs","oneSentenceSummary","Harris County Public Health Director Leah Barton and Houston Health Department Director Dr. Tran told the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee on Oct. 20 they already coordinate across assessments, emergency response and public communications under a Feb. 2023 interlocal agreement and said deeper consolidation would require stable funding and data‑system work.","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},6427238,"Houston to hold proposed tax rate steady; staff outlines fee options used by other Texas cities",2550,116000,2666000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8&start=116&end=2666","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6427238/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-to-hold-proposed-tax-rate-steady-staff-outlines-fee-options-used-by-other-Texas-cities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427238-d777d9de6ee329394352e820f5596b39/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492291&Signature=moFq6sk-pw4RHCBu~8c~DqoFtn~FzWyf7zp1uCcYNEzPFSC~-SeTZrC1e7qfUlhlImsdiCh3uxQ2R3t4henjkc2datVOqr6IK8q5tyG5RhE7EVIKcivazy5Rxd2viMEUX1vn3DffMe59Yozw~84~RuF2T7hGANkfrvX04OlL7VdrvbciYHr9b0FoV5X~Cqh3CuPc-HZEPoXhyH5noWNujDQD1zQFAPote7VNJr1QpCglau6X64ZXqqb8msUt4zMUFBtfufH5ojAEBnYzgldVxZho1wqSOOpbdiIz5WJDxUUF7S7j2z7e2gj521HsN3MeYTsapRKz1tjZnsXVXL382A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston — The Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee heard on Oct. 20 that the city will propose keeping its property tax rate unchanged at 51.919¢ per $100 of valuation and that decision would leave the city about $53 million short of the budgeted property tax revenue for FY2026, requiring a drawdown of fund balance.

Melissa Dabowski, the city's finance director, told the committee the \"prior year tax rate, which is our current proposed tax rate of 51.919¢,\" would generate an estimated $1,450,000,000 in property tax revenue and that the shortfall compared with the adopted budget is roughly $53,000,000. Dabowski said that with the proposed rate the city's projected ending fund balance would fall to about $321,500,000, or 12.66% of expenditures (excluding debt service and pay‑as‑you‑go capital).

Controller's office staff earlier presented two monthly snapshots with close but different fund balance estimates; Will Jones said the controller's monthly report projects an ending general‑fund balance of about $356,700,000 (14% of expenditures, excluding debt service and pay‑as‑you‑go) for FY2026, while the finance director's 2+10 projection showed $374,000,000. Dabowski explained differences reflect valuation and revenue timing and the budget assumptions used.

The committee also reviewed a staff comparison of other large Texas cities' revenue structures. The presentation noted Houston is the only large Texas city in the comparison that does not charge a residential garbage fee and that several peers receive substantial general‑fund transfers from municipally owned utilities. The finance office estimated, using a $33-per-household example and 415,000 households, a hypothetical solid‑waste fee could generate roughly $164,000,000 — a preliminary figure subject to the solid‑waste study now underway.

Committee members pressed staff on legal and technical limits. Members asked whether state law restricts transfers from enterprise funds; finance staff said those transfers often depend on local arrangements and, for some cities, on contract or covenant language tied to utility ownership and bond covenants. The presentation noted additional legal analysis would be required to determine whether Houston could replicate peer cities' utility transfers, and staff flagged that bond covenants could limit options.

Dabowski reminded the committee of the voter‑approved local revenue exceptions: Proposition 1 (2004) and Proposition H (2006). She summarized the statutory state cap changes from 2019 (Senate Bill 2) that reduced the state’s allowable maintenance-and-operations multiplier and explained that the city must compute multiple cap tests each year and adopt a rate compliant with the most restrictive test.

Council members asked about next steps. Dabowski said the city must present and publish tax calculations and that council will consider the tax rate at the required public hearing scheduled for the following day. Several council members urged staff to return with detailed legal analysis if the council wants to evaluate any fee or utility‑transfer options.

Provenance: The tax‑rate projection, fund‑balance impact, and peer‑city revenue comparisons are drawn from the finance director's and controller's presentations and the subsequent committee Q&A.","Finance Director Melissa Dabowski and Controller's office staff told the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee on Oct. 20 that the city plans to keep its proposed property tax rate at 51.919¢ per $100 of valuation; with that rate the city projects a roughly $53 million gap versus the adopted budget and would draw down general‑fund balance to about $321.5 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427250,"City reports lower bond borrowing cost; commercial-paper bank to be replaced after state certifications issue",494,358000,852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8&start=358&end=852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8/thumbnail_358000.jpg","/articles/6427250/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/City-reports-lower-bond-borrowing-cost-commercial-paper-bank-to-be-replaced-after-state-certifications-issue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427250-3530c79ed29910b5ab6bf9e962f6e560/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492291&Signature=RjQSmpWEMaFzhPGkHw7kHcOb1hwXJ9PfWJc0Ypem1RzoB54XYKOBabDi8uG35VwWpFiwifhXSRWf4WJKmZoG5Xbdl7VZDWwkAQrsJZOt3pqglSblFv76Xm1EZvWqFDoNBJcutEuCN14cJvvPNSm4dxiBu52GCXh5Y8VY9g1FMlWnG8qVzEjmGCG4bH3ZHfqLGAHWbTrh6ksMItqzOK5PPMJQdNzSdXiIkseaDsUJBgb7dxNMuXQ42FO78XrL84mpj4atI1jTXeKdDoPU6Q6OnHHro5krGCAGzgzq9pzzecvIRg5-z61c1xL4AG4B517jOKfFAJhAcDFM~Ubwc4OJ3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston — Controller's office staff and the finance working group told the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee on Oct. 20 that the city priced a public-improvement bond sale Sept. 15 with a true interest cost of 3.47% and will recommend replacing the bank backing a $125 million commercial paper line after Barclays said it could not provide state-required certifications.

The finance working group representative said the Sept. 15 transaction drew strong investor demand and allowed the city to lower interest costs during the order period and to negotiate an additional $55,000 in savings. \"All in, the true interest cost of the bond transaction was 3.47%, and represented a savings of debt service of approximately $3,000,000 over the life of the bonds,\" the presenter said.

Will Jones of the controller's office summarized monthly financials and noted the city's practice to limit variable‑rate debt exposure in line with rating‑agency guidance. Jones presented the period ending Aug. 31 projections for enterprise and general funds and answered technical questions from the committee.

On the commercial paper line, the finance working group said the city's $125 million facility, currently provided by Barclays, is expiring in November. The group recommended Bank of America for a three‑year replacement facility and will bring a recommendation to council for approval at a hearing tomorrow.

When asked why Barclays is being replaced, the finance working group representative told the committee: \"Barclays has indicated that they're unable to provide these certifications, and so they're no longer able to enter into new agreements or renew agreements in the state of Texas.\" He attributed Barclays' position to state laws discussed in recent legislative sessions (cited in the meeting as Senate Bill 13 and Senate Bill 19). The presenter also said pricing from Bank of America was about seven basis points lower than the city's existing provider.

Committee members asked about the city's overall debt posture and future bond elections. The finance representative said the city expects to layer additional debt as capital projects proceed but is in compliance with its local financial policy limiting debt service as a share of revenues.

The committee did not take a final vote on either the bond transaction (which already closed) or the commercial-paper replacement; those are scheduled for subsequent council action. The finance working group said it will provide full transaction details, including the formal recommendation and terms, at tomorrow's council agenda item.

Provenance: The presentation of the bond sale and costs and the explanation about Barclays' inability to provide certifications appear in committee comments summarizing the Sept. 15 sale and later in the discussion of the commercial paper replacement.","Controller and finance staff updated the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee on a Sept. 15 public-improvement bond sale that lowered the city's true interest cost and on a plan to replace Barclays as the backstop for a $125 million commercial paper line after the bank said it could not provide state-required certifications.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427232,"Houston First projects big economic gains from GRB South Building; neighbors, labor groups press for transparency and mitigations",2926,6085000,9011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8&start=6085&end=9011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906816-6cba6dddb130af84def1aca5ccca27f8/thumbnail_6085000.jpg","/articles/6427232/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-First-projects-big-economic-gains-from-GRB-South-Building-neighbors-labor-groups-press-for-transparency-and-mitigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427232-264089409d7fece085fdac9fd51f4d88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492291&Signature=LNavFEEt8FxWKh6FrJxlV~wqq8yiO~~TNyLjwryAHxLbch5il36Y9fuwLeafndM~ivBYvHmVzqx8F1gdVE9cdN4igTU0QxVz~08k-JyM3xThUU09SpSyj8YHPwsBIAWwcUy13yFkESBh5ZU8pvB8p3M4gaj7itG5uXjlKBD-Vgipt~vstZmO~~~OG834iiSPbX3MbJuYZ0-ETicKU~z93HXONEg5IRgqD~S7wtuXJKPdzFSEIBlca1DfeNzlhuFSOJO34JhQrFaVesZ7kv1A0v4n4-ip~ZCNHHjpa4sjCUv7SPSr74k2JzylKgrblWNqdHGZxwrW90oRnqyOsiqn2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston — Houston First officials and Hunden Partners presented the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee on Oct. 20 with a market study and fiscal model for the George R. Brown South Building expansion. The consultant projected the South Building alone could drive roughly $20.6 billion in long‑term new spending, generate 337,000 additional group room nights and produce a 30% increase in events held in a stabilized year after construction.

Michael Heckman, CEO of Houston First, described the expansion as a multidecade program to \"redefine the eastern edge of downtown\" and to bolster Houston's competitiveness for large conventions and events. Hunden Partners EVP Bethany DeRose summarized the market analysis: the expansion adds contiguous event space and would allow Houston to host overlapping, citywide‑scale events that the current footprint limits.

Hunden's analysis projects increases across revenue streams (79% facility rental increase and 93% food & beverage increase in a stabilized year) and estimated total tax collections of about $741 million attributable to the expansion over the modeled horizon. The consultants recommended an attached headquarters hotel of at least 800 rooms to capture the highest‑impact events and said the South Building expansion would reduce \"dark days\" — calendar gaps when the center is unused — by about two‑thirds.

Council members praised the economic case but pressed Houston First on community concerns raised by East End neighbors and labor groups. People for Polk, Unite Here 23 and other commenters asked the city to postpone any street abandonment or right‑of‑way approvals until appraisals for six affected public rights of way are complete, until JRC (Joint Resolution Committee) appraisal requirements are satisfied, and until detailed mitigation and traffic plans are provided.

Public speakers raised three recurring concerns: (1) sequencing — the city may spend on short‑lived street changes now that TxDOT's Northern Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) will later rework the same area; (2) lack of a full public budget and finance plan — speakers asked to see the full Hunden report and projected bond or PFC (project finance zone) repayment schedules before council action; and (3) neighborhood impacts — preservation of Polk Street and commitments to East‑West connectivity, particularly the two‑way conversion of Leland Street, were requested.

Labor and neighborhood advocates asked that Polk Street remain open while studies and appraisals are completed. Lisa Hunt of People for Polk said the group supports expansion in principle but called the current sequencing \"poor planning\" and requested appraisals and mitigation funds be secured before any abandonment vote. Amy Erickson asked the committee to delay action given 50% design stage and to ensure the city reserves funds for arts, parks and mobility.

Houston First said the financing plan will be reviewed publicly and that Houston First's board would consider the item in November; staff also pointed to the state legislation (cited in presentations as Senate Bill 1057 passed in 2023) that creates a project finance zone and provides dedicated PFC revenue over a 30‑year period. Houston First said PFC revenues are back‑ended over the statutory period and that the project would be financed by a combination of PFC receipts, HOT (hotel occupancy tax) growth and bonds. Hunden noted the city's obligation to carry any debt issued on its books and acknowledged conservative scenarios had been modeled for financing staff.

Committee members asked Houston First to continue community engagement, share the full feasibility and financial documents with council and staff, and coordinate with TxDOT and Public Works on any street changes. Houston First said it would continue to brief the council and to work on MWBE goals and community mitigation measures.

Provenance: Economic‑impact presentation and Q&A from Houston First and Hunden Partners; public comments from People for Polk, Unite Here 23 and other community members.","Houston First and consultants presented a feasibility and economic‑impact study projecting a substantial long‑term economic lift from a George R. Brown South Building expansion, but community groups and labor urged the council to delay right‑of‑way abandonment and provide detailed budgets, traffic mitigation, and completed appraisals before votes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Houston and Harris County health officials report ongoing collaboration; discuss options for deeper consolidation

Houston to hold proposed tax rate steady; staff outlines fee options used by other Texas cities

City reports lower bond borrowing cost; commercial-paper bank to be replaced after state certifications issue

Houston First projects big economic gains from GRB South Building; neighbors, labor groups press for transparency and mitigations