Budget committee reviews $16.7 billion five-year capital improvement plan

Houston finance officials briefed the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee on the proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), describing a $16.7 billion program that combines public improvement projects, the Build Houston Forward (formerly Rebuild Houston) street and drainage program, enterprise-funded utility projects and component-unit projects such as tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) work.

The presentation, delivered by the finance team, described the CIP as a “rolling five-year plan” that is updated annually and remains a live document as priorities and emergency needs change. The finance presentation broke the plan into four parts: the Public Improvement Program (largely paid for through general fund-supported debt service), Build Houston Forward for street and storm projects (funded by the drainage utility and developer impact fees plus other sources), enterprise funds (water/wastewater and airport systems), and component units (TIRZs, Houston Parks Board, Houston First, Houston Zoo). Finance estimated the total CIP at $16,700,000,000 and said the combined utility system accounts for the majority of the increase year over year.

Major line items and funding highlights included: municipal courts building construction ($112 million, with approximately $42.4 million in FEMA reimbursements subject to availability); two new fire stations (40 and 104); an increased fleet commitment ($246 million, up from $225 million last year); technology projects including the 3-1-1 system and SAP S/4HANA; Build Houston Forward street and traffic funding totaling about $1.49 billion (including $750 million for citywide street and traffic rehabilitation, $492 million for thoroughfares and collectors and $121 million for local streets); and storm drainage funding totaling about $1.16 billion (with $775 million for neighborhood drainage, $480…