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Advocates press city to comply with ad valorem drainage funding ruling as budget talks start
Summary
The Northeast Action Collective and other advocates asked the council to begin transferring the additional ad valorem funds ordered by courts for drainage projects, saying the administration had provided no plan and a city hiring freeze would prevent spending if the transfer is delayed.
Advocates from the Northeast Action Collective told City Council on March 20 that the city must act immediately to comply with a final court ruling requiring increased ad valorem transfers for drainage projects.
Alice Liu, a Northeast Action Collective organizer, said that after the Texas Supreme Court rejected the city’s second appeal in January, the city is legally required to transfer an additional $100,300,000 into the city’s DDSRF (drainage) fund by June 30. Liu said the administration had not released a plan describing when the transfer would occur, how the funds would be spent, or how hiring freezes would affect the department’s ability to expend the money.
Nut graf: Advocates said that absent a clear transfer and expenditure plan the city risks further legal and fiscal consequences; they urged council to press the administration for an immediate, transparent schedule and to avoid a blanket hiring freeze that would prevent public‑works staff from delivering projects.
Speakers warned a hiring freeze that exempts police and fire but not public works would make it impossible for public works to spend the money if transferred; advocates said public‑works staff have repeatedly told community groups they lack capacity to deliver current programs, let alone expanded work.
Council reaction: Councilmembers said they expect the administration to deliver timely answers to budget and policy questions and that finance staff said negotiations were underway with plaintiffs. Councilmember Alcorn said finance staff had assured him they expected to provide updates soon as the budget process begins.
Ending: Advocates announced a morning press event for March 21 to press for clarity and to ask councilmembers to demand a spending schedule and assurances that transferred dollars will be spent on local drainage projects.
