Friday, May 27, 2022
Bill King Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Bill
  • Policy Discussion
  • Categories
  • Tune in
  • Home
  • About Bill
  • Policy Discussion
  • Categories
  • Tune in
No Result
View All Result
Bill King Blog
No Result
View All Result
Home City Of Houston Finances

There is no “New” Lockbox in Proposition A

by Bill King
October 13, 2018
in City Of Houston Finances, Rebuild Houston, Rebuild Houston - Drainage Fee
2
Quote of the Week – Will Rogers on the Democratic Party
Share this article
  

I spoke to someone last night who had attended the City’s townhall meeting in Kingwood on the propositions on the ballot.  The person with whom I spoke left the meeting with the impression that the ballot provision represents a new and improved lockbox.  This is absolutely not the case.  The lockbox language we are voting on this year is exactly the same language that we voted on in 2010.

To briefly review the history of this sordid affair, the original proposition was narrowly passed by voters in 2010.  Some taxpayers filed a lawsuit to set aside that election on the basis that the ballot language was misleading because it did not disclose that the program was financed by a new drainage fee.  The Supreme Court ultimately agreed, calling the omission egregiously misleading, and ordered a new election on the proposition.  That new election is what is on the ballot this year.  It is the same proposition; only the ballot language has changed.

Back in the 2010 election, there was a great deal of debate about how effective the lockbox provisions in the proposed charter amendment would be.  That debate is over, because we now have a seven-year history of how effective the lockbox was.  And the answer is “not at all.”

Ted Oberg’s recent report (click here) documents that since Rebuild Houston was implemented, street and drainage spending has declined, notwithstanding that we are paying an extra $100 million per year in drainage fees.  Also, the program has not paid down the City’s debt as promised (click here for discussion of debt repayment).

Einstein famously said that the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same and expect different results.  When you have a lockbox that allows its funds to be used to hire a hike and bike coordinator, it would indeed be insane to reauthorize that program.

We need to vote down Proposition A and petition next year for the adoption of a real lockbox.  I can assure you that a real lockbox is the last thing the folks down at City Hall want!

ShareTweet

Bill King

Related Posts

City’s 2021 Pension Reports
City Of Houston Finances

City’s 2021 Pension Reports

January 3, 2022
The Cost of Nationalizing Local Elections
City Of Houston Finances

The Cost of Nationalizing Local Elections

September 24, 2021
Quote of the Week – “Never Waste a Good Crisis”
City Of Houston Finances

Quote of the Week – “Never Waste a Good Crisis”

June 30, 2021
“Highlights” from the City’s Audit
City Of Houston Finances

“Highlights” from the City’s Audit

January 13, 2021
City and County Should Approve Purchase of Land to Protect Elm Grove
City Of Houston Finances

City and County Should Approve Purchase of Land to Protect Elm Grove

December 8, 2020
Update on City of Houston Finances
City Of Houston Finances

Update on City of Houston Finances

November 19, 2020
Load More
Next Post
Quote of the Week – Will Rogers on the Democratic Party

Proposition A Will Commit Houston Taxpayers to the Rebuild Debacle Through 2031

Comments 2

  1. Fred Johnson says:
    4 years ago

    what happens to the $100 million per year that citizens have been paying since 2010 if the Prop A fails? Curious.

    Reply
    • Bill King says:
      4 years ago

      The City will continue to spend it however they please either way. We need to petition for a real lockbox next year.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By Categories

  • Book Review
  • City Of Houston Finances
  • Climate Change
  • COVID-19
  • Crime
  • Demographics
  • Economics
  • Election Reform
  • Environment
  • Ethics
  • Faith
  • Federal Government Finances
  • Flooding
  • Harris County
  • Harvey Recovery
  • homeblog
  • Human Trafficking
  • Hurricane Preparation
  • Ike Dike
  • Immigration
  • Kingwood
  • Management Districts
  • Media
  • Mobility
  • Montrose Management District
  • National Economy
  • National Economy
  • National Politics
  • Pensions
  • Police Polices & Procedures
  • Police Policies & Procedures
  • Political Parties
  • Property Taxes
  • Public Health
  • Quote of the Week
  • Race
  • Rebuild Houston
  • Rebuild Houston – Drainage Fee
  • SAM Party
  • Social Security
  • State of Texas
  • State of Texas Finances
  • TIRZ
  • Uncategorized
  • Uptown
  • Utility Grid
Bill King Blog

Posts range from local to national issues and focus on fact-based analysis, avoiding hyperbole and partisanship. The site is intended to be an open, respectful discussion of the critical issues of our day. Contact Bill directly and let him know what matters to you - weking@weking.net

Recent News

  • “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
  • Poll:  58% of Voters Would Consider Moderate Independent in 2024 And Utah Democrats Make a Surprise Move

Our Social Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Bill
  • Policy Discussion
  • Categories
  • Tune in