HOUSTON -- The Houston City Council took two controversial, yet critical votes Wednesday morning that will affect Houstonian's pocketbooks concerning the city's sewer problem and city budget.

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Council Accepts Drainage Fee, Rejects Rollback

The mayor threatened a complete furlough Wednesday if the council approved a 1 cent property tax rollback. However, a vote on the rollback failed 8-7.

Several council members opposed to the rollback accused others of political posturing during the election season.

Mayor Lee Brown said the furlough would have affected police and fire departments, as well as other city services.

In turn though, several city leaders accused Brown's administration of irresponsible spending and overall city hall mismanagement.

The city faces a $10-$26 million budget shortfall.

Council member Carroll Robinson blew up during Wednesday's meeting because he believed the council was not listening to his suggested money-saving ideas, instead going with the administration's suggestion that some cuts come from city services and department spending.

"Although council member Robinson got simple solutions, we'd rather do the senseless thing like put off police officers, put off fire folks -- I'm offended," Robinson said. "Now we can disagree with cutting the taxes, but you still got $16 million and there ain't one simple solution on here. Instead y'all are talking about telling my wife, my kid and the public that y'all are going to put off cadet classes. That's offensive!"

The council voted against the tax savings for property owners, but agreed to add a new fee for city storm drain management.

The drainage infrastructure fee will be an added $2 fee per month, most likely on citizen's water and sewer bills. Businesses and industries that are more demanding on the city's pipes will pay more.

The fee will address serious flooding issues that have devastated thousands of Houstonian's over the years.