HOUSTON – Houston City Council is set to take a final vote Wednesday on Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed $7.5 billion budget — and one item is getting a lot of attention.
A proposed $5 monthly trash administrative fee would mark a first for Houston. The city has never charged residents directly for trash pickup before.
City officials say the fee is about shoring up the budget and keeping city services funded. If approved, it’s estimated to bring in between $24 million and $25 million a year.
Officials say the money would help get public works employees in place to pick up trash and get all five solid waste collection centers up and running. Right now, only two are operational.
Under the plan, the fee would stay at $5 for two years, then increase by $5 each year after that — reaching $25 per month by fiscal year 2032.
Wondering what it would look like on your bill? The solid waste cart fee line on your water bill would be renamed “Solid Waste Cart and Administrative Fee,” with a new total of $6.29 — combining the current $1.29 cart fee with the proposed $5 charge.
While city council members will have the final say Wednesday, it’s everyday residents who will feel the impact most.
“I’m on disability, limited income — I have to watch my pennies, so I think it will affect me,” said Rosario Escobedo, a Houston resident.
Maria Rodriguez, who lives in Denver Harbor, says she’s been paying close attention to the proposed fee.
“$5 is $5 — it’s not much, but it adds and adds and adds when rates are still going up,” Rodriguez said.
The debate has also played out on social media since news of the proposal first broke. Some residents say they’re OK with the fee if it helps crack down on illegal dumping. Others are asking a more pointed question — will paying more actually mean better trash service?
It’s worth noting that Houston is currently the only major city in Texas that does not charge a monthly solid waste fee. In San Antonio, residents pay between $19 and $35 a month. Dallas residents pay $40. In nearby cities like Pasadena, Sugar Land and League City, the monthly fee tops $20.
As for where the mayor stands, a spokesperson for Whitmire’s office told KPRC 2 the mayor is confident he has the support he needs to pass the budget.