Breaking it down
The CIP budget was passed unanimously, with council members Abbie Kamin, Mary Huffman, Tiffany Thomas, Edward Pollard and Twila Carter absent.
The $16.7 billion budget is a $2.2 billion increase compared to FY 2025-29. Half of the CIP is going toward improving the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure, with the water utility system receiving $4.3 billion and wastewater treatment facilities receiving $3.8 billion.
Nearly $2.6 billion is going to Build Houston Forward, an initiative to improve the city’s drainage system and streets. Funding is going toward projects such as:
- $750 million: citywide street and traffic rehabilitation
- $775 million: neighborhood drainage
- $131 million: regional stormwater detention
- $128 million: Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project
- $2.01 billion: George Bush International for the Terminal B redevelopment project
- $643 million: William P. Hobby for improvements to the airport’s taxiway and runways, restrooms and HVAC system
- $49 million: Ellington Field/Spaceport for improvements to its airfield and drainage master plan construction
- $246 million: over the next five years toward city vehicles
- $112 million: repairs to municipal courts as part of Hurricane Harvey recovery
- $18.3 million: new fire station located at 5830 Old Spanish Trail in South Houston
- $16.8 million: new fire station located at 910 Forest Cove Drive in Kingwood
City Council approved four amendments out of the 21 offered. Notable amendments that were approved included:
- Amendment 6.01 from council member Amy Peck: $2 million shall be moved from FY 2029-2030 to FY 2026-2027 for the Northwest Police Station Replacement Project
- Amendment 16.02 from council member Martha Castex-Tatum: add a project in the CIP to build and complete the Westwood Subdivision Drainage analysis, which is needed to address severe flooding in the Westwood community
“I’ve heard from many members of the community who support this idea and want to see it move forward,” Ramirez said. “For those of you, I say, we’re not giving up, we’re not waving the white flag on this.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he supports the idea and hopes to get a “working product” on the policy. He said his administration and city’s directors are an “open door” and are willing to communicate and send as many reports to council members as possible.
“These directors are our directors, the public’s directors, and you can have as much access and information as you want,” Whitmire said.
Council member Edward Pollard said this proposed policy started after numerous council members noticed last-minute changes made to infrastructure projects.
“Conversation has come from lack of transparency and notice when we hear last minute about changes to ongoing projects that many times may not even be on the CIP specifically, but could be under Public Works, could be under TIRZ,” Pollard said.
Related highlights
An ordinance proposed by council member Mario Castillo to allow a public session to occur once a month in the evening to boost community engagement with City Council was also tagged during the meeting and will reappear on the agenda July 9.
Castex-Tatum, who tagged the ordinance, said she wanted to receive more public feedback on the matter.
