April 27, 2016

Dear Home Owner's Association Representative:

As you may have seen in the news this past week, Mayor Sylvester Turner has proposed eliminating the sponsorship program that subsidizes neighborhoods that receive garbage collection services from private companies, much like your neighborhood does.

Should this program be eliminated from the Fiscal year 2017 budget, home owners associations will have the option to either continue with their contract with a private company of their choice without being reimbursed the $6 per household or opt-in to receiving trash collection service through the City of Houston.

The city would provide the following residential services:
?Residential garbage collection one day per week
?Weekly yard waste collection
?Every other week curbside recycling collection
?Once-per-month collection of tree waste/junk waste (in alternating months)
?Dead animal collection
?Residents will be required to place their trash receptacles at the curb to receive service. SWMD drivers to not provide "back door" services to residents as part of the standard service offered.

I have vocalized my disapproval of the mayor's proposal and believe that eliminating this program would not have a significant impact to balancing the near $160 million budget deficit. It is my belief that balancing a budget should never fall on the tax payers who are already paying for an outsourced service. It is not right, not equitable and certainly not fair.

Additionally, Mayor Turner has repeatedly stated that all departments and Houstonians need to share in the sacrifice. As District E has received a mere 3% of the FY16 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget I do not see this as being accurately fair asking residents to forfeit a service that they have chosen to opt into and would like to keep.

While discussion about this particular budget cut is in the preliminary stages, I encourage you to voice your opinion by contacting the Mayor's Office at mayor@houstontx.gov.

It is a privilege to serve you at City Hall. As we move forward with these and other pertinent budget discussions, I assure you that the interests of District E constituents will be of the highest priority. You deserve equitable spending in the district as well as fair representation at City Hall.

Sincerely,

Dave Martin

Council Member

District E 

I mean really...we already PAY for trash service AND HO dues. HO fees alone are $500.00 per year now And trash is billed every 3 months... You mean the city kicks in $6.00? How often? 

We have had this in Sherwood Trails since annexation 

no surprise, here- I'm paying way more for sewer fees than for water- un-real- 

And I thought he had said annexation of KW was a big regret of his... 

The city "subsidizes" each residence 6.00 a month if the village does not use city trash collection. 

I wonder if this only applies to more affluent areas- 

Wouldn't it cost the city more than $6 a month per household?

Why do this? 

You left out a significant part of information here... If you go read the entire proposal you will find that this effects a mere 4700 homes. Kind of a "drop in a large bucket" when you consider the number of homes in Kingwood. 

A lot of people in KW already have CoH trash and it is covered by their HOA. In Elm Grove we don't pay anything extra for trash/recycle pickup 

Lived here 30 plus years.

Don't remember getting screwed by the COH. 

Lived here 30 plus years. Don't remember getting screwed by the COH.

Unless you have a well in your yard, you've been getting screwed on your water bill ever since the annexation. 

When did he screw you the first time? 

Unless you have a well in your yard, you've been getting screwed on your water bill ever since the annexation.

Not so. Some water bills went down, some went up, and some stayed about the same. 

Lived here 30 plus years.

Don't remember getting screwed by the COH.

LOL.......... Trust me. You're getting screwed. 

Water bill rates go up religiously every April 1 for city of Houston residents. It takes a lot to break even with an irrigation meter these days due to their rate tables.

Trash pickup is $6 per house prr month. We pay this in our taxes. The least Houston can do is reimburse us when we don't use their services. Write to the mayor. 

LOL.......... Trust me. You're getting screwed

LOL. Consider the source. You don't explain how, just "trust me". You sound like Trump. 

Water bill rates go up religiously every April 1 for city of Houston residents. It takes a lot to break even with an irrigation meter these days due to their rate tables.

Summer rates used to start June 1. Then May 1. Now April 1. Of course they lose money when it rains this much. So they reap their profits by upping the rates earlier in the year. WAter irrigation only rids you the cost of sewer. You still have to pay for the water. I wish I had gotten a real well backwhen. 

Summer rates used to start June 1. Then May 1. Now April 1.


It's been April 1 for a good decade. They're not called summer rates. They are annual price increases. 

The mayor has changed his mind. He realized it would cost more for the city than it would save.

Change of mind 

The mayor has changed his mind. He realized it would cost more for the city than it would save.

He must read KU...LOL 

Nothing new from Turner. He just received a nice donation and changed his mind. 

Juan definitely didn't read the article and/or doesn't understand the logic behind the mayor's decision. He'd just rather be derogatory about it. 

after reading RW's link, I was right- it would be the more affluent neighborhoods- namely us- I guess we're OK, for now- 

Sylvester will anticipate, extrapolate, conjugate and formulate the proper and just justice for this fine city's constituency with equality and yet more justice for all. (and fix the potholes) 

You have to go a little deeper than just the article. 

Total unadultered speculation on your part, Juanie. 

It's Houston politics. I am not trying to convince you nor do I care. 

Basis or proof? 

Mayor Turner withdrew this proposal a few days ago. There were many complaints from residents who would be affected; however, the Clear Lake area HOAs banded together, sending him a letter stating they would opt for city trash service if the subsidy were to be withdrawn. Since garbage service costs the city $18/month for their own pickup and only gives the HOAs a paltry $6/month, they would have lost a lot of money. Did the Kingwood HOAs do anything?