As Houston City Council prepares to vote on Mayor John Whitmire’s contentious $7 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, City Controller Chris Hollins has raised concerns regarding the city’s financial health and management.
Hollins has pointed out several “serious financial challenges,” specifically highlighting deficit spending, excessive overtime costs, and the potential risk of a downgrade in the city’s credit rating.
The disagreement between Hollins and Whitmire is not new; the two have had notable clashes over various issues during their 18-month tenure, notably the administration’s significant settlement with the firefighters’ union, issues surrounding overtime expenditures, and allegations of ethics violations.
The proposed budget is expected to be discussed during a city council meeting on Wednesday, a session that will include Hollins’ evaluation of the city’s current financial status presented in his monthly report.
Political expert Renee Cross of the University of Houston noted that the controller’s ability to assess the budget’s financial viability is a crucial element of his role, stating, “This is the time for the controller to shine or take center stage, as we are seeing currently.”
Budget Deficits Cause Concern
When Mayor Whitmire first rolled out his budget proposal in May, he characterized it as “balanced” and without a deficit.
However, Controller Hollins contested this claim, revealing a notable $107 million shortfall between projected revenues and proposed expenditures.
In his assessment, Hollins stated, “I’ve read in the press that this budget doesn’t have a deficit in it, when, in fact, it has a budget deficit of over $100 million,
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