Saw on the news today Whitmire is proposing a fee to support trash services "and other departments." it will be $5 per month for the first two years, then $25 per month after that. It is obvious the fees collected will go into the general fund, so we'll be right back here again some time in the future when trash service still sucks because the money is paying for other things.

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-propose-monthly-trash-service-fee/285-a72e962c-227a-4500-bcbc-b87a73d93736

"We're broke and we're running an efficient city," he said. "Our streets are improving, our public safety is improving, solid waste is improving, so it's part of running a big city."

Broke. Efficient city. Something doesn't square here...

Will the fee be refunded on days where trash/recycling isn't picked up?

"The mayor acknowledged Houston has not done anything like this before, though he noted other cities have taken similar steps"

That's because all cities are run by Democrat morons.

How about no more traveling for Harris county officials, you could probably fund trash service from eliminating that.

This is what happens when Democrats run government of any type. They have no Common Sense.

I don't mind paying for trash service as long as I have the option to pay a private collector to actually do the job.

I am going to a conference next week where he will be speaking.

Any questions you'd like me to ask and then report back?

There's probably $100MM or more of wasted, fraudulent spending in the annual budget. How about starting there?

someone gotta play for Sly's side piece, keep voting blue dummies.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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It is obvious the fees collected will go into the general fund, so we'll be right back here again some time in the future when trash service still sucks because the money is paying for other things.

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So they can spend it on whatever they want?

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Basically.

My first Master's thesis was about user fees as an effective alternative to tax-based funding of public programs. What I found was anytime user fees were tied to general funds they were almost universally siphoned off for other purposes not related to the original function for which the user fees were collected.

I think Whitmire was smart to refer to it as an "administrative fee" and then strongly emphasize funding trash services. That convinces the media and public to call it a "trash fee" and think that is its sole purpose, when in reality it's just a generalized fee that increases revenue to the general fund which may or may not ne used to pay for trash service..

redag06 said:

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Bibendum 86 said:

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I don't mind paying for trash service as long as I have the option to pay a private collector to actually do the job.

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Most of Kingwood does this.

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Because COH wanted to annex Kingwood for the tax revenue, but did not want to provide basic city services.

Courtesy Flush said:

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I am going to a conference next week where he will be speaking.

Any questions you'd like me to ask and then report back?

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Yes. Ask him if he knows how to go **** himself. Because that's what he can do if this **** passes.

I hear he wants to upgrade our trash bins.

Ryan the Temp said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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It is obvious the fees collected will go into the general fund, so we'll be right back here again some time in the future when trash service still sucks because the money is paying for other things.

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So they can spend it on whatever they want?

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Basically.

My first Master's thesis was about user fees as an effective alternative to tax-based funding of public programs. What I found was anytime user fees were tied to general funds they were almost universally siphoned off for other purposes not related to the original function for which the user fees were collected.

I think Whitmire was smart to refer to it as an "administrative fee" and then strongly emphasize funding trash services. That convinces the media and public to call it a "trash fee" and think that is its sole purpose, when in reality it's just a generalized fee that increases revenue to the general fund which may or may not ne used to pay for trash service..

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wait, you did a masters and self exposed the grift and corruption and STILL vote for it?

What I found was that partisanship had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that user fees almost never effectively replace tax-based revenue; they merely serve as an additional source of revenue.

ETA: Some of my research that did not make it into my thesis showed Republicans are far more likely to support creation of user fees instead of raising taxes, but are unlikely to reduce taxes following implementation of user fees.

I think Ryan is right, they both do it. Republicans like to raise fees and then claim they don't raise taxes.

Cynic said:

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I think Ryan is right, they both do it. Republicans like to raise fees and then claim they don't raise taxes.

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Just curious when the last time the city was run by republican/conservatives?!

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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Cynic said:

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I think Ryan is right, they both do it. Republicans like to raise fees and then claim they don't raise taxes.

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There were conservatives who pushed user fees over taxes for years, so it's not exactly a new or deceptive tactic. Part of the idea is that we know what we're paying for; the question is if that's where it's going.

In this case, it seems like they really do need increased revenue to pay for new trucks, so it might not be too unreasonable.

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Yeah, I know they said that but tell me when was this city run by conservative/republicans…

lol Whitmire is a confessed Democrap cute yall think he is conservative

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Whitmire served as a Democrat in the Texas Senate from 1983 to 2023.

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educate yourself.

Astroag said:

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Cynic said:

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I think Ryan is right, they both do it. Republicans like to raise fees and then claim they don't raise taxes.

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Just curious when the last time the city was run by republican/conservatives?!

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Just gotta look at state level for the Republican examples

Example 1: Toll roads