Houston Mayor John Whitmire is expected to propose a monthly fee for trash services as part of a plan to close a $174 million deficit in the budget he will present Tuesday, Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas confirmed Thursday.
The new fee would start at $5 per month for the first two years, then increase annually by $5 until it reaches $25 per month, she said. Five other sources briefed on the plan said they were given the same information.
The proposal would be a significant shift in how Houston funds one of its most visible and troubled services, and would make the city the last major Texas city to adopt a garbage fee. It also underscores the scale of the city’s financial strain, as officials consider a rare step – new revenue – to stabilize a budget that pays for police, fire and other core services…