Pessimistic Budget Rhetoric By Houston Mayoral Candidates Irks Some City Officials

Candidates for mayor bring it up all the time: Houston, we have a budget problem.

Some of those currently occupying elected office for the city of Houston argue it's not that bad.

At this week's city council meeting, Council member Dwight Boykins had a request for the city's financial officers.

"Can you both do me a favor?" he asked. "To all those candidates that (are) running for mayor, set the record straight on TV that our city is not bleeding."

City Controller Ronald Green was happy to comply.

"We have some challenges," he said. "So please, if anybody is talking about the challenges over the next few years, we absolutely have those challenges. Is this a city that is about to be bankrupt? Absolutely not."

A newly released white paper by the Greater Houston Partnership confirms this assessment.

It says while Houston is enjoying some of the most solid growth in the nation, it's expenses – especially employee pensions – that present a serious challenge going forward.