COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SAYS NOTHING "GENERALLY FLAT" ABOUT 2013 BUDGET  
If City Holds the Line Below Sea Level It Will Drown Says Council Member Brown

Houston - City of Houston Council Member Helena Brown (District A) today issued the following statement about the proposed City of Houston Budget 2013.

"Yesterday the Mayor announced a "generally flat budget" that she said would "hold the line."  The problem is that the line is below sea level and the city is drowning in debt!

"After carefully reviewing the numbers from the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, it is clear that the City is faced with a dire financial situation. Last year Houston had a spending deficit of over $271,000,000, the city's population decreased by over 150,000 individuals, and not including the accumulating debt from a pension plan that guarantees an 8.5% return, we spent almost 6% over our revenue. The accumulated deficit since 2002 amounts to over $2.4 billion dollars!

"There is absolutely nothing "generally flat" about this budget other than as a city we are flat lining and if we "hold the line" we will be financially dead by July of 2013.  Next week I will be releasing some solutions that I believe might postpone the inevitable.  The only question is, will we respond to the electric shock of the defibrillator in time? We definitely need a direct shot of adrenaline to the heart and we need it now!"