Includes police officers, investigators, investigative equipment, crime lab, police facilities and city jailing facilities. Average compensation (salary, overtime and benefits) for a classified employee is $102,057.

Includes fire and EMT personnel, fire trucks, Ambulances and Haz-Mat response requirements. The average compensation (salary, overtime and benefits) for a classified employee is $94,574.

Includes judges, clerks, administrators, and courthouse infrastructure.

Includes management of dispatch system for police and fire and is central command during emergency situations.

Includes garbage collection services, recycling, heavy trash collection and dead animal pick up. Weekly cost to operate the department is $390,029 plus support staff, maintenance and fleet costs.

Includes management, maintenance, security, and all building support services for all city property.

Includes a centralized location to manage the electricity bills for all city buildings

Includes administration, planning, maintenance, construction management and technical engineering of the city's infrastructure.

Includes all expenses related to traffic lights and streetlights for the City of Houston

Includes enforcement of all land development codes, also produces and implements Geographic Informational Service (GIS) for City Departments. GIS is used by police, fire, public works and the Houston Emergency Center.

Includes an extensive research and circulation book collection for the citizens of Houston and youth programs. Total annual cost of an average branch library is $649,449; total annual cost of an average central library is $2,215,351.

Includes maintenance for over 360 Houston park facilities, 40 community centers and after-school and summer youth. It costs $196,425 a year to staff an average community center. Maintenance, building costs, utility costs and program costs are included in other departments’ budgets.

Includes funding to help maintain and operate the Houston Zoo.

Includes operation of community health centers, public health initiatives and preparation for a health related disaster in Houston.

Includes aid to low-income homeowners to rehabilitate their homes, assist residents in becoming homeowners and expanding the supply of safe, affordable housing.

Includes managing the city budget and monitoring expenditures.

“The City’s Lawyer” – includes representing the city in all legal proceedings, drafting legal opinions and contracts for the City and supporting the demolition of dangerous buildings.

Includes managing city contract bids, capital procurement, and the BARC animal shelter.

Provides shelter and care for stray animals.

“Auditor for Houston” - includes assessing the city’s financial situation, certifying that all city budgets are fiscally sound and auditing city departments to ensure maximum efficiency.

“CEO of Houston” - includes overseeing and leading all aspects of city government.

Ensures open and equal access to city contracts by small, minority and women owned businesses.

“Houston’s Board of Directors” including serving as the legislative body for the city, working with the Mayor to draft and implement city ordinances, regulations, and budget priorities.

Includes implementing technology improvements to the city’s workforce and maintaining city information and computer systems.

Includes working with city departments to ensure productivity of the municipal workforce and managing health plans, worker’s compensation and disability programs.

Includes maintaining all official city records, including city council minutes, city elections and contract bids.

Includes citywide costs not attributable to any single department, such as city memberships, claims and judgments, interest on short-term borrowing, tax appraisal fees, health insurance for retired civilians and the METRO Transit Program for General Fund Departments.

Property Tax Rate

The current tax rate for the city is 63.875 cents per $100 of taxable value. The taxable value net of exemptions is $132.2 billion. Every 1 cent increase in the tax rate is equal to $13,220,000.