Houston Budget Amendments: Garbage Fee Assistance & Illegal Dumping Funding Proposed

Houston City Council passed Mayor John Whitmire's $7.5 billion fiscal year 2027 budget on June 10, 2026. It includes Houston's first-ever garbage fee — $5 per month per household — plus $3 million to fight illegal dumping. Amendments to help low-income residents, seniors, and people with disabilities offset the new fee were also adopted.

Starting in fiscal year 2027, Houston households will pay $5 per month for trash pickup. That fee is projected to grow over time and eventually generate up to $25 million a year — part of a long-term plan to fully fund the solid waste department, which costs more than $100 million annually. Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio already charge similar fees. City Controller Chris Hollins flagged the fee as regressive, meaning it hits lower-income households harder in proportion to what they earn. To address that, the council adopted an amendment to offer financial assistance to qualifying low-income residents, people with disabilities, and seniors on fixed incomes. A separate $3 million amendment shifts money away from management consulting and toward illegal dumping enforcement — adding surveillance cameras, more enforcement officers, and heavy trash drop-off sites. That amendment drew backing from more than 100 community residents and organizations. The full budget passed 15–1.

Use this information to check whether you or someone you know might qualify for fee assistance, and to stay informed about new illegal dumping resources coming to your area. If the $5 monthly charge is a hardship for your household, look into the assistance program the city adopted. If illegal dumping is a problem on your block, the new funding could mean more options for reporting and cleanup.

No fixed date

Not location-specific

This budget decision connects to broader conversations about how Houston pays for basic city services, who bears the cost, and how neighborhoods deal with illegal dumping. It also touches on Houston's ongoing effort to close a projected budget deficit of around $200 million.

This budget affects nearly every Houston household. The new trash fee is a first for the city, and not everyone can absorb even a small monthly charge. The illegal dumping funding matters too — heavy trash piled on streets and in neighborhoods is a real quality-of-life issue across Houston. Knowing what passed helps you understand your bill and what help may be available.