METRO's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget is Better Because of You
Over the course of this budget cycle transit riders like you, and others across the region, showed up, spoke up, and shared their daily experiences of using METRO to help guide the METRO Board of Directors to a better budget. Your advocacy resulted in two big wins for transit riders.
No Service Cuts in Fiscal Year 2027!
Riders depend on fast, frequent, and reliable service to go about their lives. LINK Houston’s number one priority coming into this budget season was to ensure service was not cut. The community agreed and spoke up demanding the board take action. Thankfully they listened. No service will be cut for riders in Fiscal Year 2027. After the successful FIFA World Cup increase in service we know that METRO is capable of providing a transformational level of service to riders. We will continue to fight for increases in the FY 2028 budget and beyond.
No Risky Debt Restructuring.
In the first few iterations of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget METRO staff proposed a significant and costly debt restructuring to navigate a reduced sales tax forecast and upcoming debt payments. This move had the potential to lower the agency’s credit rating – limiting the amount of future borrowing, increasing the cost of future debt, and delaying much needed capital projects. Staff secured a revised sales tax forecast that allowed the board to avoid this approach.
Even with these two Big Wins, this Budget is Flawed. METRO’s still Diverting our Transit Dollars to Road Repaving.
Despite your advocacy the adopted budget is flawed. The one glaring issue is the continued diversion of $40 million dollars of transit funding to a senseless continuation of road paving that lacks meaningful benefits for transit riders. For three months you showed up at METRO meetings demanding transit dollars be spent on transit riders. You spoke up. We spoke up. The news reported widespread criticism of this budget item. Despite your advocacy the METRO board unanimously approved the paving money. We will continue to defend funding for transit riders in the region and we hope you’ll join us.
