City of Houston, TX

Delivery delays for Boeing planes are impacting airports, with Southwest Airlines recently announcing it is pulling out or reducing flights at some facilities.

As the nation's fourth largest city faces a growing structural budget deficit, it is also expecting to issue more than $3 billion of debt for its airport, water and sewer system, convention center, as well as to fund a settlement with firefighters and for cash-flow purposes.

Under the proposed deal, the city would sell $650 million of judgment bonds to fund back pay for firefighters, whose wages would increase by up to 34% over the life of a new five-year contract.

Funding for a $2.55 billion expansion and renovation of George Bush Intercontinental Airport's Terminal B had been held up for months by the city's former and current controller.

The deal announced by Mayor John Whitmire last week would end an eight-year-long impasse with the firefighters union and require $650 million of judgment bonds.

The $650 million settlement will fund back pay for firefighters, who will also get future wage hikes.

The Houston City Council was unable to vote on initial financing for a $2.55 billion terminal renovation project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport without certification by the city controller.

The upcoming fiscal 2025 budget will take "some first steps" to address a structural gap of about $158 million, Melissa Dubowski said.

Mayor John Whitmire expressed confidence in Melissa Dubowski's ability to guide the city through its financial challenges.

Office sectors in some Southwest cities, including Houston, are stressed due to elevated vacancy rates that may lower assessed values and property tax revenue.