Governance

Houston Mayor Says All Three Pension Boards Support Reform Deal

After a 7-2 vote from the firefighters' pension board, the pension deal goes next to city council.

Undocumented Immigrants Face Another Arduous Journey Once They Get to US: Its Health Care System

Without access to a health care safety net, undocumented immigrants are further disadvantaged.

Understanding the Education Gamble on Houston Ballots This November

As the biggest school district in Texas, could Houston get the state to update its funding finally?

Years After Recession's End, Cities Nationwide Still Face Some Financial Headwinds

Revenue is finally bouncing back for cities nationwide. But big hurdles remain.

How Houston Can Address Its 111,000 Young People Who Don't Work or Attend School

Given the vast numbers of disconnected young people -- and the cost of inaction -- the time to consider a different approach is now, a new Kinder Institute report argues.

Why 1 in 7 Young Houstonians Neither Works Nor Attends School

The latest Kinder Institute study explores the best ways governments and nonprofits can successfully reach "disconnected" young people.

Harris County Votes to Move Forward With First Phase of Astrodome Renovation

Harris County commissioners voted Tuesday to go forward with plans to raise the floor of the Astrodome and install 1,400 indoor parking spaces beneath it.

Experts Weigh in on Houston Mayor's Pension Proposal

Several panelists say they need more details before they can determine whether the plan is likely to succeed.

Examining the Math Behind Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's Pension Reform Plan

The Kinder Institute analyzes the details of Houston's new pension reform package and explains how it compares to efforts in other cities.

Houston Mayor Announces Pension Reform Package

Mayor Sylvester Turner says the plan will immediately reduce the city's unfunded liability by $2.5 billion. But not all the stakeholders are on board quite yet.

Suburban Sprawl and Poor Preparation Worsened Flood Damage in Louisiana

Craig E. Colten | September 6, 2016 If there is one lesson we have learned about floods, it is that records are made to be broken.

Mayoral Elections in Indiana: 2003-2015

The report examines a host of indicators regarding mayoral elections in Indiana, including mayoral races in 474 general elections and 706 primary elections in more than 120 Indiana cities.

Report: Indiana Mayoral Offices Shifting From Democrats to Republicans

Meanwhile, more than 20 percent of all mayoral elections in Indiana go uncontested.

Houston's Pensions Can Be Fixed, But as Other Cities Show Us, There's No Silver Bullet

The good news, for Houston, is there are clear steps it can take to manage its pension finances. The bad news? Almost all of them will cause some pain.

The Houston Pension Question: How the City's Pension Liability Grew and the Options for Reform

This report presents options for pension reform.