Houston mayor unveils results from citywide efficiency study

Today, Mayor John Whitmire and his leadership team presented the findings of a citywide efficiency study for Houston's 22 municipal departments. The study, supported by Ernst & Young LLP (EY), began in August 2024 and focused on performance, organization, financial spending, and forensic accounting.

The report identified several areas needing improvement. Issues included non-compliant use of city credit cards, excessive time spent by employees on emails and meetings instead of public service, and a significant number of supervisors managing only three or fewer employees. The administration emphasized its commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Mayor Whitmire remarked, "It is so revealing why Houstonians are frustrated and why I will not go to them and ask for additional resources until we gain their confidence that we are using their money wisely."

Key findings were categorized into four areas:

1. Performance and Accountability: While Houston tracks progress through performance measures, it needs to focus on outcomes that matter to residents, such as emergency response times and reducing community disparities.

2. Operations and Efficiency: Employees face unnecessary administrative tasks due to outdated structures that hinder filling vacancies and retaining talent.

3. Spending and Procurement: The current procurement approach requires improvement due to duplicative contracts and inconsistent vendor practices.

4. Financial Controls and Risks: Vulnerabilities were found in resource management like procurement card usage. Strengthening these controls is necessary for responsible spending.

"This efficiency study highlights my commitment to responsible governance," said Mayor Whitmire. "We take these findings seriously and are already taking steps to eliminate waste, duplication, and corruption while ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed efficiently."

Chief of Staff Chris Newport noted the concentration of spending with a small percentage of vendors: "80% of the dollars the city spent in 2024 was with 6% of our vendors." He suggested more strategic vendor relationships could yield savings without compromising supplier diversity goals.

Senior Advisor Cynthia Wilson added, "This is about us all being better...so they can be more effective and efficient."

In response to the study's findings, Mayor Whitmire's administration has initiated a corrective action plan with priorities including revamping performance tracking systems, streamlining government structures, improving spending practices, and strengthening financial oversight.

"We are dedicated to addressing these issues proactively," said Mayor Whitmire. "Our goal is to make the necessary improvements while maintaining the trust and confidence of Houstonians."