HOUSTON -- Houston’s red light camera program has generated more than $45 million since it hit the streets, but the money is not going where it is supposed to go.
Half of the money is supposed to go to the state, but supposed to return to the City in the form of trauma-center funding.
"The state mandates that that money go back to trauma facilities in the area," Houston Mayor Annise Parker told city council last week during the debate over a ballot measure that would give voters the chance to ban the cameras.
11 News did an examination of state-dedicated funds in 2007 and found much of the money "dedicated" really isn't.
"There has been an issue of the purpose for which the fund was created versus the actual amount of money that is being appropriated for trauma," said Freddy Warner, the executive in charge of public policy and governmental relations for the Memorial Hermann Hospital System.
The issue of funds not going where they are supposed to still remains.
In the 2008-2009 two-year financial cycle the state collected $197,279,000 in so-called dedicated funds for trauma facilities and EMS.
Those funds come from a number of sources, including the Driver Responsibility Program and red light camera violations.
The legislature only appropriated $103 million to be spent for trauma centers and EMS services, leaving $93 million not spent for trauma centers.
In the 2010-2011 cycle the estimated revenue is much higher, nearly a quarter billion dollars ($249,545,000), with more appropriated ($156 million), but still leaving nearly $100 million ($93 million) unspent on trauma care as promised.
Warner, the Memorial Hermann executive, said it operates its trauma center at a significant loss as a service to the community.
"You can't help but be disappointed that these constitutionally dedicated fund is not flowing 100 percent to the purpose for which it was intended," Warner said.
Houston’s mayor was less diplomatic.
"It is sort of a bait-and-switch on the part of state officials,” she said. “If they want to have a money grab from local institutions they ought to say that is what it is."
So if you don't run red lights and never paid a fine, what does all this mean to you?
"There is no question that mortality is impacted. That morbidity is impacted," Warner said.
It's just money right?
Expect a huge lobbying effort at the state legislature next session to make sure that all of the money that is supposed to go to trauma centers makes it there. But advocates admit it will be an uphill battle thanks to the economic climate and an estimated $18 billion budget shortfall.
Voters in Houston and Baytown will go to the polls in November to decide whether or not the cities will continue their red light camera programs.
