Houston voters will decide in November whether to basically roll back part of Proposition 2, a limited government city charter change supported by anti-tax activists.

Mayor Bill White, who spent much of Tuesday afternoon meeting privately with conservative backers of Proposition 2, passed through city council a measure that will put a new proposition on the ballot this year. 

The council vote came during an unusual meeting at Houston City Hall.  White, backed by a majority of councilmembers, basically split the usual Wednesday meeting into two parts.  As councilmembers wandered off to lunch and other business, the mayor talked privately with conservative anti-tax activists.  The council reconvened late in the afternoon and, following White’s lead, voted to put his proposition on the November ballot.

Proposition 2 basically restricts the growth of city government, establishing a complicated formula tying city revenue increases to population growth and economic inflation.  If the city’s revenues exceed the formula’s restrictions, Proposition 2 requires the city government to somehow refund money to taxpayers.

White’s plan would exclude from the formula so-called “enterprise funds,” such as the Aviation Department, which generate their own streams of income.  The mayor argued that Proposition 2 could needlessly force cuts in essential city services that aren’t linked to the “enterprise funds.”  For example, the mayor suggested, after a good year at the airports, Houston might be forced to cut public safety expenses.

Continental Airlines actively supported White’s position, arguing that Proposition 2 could restrict the growth of Houston’s airports and eventually cost airline employees their jobs. 

Limited government activists complained that White was trying to thwart the will of voters.  But in recent days, they’ve openly called for a compromise with the mayor.

So in November, voters will decide whether to exempt from Proposition 2’s lmits funds generated for aviation, water and sewer expenses and the city’s convention bureau. 

In addition, a separate proposition will allow the city government to spend up to $90-million beyond Proposition 2’s limits, provided the money is spent on public safety.

November’s vote will be the next chapter in an ongoing political fight between White and limited government activists.  Two years ago, Proposition 2’s backers forced this matter onto the ballot. 

White didn’t like some of its restrictions, so he put his own competing proposition on the ballot.  Voters passed both of the propositions, but the mayor argued that his proposition took precedence because it won more votes.  That set the stage for a legal fight that’s still in the courts.