While most cities have some agent that oversees its finances, few have a popularly elected City Controller and one who has as much independence and authority as does Houston's City Controller. Nor do other similar entities combine politics and professionalism to the extent Houston's Office of the City Controller does.
The City Controller is asked to balance the fiscal needs of Houston with the politics of popular elections and acts as
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Photo by Ellis Verner |
| a check-and-balance to the Mayor and City Council the executive and legislative branches of City government. The beneficial result of this sometimes stressful and conflicting relationship in our strong Mayor form of government is an independent overseer of the City funds who is not responsible to the Mayor or City Council but only to the citizens of Houston. |
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Photo by Ellis Verner |
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The foundations of the Office of the City Controller can be traced back to the year 1900, when the books and records of City Treasurer, City Secretary, and City Auditor were stolen. The City Auditor was impeached and removed from his post.
As a result, three years later City Council amended the City Charter and took the changes to the State Legislature as part of a package requesting status as a Home Rule City.
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On March 20, 1903, the legislature cleared the way for the creation of the Office of the City Controller.
On July 1, 1903, City Council passed an ordinance that actually created the Office and named Assistant City Auditor Tom Bringhurst as the first City Controller of the City of Houston. |
| Recent Controllers have broadened the scope of the office beyond bookkeeping, taking on issues that are more political. What has remained the same since the beginning is the Controller's role as the "Financial Watchdog." Each Controller has worked to control spending and eliminate that which is deemed unwise or unnecessary, even if such elimination has meant extended and difficult battles with the other branches of government. In creating the Office of the City Controller, Houston assured itself of having an officer who would be looking out for the best financial interests of the City. |
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Municipal Art Office |
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