The City Council passed Mayor John Whitmire's $7 billion budget Wednesday after completing major consolidations of city departments and implementing sweeping financial cuts. WINNERS AND LOSERS: Which Houston department got the biggest cut in Mayor John Whitmire's 2026 budget?

City council members proposed about 70 amendments to the mayor’s proposed budget. Fourteen of them were approved.

HOUSTON — Chaos erupted during a Houston City Council meeting Wednesday as protesters critical of Mayor John Whitmire's $7 billion budget were forcibly removed by police after holding up banners and chanting in the council chambers. The council voted to pass the budget Tuesday.