The City of Houston is a complicated organization with thousands of employees, millions of constituents, and a myriad of complex challenges. While the Mayor and City Council are tasked with managing the City and making policy, the Controller serves as the City's chief financial officer managing the City's $13 billion debt portfolio, $3.2 billion investment portfolio and $4.4 billion budget. It is critical for the city to have an experienced and responsible financial steward.

As your next City Controller, Chris Brown's priorities will be:

• Shooting straight with Houstonians about City finances. Among the Controller's duties is serving as the citizens' financial voice in City government. Too often today, we hear either that the sky is falling or that everything is rosy with regard to City finances, when the reality is somewhere in between. Chris Brown won't sugarcoat or exaggerate; he will tell Houstonians the truth about the City's fiscal situation.

• Effectively managing the City's portfolios. The Controller oversees the City's $13 billion debt portfolio and over $3 billion in investments, which includes refinancing debt and selling bonds. Chris Brown has the right balance of private sector investment and City government management experience to minimize expenses and maximize returns for Houstonians.
  

• Increasing financial transparency at City Hall. Timely and accurate financial reporting and forecasting are a big part of the Controller's job. Chris Brown is proud to have helped lead efforts to make the City checkbook available to the public and speed up production of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Chris will expand the scope of financial information made available to the public and will take transparency to the next level at City Hall.

• Standing guard for Houston taxpayers. As your Controller, Chris Brown will be vigilant and audit City departments, monitor vendors and keep accurate books to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected and wisely used.

• Promoting financial literacy and independence. Chris Brown is proud to have helped expand the Bank on Houston program, which works to improve Houstonians' financial literacy and independence, and is ready to lead those efforts going forward.
  

Priorities

The City of Houston is a complicated organization with thousands of employees, millions of constituents, and a myriad of complex challenges. While the Mayor and City Council are tasked with managing the City and making policy, the Controller serves as the City's chief financial officer managing the City's $13 billion debt portfolio, $3.2 billion investment portfolio and $4.4 billion budget. It is critical for the city to have an experienced and responsible financial steward.

As your next City Controller, Chris Brown's priorities will be:

• Shooting straight with Houstonians about City finances. Among the Controller's duties is serving as the citizens' financial voice in City government. Too often today, we hear either that the sky is falling or that everything is rosy with regard to City finances, when the reality is somewhere in between. Chris Brown won't sugarcoat or exaggerate; he will tell Houstonians the truth about the City's fiscal situation.

• Effectively managing the City's portfolios. The Controller oversees the City's $13 billion debt portfolio and over $3 billion in investments, which includes refinancing debt and selling bonds. Chris Brown has the right balance of private sector investment and City government management experience to minimize expenses and maximize returns for Houstonians.
  

• Increasing financial transparency at City Hall. Timely and accurate financial reporting and forecasting are a big part of the Controller's job. Chris Brown is proud to have helped lead efforts to make the City checkbook available to the public and speed up production of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Chris will expand the scope of financial information made available to the public and will take transparency to the next level at City Hall.

• Standing guard for Houston taxpayers. As your Controller, Chris Brown will be vigilant and audit City departments, monitor vendors and keep accurate books to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected and wisely used.

• Promoting financial literacy and independence. Chris Brown is proud to have helped expand the Bank on Houston program, which works to improve Houstonians' financial literacy and independence, and is ready to lead those efforts going forward.