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Finance
Financial Transparency

Transparency

The City of La Porte is participating in the State of Texas Transparency Star program, recognizing local governments for going above and beyond in transparency efforts. There are 5 areas of achievement possible. To date the Finance Department has been awarded a Transparency Star in Traditional Finances, Contracts and Procurement, Public Pensions, and Debt Obligations.

The per capita figures are based on the City's 2017 estimated population of 35,086.

Public Pension
Traditional Finances
Contracts & Procurement
Economic Development
Debt Obligations

Public Pension

Public Pension (PDF)
The page provides information related to the City's participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) and the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) for volunteer firefighters.

Traditional Finances

Traditional Finances

The Finance Department is responsible for preparing financial reports that promote transparency and accountability. The following financial documents are available for your review:

Financial Summary

The following summary data is from the government-wide Statement of Activities in the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The government-wide Statement of Activities reports the results of the of the City's operations on an accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recognized at the time the liability is incurred.

Revenues and Expenditures Per Capita

Property Tax Rate Per $100 Valuation

Budget

A budget serves as the financial plan for the City. It shows proposed spending and revenue in broad categories by department or by account type.

Raw Budget Data

The current year budget is provided in Excel format so that it can be downloaded. This is a summarized version of the complete official budget that is presented elsewhere on the website in a PDF format.

Public Pension

The City of La Porte participates in two pension plans. Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) for all of the municipal employees and the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESRS) for volunteer firefighters.

Payment Register

A payment register is a listing of all payments incurred during a month by the City. The payment register includes payment date, payment amount, payee and type of expenditure, and business unit.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

This report provides a quantitative look at the operating success, financial health, and compliance of the government report units. It includes a balance sheet, a statement of changes in financial position, a statement of revenues and expenses, and a comparison of budgeted to actual expenses and revenues.

Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)

The report is intended to summarize and simplify the statistical, economical, and financial information contained in the city's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Single Audit Report

The City of La Porte has been required to produce a Single Audit for a number of years based on grant expenditures.

La Porte Area Water Authority Report

The La Porte Water Authority is a blended component unit of the City of La Porte and also produces a separate annual financial report
Link to the Texas Comptroller's website about transparency in government, including local debt.

Open Records Request

City Council Contact Information

Contact Finance

Contracts & Procurement

Contracts and Procurement

Contracts and Procurement Summary

This summary provides information for bidding, spending and contracting activities for FY18.

Contracts by Sector

A chart showing the dollar amount of contracts by business sector.

Procurement Expenditures

Purchase order authorized versus actual expenditures for the past five years.

Closed Solicitations

Open/Closed Contracting Activities-Past 36 Months

Invitation Notices

Posted open solicitations

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Public Purchase

View bid packets, tabulations, and award notices by logging in to Public Purchase.

Purchasing Policy Manual and Glossary Terms

Contracting & Procurement Statute Links

Vendor Registration

Contact Purchasing

Economic Development

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

This information is provided to increase transparency related to economic development and to inform taxpayers about programs and incentives supported by their tax dollars. The City of La Porte and the La Porte Development Corporation promotes, encourages and enhances the creation of jobs and capital investments in La Porte, Texas. It is our goal to help diversify the tax base by fostering an entrepreneurial environment to help create opportunities, retain current businesses, attract new industries to expand local business base, and increase the amount of jobs within our local economy. The City of La Porte offers various economic development grants. When considering allocation of these incentives, the City Council, the La Porte Development Board and the staff consider future tax revenue brought to the city as well as employment and quality of life created for residents. Projects are not approved if the value is not clear. These grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of the La Porte Economic Development Corporation with final approval reserved by the city council.

Tax Abatements

The City of La Porte does not currently have any active or pending tax abatement incentives as authorized by Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. This type of agreement may provide an actual reduction of taxes owed on new value added. The city has not issued any tax abatements in the most current fiscal year (10/01/2017 to 9/30/2018), as such there was no tax abated in the last fiscal year.

Chapter 380 Agreements

The City offers economic development agreements with desired business as authorized by Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Code. These businesses may be manufacturing, office, retail, and commercial or mixed-use projects. The agreements allow the city to refund a portion of property taxes and sales taxes paid, issue incentive payments, and/or reduce fees. The offer of incentives is tied to an analysis of the impact on community services and to goals of the community as established by the La Porte City Council. The City Council has final authority on the implementation of city business incentives.

Economic Development Grants

Economic Development Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of the La Porte Development Corporation with final approval reserved by the City Council. When considering allocation of these incentives, the City Council, the La Porte Development Board and city staff consider future tax revenue brought to the City as well as employment and quality of life created for residents. Projects are not approved if the value is not clear. State law also mandates a 60 day public comment period on all projects to allow for public comment.

Enhancement Grants

The La Porte Enhancement Grant Program, which is sponsored by the La Porte Development Corporation, offers matching grants to businesses which are located in the La Porte Enhancement Grant District. A map of the La Porte Enhancement Grant District is provided in the full explanation of the program. Eligible improvements of the EGP include facade renovation, beautification projects, and new awnings, canopies, porches, and signage. A single owner of multiple properties may apply for grant funds for each property owned, but each matching grant must be for more than $2,500 and less than $25,000 per property. Each program application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. These grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of the La Porte Development Corporation with final approval reserved by the City Council.

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones

Developers of business property within a defined are (i.e. business parks, service centers) may receive municipal financing assistance through the use of tax increment financing. The City Council may create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) where construction of public improvements using tax increment funds is likely to result insignificant commercial investment. The cost of improvements within the zone is repaid by the contribution of future tax revenues by each taxing unit that levies taxes on the affected properties. Once the city initiates tax increment financing, counties and school districts may also participate in the tax increment financing program. The City has adopted one Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) under Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code. The City enters into economic development and infrastructure reimbursement agreements which earmark TIRZ revenues for payment to developers and represent obligations over the life of the TIRZ or until all terms of the agreements have been met. Harris County and La Porte independent School District also participate in in the TIRZ in La Porte.

Industrial District Agreements

In 1958, the City created an industrial Zone adjacent to the City, which presently encompasses approximately 5,500 acres of land north of Highway 225 and bordering the Houston Ship Channel. The city annexed sufficient land to completely encircle this industrial Zone, protecting it from annexation by any other municipality. The city entered into contracts with all of the Industries located in the Zone whereby the City annexed a portion of the total value of each industry with the remainder constituting the protected Industrial District. In addition to the Industrial Zone north of Highway 225, which is referred to as in lieu of taxes. The annual in lieu payments are in an amount which, when added to the full City taxes on the annexed portion, equal 62% of what the City’s taxes on the industry would be if 100% of the industry was in the City. After the first six years of the contracts, the percentage increases to 63%. The contracts contain a new construction clause that allows new plant facilities to make in lieu payments on 20% of the value of new additions. Currently, 140 companies participate in industrial district contracts. These contracts have served as a valuable economic tool for more than 50 years. Under the City charter and state statues, the City of La Porte has the authority, simply by ordinance of city council, to annex additional areas. In the past, the city, in order to encourage industrial development in the area, has annexed a strip surrounding the industries identified herein and executed contracts with each separate industry. To as the “Battleground Industrial District”, the city contains an industrial zone on it south side referred to as the “Bayport Industrial District” The Bayport District, created in 1970, covers 2,500 acres. The city and the Industries, many of which have come to the Industrial Zones since the original contracts, are presently under contracts, which extend to December 31, 2019. Under the terms of the current contract, the industries make payments to the City each year.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Chapter 380 Agreements Approved FY15-19 - Chart

Chapter 380 Agreements Statistics - Spreadsheet

Economic Development Grants Approved - Chart
Economic Development Grants Approved - Spreadsheet

Enhancement Grants Approved FY15-19 - Chart
Enhancement Grants Approved - Spreadsheet

Industrial District Tax Revenues FY 15-19 - Chart
Industrial District Tax Revenues - Spreadsheet

CURRENT AGREEMENTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Government Accounting Standards Board-Statement No. 77

This statement provides guidance regarding the disclosure of taxes forgone in government financial statements. - PDF

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Economic Development Corporation Search Tool

Debt Obligations

Debt Information

The City of La Porte issues a variety of long-term debt instruments in order to acquire and/or construct major capital facilities and equipment for governmental and business-type activities. These instruments include general obligation bonds, certificates of obligation and revenue bonds. Future ad valorem tax revenues, water and sewer system revenues or liens on property and equipment secure these debt obligations.
General Obligation Bonds and Certificates of Obligation
General Obligation Bonds are direct obligations issued on a pledge of the general taxing power for the payment of the debt obligations of the City. General Obligations bonds and Certificates of Obligation require the city to compute, at the time other taxes are levied, the rate of tax required to provide (in each years bonds are outstanding), a fund to pay interest and principal maturity. The city is in compliance with this requirement.

The City of La Porte maintains an “Aa2”, “AA+”, and “AA” by Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch, respectively, for general obligation debt.

Outstanding Debt Obligation Issue-by-Issue
Time Trend Showing Inflation Adjusted Tax Supported Debt
Debt Obligations Tax Supported Per Capita
Total Outstanding Debt Obligations
Time Trend of Tax Supported and Revenue Supported Debt (Excel)
Time Trend of Tax Supported and Revenue Supported Debt (PDF)
Time Trend of Tax and Revenue Supported Debt Bond Election History
Tax Information
Detail of Annual Debt Service
Detail of Annual Debt Service (Excel)
Independent Registered Municipal Advisor Exemption
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Debt at a Glance Tool
Bond Review Board
Annual Budgets

HB 1378: Debt Obligation Reporting under Local Government Code Section 140.008

The 84th Legislature passed HB 1378 to increase the transparency of local government debt. Under Local Government Code § 140.008, political subdivisions, including counties, cities, school districts, junior college districts, special purpose districts, and other subdivisions of state government must annually compile their debt obligation data from the preceding fiscal year.

Bond Authorization Balance Information as of 9/30/19
Authorized debt, issued and unissued amounts.

Debt Financial Information as of 9/30/19
Outstanding direct debt obligations, tax and revenue supported. Includes purpose, credit rating, outstanding principal amount, debt service, and spent and unspent proceeds issue-by-issue.

Direct and Contractually Obligated Debt
As of September 30, 2019 the Direct and Contractually Obligated Debt for the City
Note: per Capita figures are based on the City's 2019 estimated population of 35,

Accounting
Annual Budget
Bonds
ACFR
Financial Transparency
Popular Annual Finance Report
Tax Division
Utility Billing

Transparency

Traditional Finances

Financial Summary

Revenues and Expenditures Per Capita

Budget

Raw Budget Data

Public Pension

Payment Register

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)

Single Audit Report

La Porte Area Water Authority Report

Contracts and Procurement

Contracts and Procurement Summary

Contracts by Sector

Procurement Expenditures

Open/Closed Contracting Activities-Past 36 Months Invitation Notices

. Public Purchase

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Tax Abatements

Chapter 380 Agreements

Economic Development Grants

Enhancement Grants

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

CURRENT AGREEMENTS

Chapter 380 Agreements

Economic Development Grants

TIRZ Agreement

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Government Accounting Standards Board-Statement No. 77

Debt Information

Open/Closed Contracting Activities-Past 36 Months

Invitation Notices

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Public Purchase