HOUSTON – City Controller Chris Brown sent Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Council members a revised estimate of how much it would cost to implement pay parity between Houston police and Firefighters.
The issue will be decided in November when Houstonians vote on Proposition B.
If passed, Proposition B would force the city to raise firefighters salary up to the level of police officers. In a memo to Turner and council, Brown estimates it could cost the city $100.1 million during the first fiscal year and $112 million during the second fiscal year.
Read the memo and cost break down here: File: Memo Re Fiscal Impact of HPOU Agreement on Parity_20181019164945File: Updated CTR Fire Fighter Pay Parity Analysis (10.18.18)_20181019164945
Brown originally estimated the measure would cost $85 million. According to the memo, Brown’s revised estimates now take into account the recent pay raises the city gave to police officers. These numbers have become a sharp point of debate in the battle over Proposition B.
Mayor Turner contends instituting this type of raise in one fell swoop will means hundreds of employees will have to be laid off and other services cut. President of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Patrick Lancton argues firefighters have seen minimal pay increases over the last several years, causing HFD’s pay to fall behind other similarly sized departments, and Proposition B is about fairness.
“What we are simply asking the voters is to take the politics out of public safety, to allow the brave men and women, who go out there every day to put their lives on the line, to be equally valued," Lancton said. “The Mayor continues to contend he finds money when it's necessary, and what we've always said is public safety in Houston should be the number one priority and we're asking the citizens of Houston to take the politics out of public safety.”
The mayor said he is offering firefighters a 9.5 percent raise. Lancton argues that offer didn't come until after contract negotiations hit an impasse.