Republicans are good of making billionaire richer at the expense of the working men and women. Our electric bills are up, thanks to Republicans. Our Gas bills are up, thanks to Republicans. Republicans don’t raise taxes, they raise the cost of service for everything, like the registration of a vehicle.
Now in addition to having my water bill double in cost over two years the city is thinking of adding an additional $40 a month to it.
Whitmire is hiding how much the increase in pay to the firefighters is going to cost us. Based on a Houston Chronicle article it seems that not even the council members will be told what the cost will be.
Mayor John Whitmire’s administration is weighing all options, including hiking the city’s property tax rate and charging residents a garbage collection fee, to help pay for its landmark settlement with the Houston firefighters union, according to the City Attorney Arturo Michel.
“I think everything is on the table,” Michel said after a court hearing Monday, specifically mentioning the garbage fee and property taxes. “Nobody has said we’re going to take this route or (that route).”
City Hall officials and union brass last week announced a deal that would include $650 million in backpay, along with up to 34% raises over the next five years. The total cost of the deal, including interest on the backpay agreement and the future raises, will likely exceed $1 billion, according to city estimates. Source
Taxpayers will be on the hook for decades, according the fire union president.
Marty Lancton, the president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341, has argued the deal helps preserve financial options for the city by carving the $650 million backpay agreement out from base pay increases and allowing the city to finance that amount over decades.
Two Council Members are asking questions.
At least two City Council members, Tiffany Thomas and Ed Pollard, have begun raising alarms about the financial impact of the firefighters’ deal. They penned a letter to Whitmire on Monday asking for more details on the arrangement.
The council members asked whether the administration is considering raising the revenue cap, how firefighters’ compensation compares to other Texas cities and how the contract will affect negotiations with the municipal employees and police unions.