Voters approved it by 59% in the election despite Mayor Turner warning the city could not afford to bring HFD employees up to pay standards with HPD without big layoffs of other COH Employees.

There was an injunction filed by the city (mayor Turner) and Houston Police to delay/stop the implementation of Prop B after it passed. Today the judge ruled against the injunction and that the vote of the people will stand. Turner said, "expect
layoffs", and now it appears he's going thru with it.

This seems ridiculous. We need both fire fighters and police officers. Why pay one group so much less than another one? These are important and necessary city services. I wonder how it ever happened to begin with?

At any rate, the ridiculous part is the city government is so low on money that our fire fighters aren't being paid enough. And now they are going to lay off other city employees not even involved to try and carry out Prop B. If that ain't robbing Peter to pay Paul, idk what is.

I think this is what poor money management gets us. Why can't they, instead of literally laying people off, can't they implement an across the board teeny tiny pay cut for all COH employees. It needs to be done since it's obvious they did not budget correctly for salaries and expenses. 

Oh I forgot, here's the story!

Prop B goes forward 

Where's the money coming from? 

It's why you vote 

So, pray tell me, who I am. 

Joey and Judas have clearly lost their shizz here on KU lately.

TDS has taken full hold of them. 

He also wants to raise trash services paid by taxes from $30-40/mo to support the raises. While I support First Responders, actually Turner warned us this might happen. 

Yes he did. That makes me wonder WHY we even got to vote on this if it's not financially feasible and were warned before it even went to the ballot.

Of course he wants to slough it off on the consumer. We who pay more in drainage fees now than actual water usage fees.

This is precisely why they should redo their budget and take it out of their own pay checks. Everyone has a budget but only the govt can keep passing the buck to someone else while raising our fees. So annoying. :( 

Fiscal responsibility is not what any politician does. 

Maybe it's time we hold them accountable? Surely a dollar out of all their pay checks is better than laying people off?? 

Of course he wants to slough it off on the consumer.

And *I* knew that would happen if it passed. 

I don't blame the Mayor one bit. He begged us not to vote for it- Don't blame him. 

That's right, its not his fault its the voters. 

I don't blame the Mayor, I just don't get why we got to vote on something we can't do?? LOL, it's almost comical.. 

It can be done. its just what has to happen for it to be done; i.e. layoffs and tax increases. 

Police and firefighters are supposed to have pay parity in Houston. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

That makes me wonder WHY we even got to vote on this if it's not financially feasible and were warned before it even went to the ballot.

We were allowed to vote on it because Texas law allows it. Our city council allows too many benefits for those that will vote for them. 

They had to collect 20,000 signatures to get it to the ballots. That was done and then it passed. I guess there is a real disconnect between collecting signatures and coming up with an extra $100 Million dollars. That's what they need to complete the salary raises and make them equal. 

Everyone likes to feel good about firefighters- I get that- But, if we can't afford it, we CAN'T AFFORD it- then everyone that voted for it gets mad when it has to be paid for-SMH 

We who pay more in drainage fees now than actual water usage fees.



What are you comparing it to, the base water charge? Talk about a useless comparison. 

They had to collect 20,000 signatures to get it to the ballots. That was done and then it passed. I guess there is a real disconnect between collecting signatures and coming up with an extra $100 Million dollars.



The real disconnect is between the voters' feel good "yes" vote and reality because the majority of voters are completely ignorant of the facts. 

The real disconnect is between the voters' feel good "yes" vote and reality because the majority of voters are completely ignorant of the facts.

absolutely right. Voters either don't consider the cost or don't care as long as it doesn't come out of their pocket.

So now, there will be layoffs and reductions in services Which has the potential to harm citizens. 

Then there should be a vetting process for so called financial matters that the voters see on a ballot. Meaning they must run the numbers first...if it's impossible then it should never make it to the ballot. 

Let's not forget the union that heavily lobbied for this proposition. It's more of our money in their coffers. 

absolutely right. Voters either don't consider the cost or don't care as long as it doesn't come out of their pocket.




but it does, doesn't it?

it's good to see you supporting the democrats on this because turner was dead set against it.

signs to support it where all over. we were shocked that kingwood lakes h.o.a. had one on their property, corner of kingwood drive and woodland hills drive. we even called the h.o.a. to complain. 

Turner is a democrat 

What's wrong with critical thinking?

Or - 'thinking', at all??? 

Turner is a democrat 



exactly. emperor and turner are on the same side in this instance. 

They got paid less than HPD because they don't deserve as much.

Based on what criteria? Your opinion? 

Emperor of Kingwood --- 7 hours ago - quote - hide comments
The real disconnect is between the voters' feel good "yes" vote and reality because the majority of voters are completely ignorant of the facts.

absolutely right. Voters either don't consider the cost or don't care as long as it doesn't come out of their pocket.

So now, there will be layoffs and reductions in services Which has the potential to harm citizens.


I absolutely agree, and I also think the mayor tried the best he could to get voters to vote "no". 

Get rid of city councils' pet projects, and there's plenty. 

They got paid less than HPD because they don't deserve as much.

That seems to be the consensus across the nation. Average police officer pay is about $8,000 - $9,000 more per year than fire fighters. There are some exceptions like Maryland and Hawaii. I guess fire fighters are busier there?

What are fire fighters doing when not putting out fires or responding to EMS calls? I rarely see them in my neighborhood. When I do see them, they are grocery shopping at HEB or begging for money on street corners.