In October, Houston's City Controller Chris Brown placed the estimated cost to city government of Proposition B's passage at approximately $85 million annually. Today, Council Member Boykins will offer a viable solution to meet that cost while preserving jobs, in a way that best reflects the will of the voters who voted overwhelmingly in support of pay parity on November 6.

The Council Member's proposal, which follows weeks of extensive research, could generate over a hundred million dollars of new revenue annually for the city and bring Houston in line with almost every other major municipality in the state of Texas.

"As a member of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, I am well versed in the intricacies and difficulties surrounding the budgeting process," said Council Member Boykins. That is why I remain convinced that this proposal serves the best interests of Houston taxpayers and municipal employees, including firefighters and police."

"In 2001 when Lee Brown was mayor, the city of Houston had pay parity for public safety employees so the concept is nothing new. Rather than try to usurp the will of the voters, I believe that as elected leaders and budget managers, we are duty-bound to work together in good faith to meet this newly-mandated obligation."