Source: HoustonPublicMedia.com

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has frozen hiring and promotions across city government. The Mayor instructed department directors seeking “critical” hires to meet with him or his staff in person. In a statement to News 88.7, Press Secretary Mary Benton attributed the freeze to Proposition B, a ballot measure set for November that would match the salaries of Houston’s firefighters to police officers of the same rank. Benton said if the measure is passed firefighter pay would increase by at least 25 percent, costing the city $98 million. The fire fighter’s union has pushed back on the Turner administrations claims the city does not have enough money. Turner’s internal letter initiating the freeze states the directive will be reassessed later this year, but gives no definite date.