Houston police officers are poised for 36.5% pay raises and new perks under Mayor John Whitmire's $832 million contract, even as the city faces a major budget gap.
Houston police officers will receive a 36.5% salary increase over the next five years, accompanied by new benefits announced by Mayor John Whitmire on Friday. This announcement comes just one day after over 1,000 city employees submitted their retirement applications.
A new tentative contract has been established, with a financial commitment from Houston amounting to $832 million over the next five years, including $67 million allocated for this year. This agreement represents the second significant labor deal negotiated by Mayor Whitmire since taking office in 2024. In an important development last year, he concluded a contentious two-year standoff with firefighters by signing a $1.5 billion agreement. This deal encompassed $650 million in back pay and proposed salary increases of up to 34%.
Whitmire expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming events, highlighting the importance of a well-staffed police force as Houston prepares for the Republican National Convention and the World Cup.
The salary increases are being implemented as the city faces a projected budget shortfall of $330 million. Whitmire refrained from specifying the funding sources for the contract, yet indicated that the city's forthcoming budget will achieve balance, partially attributed to a recently implemented voluntary retirement program.
City officials report that over 1,050 employees have accepted the retirement offer, resulting in projected savings of approximately $40 to $50 million.
The proposed police contract outlines a series of salary increases for officers, starting with a 10% raise scheduled for this July. This will be succeeded by an 8% increase in 2026, followed by annual raises of 6% in both 2027 and 2028, culminating in a 6.5% increase in 2029.
Starting July 1, new first-year officers assigned to night and weekend shifts will receive an annual salary of approximately $81,600. Increased take-home pay is expected as a result of patrol and shift differentials. Officers can now lessen short suspensions or replace them with vacation time for suspensions lasting five days or less. Court appearances will now guarantee a minimum of four overtime hours, an increase from the previous two hours.
Doug Griffith, President of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, described the agreement as long overdue. Griffith remarked that the Mayor has taken decisive action, avoiding procrastination. He highlighted the longstanding issues of short staffing and inadequate pay for officers.
Whitmire emphasized the department's need to increase its ranks by as many as 1,200 officers to effectively manage the demands of a city with a population of 2.3 million and accommodate 700,000 daily commuters.
The City Council is poised to cast its vote on the agreement following the completion of the officers' ratification vote scheduled for next week.
The proposed raises represent the most significant increase in recent history. In notable contrast, HPD's current contract, which expires on June 30, has allocated a mere 10.5% increase over three years. Before that, officers were granted a 7% salary increase over two years, followed by an additional 2% raise in 2021.
