AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Looking for a short-term solution to a potentially catastrophic situation, Austin City Council members voted Thursday to pass an ordinance extending police pay and benefits past the end of the city's current contract with the Austin Police Association.
Thursday's vote comes as negotiations between the two sides have deadlocked. Last week, council voted 9-2 to set aside a tentative agreement on a four-year contract, directing city staff to instead pursue a one-year extension of the current contract.
"With today’s ordinance, we have a short-term solution to ensure our community’s public safety needs are met and that our police officers are appropriately compensated with stable wages and benefits," said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. "Nobody, me included, thinks this is a perfect solution, but inaction is not an option. Our community needs to be safe and feel safe."
Thursday's ordinance was authored by District 5 council member Ryan Alter, and co-sponsored by Watson along with council members Alison Alter, José Velásquez, and José “Chito” Vela.
With the current contract between APA and the city set to expire on March 31, city estimates have indicated more than 200 officers would be eligible to retire - and with uncertainty over pay and benefits, it's a choice some would be likely to make.
Supporters of the short-term extension have said it is critical to wait for voters to make a decision on two police oversight initiatives that will appear on ballots in May. However, city negotiators who have worked for more than a year on the four-year deal with the APA, have said that some of the items included in Proposition A are likely in conflict with state law.
The ordinance passed Thursday will go into effect on March 31 once the current contract expires, and will stay in effect for up to one year, unless a new contract is reached.
