Overview

• Houston police officers will receive a 36.5% pay increase over five years, starting with a 10% raise in July 2025, under the newly approved $832 million contract.
• The Houston Police Department’s $1.16 billion budget for fiscal 2026 allocates $49 million for first-year pay raises and increases homeland security funding by 29%.
• The new contract aims to address recruitment challenges and declining officer ranks, with staffing levels falling from 5,300 in 2014 to 5,200 in 2024 despite over 6,000 authorized positions.
• Cost-saving measures include $6.5 million in projected savings from civilian buyouts and planned division consolidations to optimize resources.
• Critics have raised concerns about the budget’s impact on other city services, with cuts to departments like parks, libraries, and neighborhoods amidst a projected fiscal deficit for 2026.