Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Austin leaders formally adopt 5-year police labor agreement
City and Austin Police Association leaders for- mally adopted a new ve-year labor agreement this fall, capping o months of negotiations and debate. The big picture City and police o cials signed o on the deal Oct. 29 at City Hall. City Council approved the contract in a 10-1 vote Oct. 24, and APA President Michael Bullock said 90% of his membership accepted its terms in late October. “Today’s signi cant because we’re turning the page on really too many years of tension, friction and negativity between City Hall and our police. We’re starting a new chapter, a new chapter that’s all about positive change,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. Austin’s latest agreement with its police force will run into 2029. It’s expected to cost the city about $218 million, which will support nearly 30% raises and other incentives for Austin Police Department o cers over its term.
The details The contract was in development since city and APA negotiators returned to the bargaining table in March, about a year after Austin’s last agreement with the police force expired. City o cials opted not to vote on a tentative deal released early last year, and instead passed interim pay and bene t packages for the police department since then. Council members heard hours of public testi- mony for and against the deal this fall before their late October vote. After its adoption, city leaders praised the agreement as a step that can stabilize APD and improve its recruiting e orts, while aligning with voter-approved police oversight policies—an issue that led council to dismiss the 2023 proposal. Police Chief Lisa Davis said the contract will help with APD’s community engagement, hiring e orts and improvements to o cer morale, and put Austin on the map for “policing done right.” Bullock also
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock and City Manager T.C. Broadnax shake hands after signing a ve-year police labor agreement at City Hall Oct. 29.
BEN THOMPSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
said the contract represents a new chapter for the police department with rm support from elected o cials.
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