Houston Voters Support Mayor Turner's Pension Reform Plan

Not that many people turned out to vote Tuesday but the ones who did gave Mayor Sylvester Turner what he wanted: approval of his pension bond reform proposal which includes issuing $1 billion in bonds and a way for the city to climb its way back out of substantial debt.

Although it will still take decades for the city to work its way out of some ill-considered pension-management decisions made in the late '90s and early 2000s.

Turner’s measure was first approved by the Texas Legislature but lawmakers wanted the mayor to check in with voters as well, requiring Tuesday’s referendum.

To make the whole thing work, the city’s unions also had to agree to $2.8 billion in benefit cuts.

Read more: http://www.houstonpress.com/news/in-light-turnout-houston-voters-support-pension-reform-9941047