SAN ANTONIO – City leaders and officials representing the police and fire unions have agreed to seek the services of an unbiased, third-party actuarial firm to assess the heavily disputed health care costs put forward by both the city and unions.
San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor made the announcement Monday morning at City Hall, following months of bitter in-fighting and public recriminations from both sides.
Taylor said she and other council members and union representatives have been meeting frequently over the past 10 days to reach this agreement.
But first, Taylor said, City Council members and union leaders will have to agree on the firm itself. She said they hope to have one identified and in place soon, with the expectation of a final assessment from that firm by January.
She said the city will pay most — if not all — of the cost associated with hiring this outside firm.
Until then, she said, both sides have agreed to stop the mudslinging and personal attacks that has defined the past few months of negotiations. She called December a “cooling-off period” to stop the negative attacks and advertising.
Taylor also said the city’s books will be made fully available to the third-party firm, but that the city will not withdraw its lawsuit against the unions. The suit was filed to determine whether the evergreen clause in the police union’s collective bargaining agreement is constitutional.
Three council members joined Taylor at Monday’s announcement: Shirley Gonzales, of District 5; Mike Gallagher, of District 10; and Rey Saldaña, of District 4.
With contributions from Anchor/Reporter Brian Mylar