Houston's Public Safety Overtime Dilemma: Legal Challenges and Fiscal Strain

Houston faces a $127 million budget deficit, exacerbated by police, fire, and solid waste departments projected to exceed overtime budgets by over $54 million. This fiscal strain highlights ongoing legal and policy debates around staffing levels, large union contracts, and differing financial reporting methods between city offices. The situation forces a critical look at how Houston budgets for essential services and prepares for predictable disasters.