SAN ANTONIO – The city and the Police Officer's Association have resumed contract negotiations, meeting Friday for the first time since March.
During the last negotiating session, the city offered a plan that included wage increases of 10.8 percent.
Friday meeting, the association countered with a proposal of their own: a 12 percent pay raise, plus another 2.4 percent longevity pay.
Whether there is any movement from the city now depends on the outcome of the closed-door meeting that followed the negotiating session.
"The city believes the ball is in union's court to respond to the March 20 proposal, which we think is very fair and affordable to taxpayers," said city spokesman Jeff Coyle. "We're going to see what their response is and go from there."
Union President Michael Helle released a statement that reads, in part: "Today we brought our seventh proposal to the table. Our proposal meets every criterion outlined by the city council. It is our hope the City's negotiating team will act as partners and assess our proposal fairly and professionally."
There are two more meetings scheduled between now and July 31, which is the deadline set by the mayor to reach an agreement.