Archive for January 9th, 2012

9
Jan

Tax increase, ending pensions among ideas headed to mayor

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Tax increase, ending pensions among ideas headed to mayor

A list of money-saving or cash-generating ideas on its way to the mayor later this month includes increasing taxes, slashing public safety spending, turning the city library over to the county and ending public employee pensions.

[...] dozens of items offer ways to reduce future pension benefits, including ending pensions altogether and borrowing money to cover the current $5 billion in future pension bills for which the city has not set aside money.

Faced with mounting pension obligations, debt service, employee health care bills and yearly operational costs, Council last year voted to create the Long-Range Financial Management Task Force.

The group of council members, pension officials, union leaders, business people and community members was charged with coming up with options for addressing the city’s mounting bills over the next three decades.

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9
Jan

Suspected burglar fatally shot in struggle with deputy

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Suspected burglar fatally shot in struggle with deputy

A suspected burglar died Monday after he was shot while struggling with a Harris County sheriff’s deputy in the back yard of a home he had broken into, authorities said.

Harris County sheriff’s deputy D. Warren pulled up about three minutes later and surprised the three burglars inside the house.

Sheriff’s officials do not have a detailed description of the other two attackers.

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9
Jan

Human smuggler sentenced to 24 years in prison

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Human smuggler sentenced to 24 years in prison

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the stash house and an apartment tied to the smuggling ring in April 2009 and found several illegal immigrants, including women who reported were being sexually assaulted by the smugglers.

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