$61M Settlement Reached in Back Pay Lawsuits That Mayor Feared Could Bankrupt Dallas

The Dallas City Council will vote next week to settle four of the six police-and-fire back pay lawsuits -- which Mayor Mike Rawlings has previously said could bankrupt the city -- for $61.6 million.City Attorney Larry Casto said the settlement will be paid using the city's current bonding capacity and will not require voter approval. Some of the financial details still have to be ironed out, but financing it will not require a tax increase. The settlement, if approved, will avert the scheduled Dec. 4 trial in Collin County. While the city could still be on the hook for hundreds of millions or more in claims, interest and legal fees, Casto said settling four of the cases significantly reduces the potential for peril."It's a wise, prudent fiscal move to remove what could be catastrophic results if we ever did have a jury that sees it the plaintiffs' way," Casto said.  Continue reading...

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