Pay raise for police, firefighters OK'd
WEST COVINA - The city approved a pay hike this week for police officers and firefighters.
The contracts grant retroactive raises from July, with police starting with a 6 percent raise that will grow to 17 percent by 2010, and firefighters gaining a retroactive 4.5 percent and 14.5 percent, all by the end of the three-year contract.
West Covina City Hall was filled with dozens of public safety officers applauding when the council approved the contract on Tuesday. But some residents at the meeting questioned how the city can pay for salary increases and benefit upgrades with slowing revenue.
"I know we're in tough fiscal times right now," said Mayor Sherri Lane. "I'm sure that with the help of our staff ... we can find monies that are there and move things around."
The council approved the contract 4-0, with Councilman Steve Herfert absent.
Raises for police officers and firefighters are expected to cost $1 million more than was budgeted for the departments this year.
Meanwhile, the city has estimated a $2 million deficit at the end of the year.
But proponents said the contracts will keep the departments competitive and attract good candidates. Other cities, including Sierra Madre and Arcadia, have increased pay and benefits recently.
"This is a good pay raise that brings us closer to what other departments are paying, and they've increased our retiree medical to keep up with the growing medical costs," said Detective Scott Fahey, vice president of the city's Police Officers Association. "That's a big deal. We're real happy with that, and it's going to make us really appealing."
The police contract also increases the uniform allowance, by $100 a year, and the compensation for college tuition reimbursement. The fire contract offers similar improvements, said Capt. Mike Fountain, president of the Firefighters Association.
"One of the biggest accomplishments that we're extremely proud of is the retiree medical," Fountain said. "We always strive to work for the city and within their means. We strive to get a contract that will attract quality candidates and retain good firefighters."
Over the course of the three years, the salary and benefit increases for both contracts will cost the city $6.1 million more than under the previous contract, which expired in June, according to city staff reports.
"A raise of over $6 million in 3 years is too much for our budget and economy to handle at this time without cutting back a tremendous amount of services," said resident Joanne Wilner at Tuesday's meeting.
The council rejected a $62,500 cost-saving proposal to end a program offering bonuses of $12,500 to trained officers transferring in from other police agencies.
By the end of the contract, officers will have above-average compensation, said the Police Association President Cpl. Huston Clements. West Covina will surpass comparable cities such as Baldwin Park, Covina and Alhambra, Clements said.
Councilman Mike Touhey said the pay hike would attract and keep better officers who wouldn't get the city sued for rookie mistakes.
"I'd rather put money on the front side and keep and retain and get quality officers," he said, "than pay well below the minimum and get officers who wouldn't ever cut it here."
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