The Fraternal Order of Police did very well in its negotiations with City of Pensacola and Mayor Hayward’s Administration.
According to the agreements up for approval at the City Council’s meeting on Oct. 13, police sergeants will be permitted to sell back accrued leave of 100 hour annually not to exceed 500 hours. The maximum leave payout will be reduced from 500 hours with each sell back.
For the current fiscal year, police sergeants will be paid a bonus of $3,500 on the first payday after Oct. 1.
For FY 2017, For the current fiscal year, police sergeants will be paid a bonus of $3,000 on the first payday after Oct. 1, 2017.
The pay scales also increase, effective Oct. 3. 2016:
Entry level Police Officers and Crime Scene Analysts II: $35,006.40-$61,859.20
Crime Scene Analysts I: $20,758-$33,197 (if sworn, start at $27,040)
Effective first payday after Oct. 1, 2016:
Police Officers and Crime Scene Analysts II earning less than $35,006.40 will receive pay increase to $36,046.60
All other employees covered by this agreement receive a 3-percent base pay increase.
Effective first payday after Oct. 1, 2017:
All members of the bargaining unit will receive a 3-percent base pay increase.
The total cost to the taxpayers over the life of the three-year agreement is $764,690.
Mayor Hayward has recommended FY 2017 expenditures, $282,222, be covered by paying less into the Police Pension Fund.
The FY 2018 expenditures will be included in that year’s budget.
In August, FOP ran an ad in Inweekly challenging the Hayward administration:
“Citizens of Pensacola Did you know that…
City staff has decreased the public safety budget since 2014.
Meanwhile top City administrators have enjoyed lucrative pay raises.
The Pensacola Police Department has more than 30% vacancies for trained patrol officers.
Due to budget constraints, the ability to recruit and retain YOUR police department is at historic low numbers.”
After the ad ran, the negotiations began to move in FOP’s direction, according to sources close to the police union.