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Wednesday, June 30, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Boulder City
The Boulder City Council approved an agreement with the Police Protective Association on Tuesday to waive officers’ annual pay raise, saving the city $144,673.
The agreement will be added as an amendment the city’s fiscal budget that was finalized on May 18.
As part of the agreement, Police Chief Thomas Finn said, officers will give up a 2.5 percent pay increase, forgo a vacation buyback program and have their monthly uniform allowance reduced by $122.
In exchange, the agreement will keep two police officer positions from being eliminated.
After 30 years in law enforcement, Finn said, he has never seen a cost-of-living raise taken away from officers. But it’s something the police union is willing to sacrifice to save two officers from losing their jobs, he said.
“It tore me up inside to think of losing two of my best guys,” Finn said. “In the context of what’s happening globally, I think it’s fair.”
Finn said the police union was the last to agree to the concessions because it wanted a guarantee no officers would be laid off. He said that kind of promise isn’t feasible with the conditions of the economy right now.
“There’s no city in the country that could make that guarantee,” Finn said. “I’ve told my officers...it’s a reality, especially when you live in a state with the second-highest unemployment rate in the country.”
City Manager Vicki Mayes said the council earlier this year eliminated four positions in the Police Department that had been vacant, including three officers and one dispatcher.
A lieutenant position was not cut but is still vacant, she said.
All of the city’s unions have agreed to concessions for the next two years, except for electrical workers. She said the concessions will save the city about $450,000.
Imagine, not getting a raise this year. The sacrifice of these union police officers is amazing. Sacrificing like no others during this economic downturn to save their community. WoW! No raise. Amazing.
Chunky says:
Sounds like a decent thing to do and still keep the extra two officers that were going to be cut.
Now if we can just get the firefighters to suck it up a bit. EVERYONE needs to tighten their belts the same as the residents and tax payers have to.
That's what Chunky thinks!
I hate to break it to Finn, but 'in the context of whats happening globally'.....not getting a raise 1 time in his 30 years is whats fair?????
Are these guys kidding me?
These public sector unions need a reality check.
unsilent,
Finn was wrong, the BC police took cuts in cost of living in 2002 after 911, last year and in this latest agreement, will not get cost of living for two more years. On top of that, BC police officers are the lowest paid in the Valley.
WHy would you lose your two "best guys", how about the two "worst guys"?
I'm guessing the "worst" guys have the most seniority, but it's kind of a jab to them. Younger guys probably run faster and stuff and are more recent grads of police academy. He meant to say they are ALL best guys.
Here is an idea-sell off Boulder Creek golf course and save the city about 7 million! It is so poor of BC to keep funding this black hole. No matter what you you do, that place is a loser! Oh yeah-chief I would suggest if you have to cut anyone! Drop your 2 worst guys! Management 101!