The City of Tallahassee and the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) have reached an agreement on collective bargaining contracts for the Police Officer & Investigators Bargaining Unit and the Sergeants & Lieutenants Bargaining Unit
The estimated three-year base cost for the wage component of the agreement is $5,067,136 and will cover the period of October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020.
The issue is scheduled to be voted on during the the April 11th city commission meeting.
The PBA conducted a ratification vote among their members on April 5, 2018.
The collective bargaining agreements covering the Police Officer & Investigators Bargaining Unit and the Sergeants & Lieutenants Bargaining Unit expired on September 30, 2017. Negotiations with the PBA resulted in successor 3-year agreements.
Parameters of the agreement are listed below:
- Officers and Investigators – a 4.5% step for employees eligible to step and a 3% ATB (across the Board) for employees in the top step in FY18, FY19 and FY20. FY18-effective date of increase is 1/6/2018.
- Sergeants and Lieutenants – a 3% ATB with no step progression in FY18, FY19 and FY20. FY18-effective date of increase is 1/6/2018.
- Employee contribution to pension will remain at 11.25% for all members employed prior to 10/1/2012 and 13.69% for all members employed on or after 10/01/2012 for FY18, FY19 and FY20.
- Changes to pension plan design as described above include:
- No contribution to pension when employee enters DROP
- No COLA while in DROP for future DROP participants
- Discontinue interest payment on the refund of employee pension contributions
- COLA moved to age 55 for participants with a pension entry date on or after 01/01/1998 and earlier than 01/01/2001. All other participants with a pension entry date on or after 01/01/2001, COLA remains at age 62.
City of Tallahassee, Police Union Reach $5 Mill Wage Agreement added by Staff on
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Let’s go back to when this site published city salaries over $75,000 a year. Over half of those making over 75K were with police department. What is the average salary in Tallahassee?
The PBA actively participates in both city and county commission elections. Their big concern is collective bargaining, and they usually endorse which ever party candidate supports their position. PBA is not for consolidation because Sheriff office doesn’t have collective bargaining i.e., same pension benefits and they don’t like the idea of diminishing their return. When the PBA endorses candidates they usually send out a mail piece promoting all of the candidates for whom they have endorsed which equates to a political contribution plus it tells the other cops which candidate is agreeable to PBA issues. The problem is that while cops are good each new one hired (because of their negotiated pensions) creates another millionaire that the tax payer has to pay. That is because when a cop retires their collective bargaining agreement pays them in perpetuity a very large portion of their salary. Hence, each new hire is another millionaire. It is something that people should be aware of because there is a balance between too much taxation and the right amount of public protection.
Where is the city going to cut spending?
On the surface it appears a legitimate business agreement.
However first how much money from the PBA works it’s way back to the city in one form or another?
Second how much in political contributions does the PBA contribute to leftist liberal “D” candidates and to leftist liberal causes?
Third how much in political contributions does the PBA contribute to conservative “R” or “I” candidates and to conservative causes?
Fourth does the PBA contribute any money to persons or organizations that would not fall into either political, leftist, or conservative causes?
In closing, I do not know where to begin to find the above answers, but the answers may be of interest to Tallahassee and Leon county voters to help them in making correct choices.