City Council:  

I just received a message from Lee Duboc which you have no doubt also read. It partially states:  

This Tuesday, January 13th, the City Council will be voting on a new contract for our City's eight police sergeants. Starting now and continually building until the contract expires in two years, these 8 sergeants will receive between a 22.75% and 35.25% base salary increase.

• This salary enhancement will mean a $500,000 increase in the General Fund Budget each fiscal year for these eight employees.
• A sergeant's salary of $107,086 will become $131,452 in that time. This is just "base pay"; it does not take into consideration longevity bonuses and/or other many considerations such as working the night shift.
• Increased salaries have long-term ramifications in that life-long pensions are based on the "last and highest salary" when retirement age is reached-as early as 50.

My company has frozen salaries for 2009 in light of the economy. No company I have worked for in the past decade has a 'defined benefit' pension.  

The Duboc message also states:

The contract and staff report has just been made public. (Thursday, January 8 for a meeting on January 13).  

This sounds like a very irresponsible contract and negotiation process. Please revise your decision. No pay raises in 2009.  

Regards,

Jim Witham         Received on Mon Jan 12 2009 - 10:47:14 PST