Immediate pay raises, merit system approved for MPD officers

The Maricopa City Council unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to give city police officers an immediate 2.5 percent salary increase and paved the way for yearly merit increases of up to 5 percent beginning July 1.

The first-year cost for the salary raises are estimated at $73,200. Currently, the city has $2,203,600 budgeted for police officer salaries.

Officers who meet expectations in their evaluations can receive a 2.5 percent increase, and officers exceeding expectations can receive an additional 2.5 percent. Officers have not had pay raises in four years.

The plan, called a memorandum of understanding, is an agreement between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 78, a union that represents the department’s officers in salary negotiations with the city.

Mayor Anthony Smith asked where the $73,200 would come from and Human Resources Director Karen Shaffer said the city has some savings in its contingency fund, money set aside for emergencies.

However, City Manager Brenda Fischer said the city has additional savings this year from unfilled vacancies and will not have to tap into the contingency funds.