Police get bonus in new city contract

Talk about it

The Two Harbors City Council approved no raise for police officers for 2011 or 2012 but they will get a bonus for signing a new contract worth $440, costing the city $2,640. The raise was approved for officers only and not department heads.

The city did not budget for raises this year. Council members said they expected to come in under budget on other items to pay for the bonus. Regular step raises for time accrued will be honored. In March, a raise of 1.25 percent was given to all supervisors based on longevity but they now have a salary freeze for the next two years. The average pay is $24 an hour.

As for other employees, whose deals are still being worked out, council member Chris Swanson said usually if you give a raise to one group you give one to all. All employees have more money going to health insurance – that increase went up by 8 percent.

All employees got a 3 percent raise last year. There have been talks in the state Legislature about a salary freeze for all public employees.

The city will also pay $2,400 for a uniform allowance for bullet proof vests in the police department. Instead of getting new ones every six years, they will get them every five years.

Tags: two harbors, money, news