POLICE CONTRACT Arbitrator gives raise to patrol officers

The union agreed to start contributing toward health-insurance costs.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city says it will have to struggle to avoid layoffs after an arbitrator decided against a one-year wage freeze for police patrol officers.
An arbitrator has awarded police a 2 percent raise in the first year of a three-year contract, which is retroactive to December 2003. Police sought the increase, but the city wanted the wage freeze.
Patrol officers also will get 3 percent raises in the contract's second year and 4 percent in the third year. Police and the city previously agreed to those raises.
Patrol officers make between $32,788 and $45,793 annually plus overtime and fringe benefits.
The decision released today means the city must find $500,000 to pay for the raises among the 2004 and 2005 budgets, said Finance Director David Bozanich. Each 1 percent raise costs the city about $100,000.
This year's budget doesn't include money for police raises, and next year's spending plan will be just as tight, Bozanich said.
Foresees layoffs
The arbitrator's report says Bozanich asserted during a hearing that there would be safety-force layoffs if patrol officers were awarded the 2 percent raise.
Bozanich said this morning that layoffs will depend on whether the city finishes the year with more-than-expected revenue. Right now, revenue is meeting -- but not exceeding -- projections, he said.
"We're going to be challenged to get the job done," Bozanich said. "We will explore all options."
Mayor George M. McKelvey didn't respond to a message this morning seeking comment.
Patrolman Kevin Bokesch, president of the Youngstown Police Association, said today officers are happy and will wait and see what happens with any layoffs.
"I don't think there's going to be too much room for layoffs," he said.
There are about 125 patrol officers, down 30 to 35 from three years ago, he said.
Arbitrator Jonathan Klein's award of the 2 percent raise reverses the wage freeze suggested by a state fact finder earlier this year. Arbitrators usually back the suggestions of state fact finders, said Law Director John McNally IV.
"He basically flip-flopped," he said. "Unfortunately, that's the way binding arbitration with the safety forces can go."
Firefighters' agreement
Firefighters agreed in July to a one-year contract extension that forgoes across-the-board pay increases. The city argued that the firefighters' move reflected the city's difficult financial situation.
Klein, however, didn't cite the firefighter's deal in his reasoning for awarding the raise.
"Obviously, he didn't think that meant anything," McNally said.
Patrol officers and the city did agree on new health-insurance contributions by police.
During fact-finding, police sought to avoid contributions toward health insurance. The city wanted patrol officers to make the same contributions that management workers started making a year ago.
Patrol officers won't have to make any retroactive contributions.
Details
Starting in December, patrol officers will pay 3 percent per month -- with a $20 monthly cap -- toward health, prescription, dental and vision insurance for family coverage and 3 percent per month with a $10 monthly cap for single coverage.
The following year, police will pay 7 percent per month with a $50 monthly cap for family coverage and 7 percent per month with a $25 monthly cap for single coverage.
The city pays $776 per month for family coverage and $307 per month for single coverage, McNally said.
Patrol officers also are making copayments for doctor and hospital visits and on prescription drugs. The copayments are part of the health insurance the city has the right to choose, not part of the labor contract.
Bokesch said the union understands the need to contribute to health-insurance costs so it reversed its stand between fact-finding and arbitration.
The arbitrator declined to change several other items patrol offices sought.
Police asked to eliminate the residency requirement for city workers. Police also wanted language included requiring at least five, two-officer calls per shift. The city most often uses one-officer cars.
rgsmith@vindy.com