Deal reached in police early-retirement buyout plan

YOUNGSTOWN — City officials reached an agreement in principle today on an early-retirement buyout plan with its ranking police officers union that would reduce the number of city workers losing their jobs if implemented.

The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers — which represents the department’s sergeants, detective sergeants, lieutenants and captains — and city council must approve the plan before it’s finalized, Mayor Jay Williams said.

Officers taking the buyout would receive one years’ base salary paid in equal amounts over five years.

The city administration will begin discussions on the same buyout offer as early as next week with the union that represents police patrol officers, Williams said.

If an agreement with the patrol union can be reached, it’s possible the city won’t layoff any of its employees this year, Williams said.

The city’s 2009 general-fund budget included $860,000 in personnel cuts, including $655,000 from the police department.

That equates to up to 34 city workers, including 22 to 26 police officers, losing their jobs.

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