Beaumont: We're Offering Police 'Market Competitive Pay Range'

BEAUMONT, CA — Two days after Beaumont police took their grievances with the city public at a council meeting, the city says they are working to reach "an agreement soon that is fair to both its employees and the taxpayers."

Patch reported on how police officers stated they are having trouble finding and keeping qualified candidatesdue to the current pay structure at the department. This comes after a year of failed negotiations and 10 years without a raise, the Police Officers Association says.

Here is the full response issued by the City of Beaumont on Thursday:

Public safety is an extremely important priority for the City of Beaumont and the men and women who serve our community are greatly appreciated and highly valued. This fiscal year, approximately 43% of the City’s general fund is spent on public safety inclusive of police, fire and related support services. Currently, the City is working hard to arrive at a compensation package that is fair to police personnel, while not placing the City’s financial stability in jeopardy.

The Police Managers Association and the City have recently agreed to the proposed terms of a two-year labor agreement that will be presented to the City Council on June 19, 2018. In summary, the Police Managers Association and the City have agreed to an immediate 2.5% across the board pay raise; a 5% across the board pay raise effective July 1, 2018; and a 5% across the board pay raise effective July 1, 2019. The compensation package that the City and Police Managers Association have agreed to is competitive within the Inland Empire.

The Police Officers Association (POA) and the City are engaged in labor negotiations. The City has proposed a market competitive and comprehensive package to the POA. The City has offered the sworn POA members an immediate 2.5% across the board pay raise; a 5% across the board pay raise effective July 1, 2018; and up to a 5% merit-based raise effective on the employee’s anniversary date in 2019. With respect to the unsworn POA members, the City has offered an immediate 2.5% across the board pay raise; and up to a 2.5% merit-based raise effective on the employee’s anniversary date in 2019.

The raises offered to each of the bargaining units places them in a market competitive pay range for their respective positions pursuant to a compensation study prepared by an outside consultant hired by City Council. These salary increases are a portion of an overall benefits package that include CalPERS retirement benefits, a $1,500 monthly health care allowance, education, and certificate incentives, wellness reimbursements, bilingual pay as well as paid leave.

It was not long ago that the City was nearly bankrupted under the previous administration’s practices. This cannot be permitted to happen again. The City endeavors to be fiscally responsible and avoid repeating the same mistakes of the past administration in order to have a more secure future for the City. The City will continue to negotiate with the POA in good faith and with the goal of reaching an agreement soon that is fair to both its employees and the taxpayers who pay for their services.

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• Beaumont Police Take Pay, Public Safety Concerns Public

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Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone