Clarkstown and Police Agree On 2.5% Raises For 2011 and 2012

Last night, the Town Board approved an agreement between the Town of Clarkstown and the Rockland County PBA for a 2.5% raise for town police officers for 2011 and 2012. 

The agreement comes on the heels of a state arbitrator's decision to give PBA members a 3.4% raises for 2009 and 2010 after the Town of Clarkstown and police officers were unable to negotiate an agreement.

In light of that decision, police and town officials refocused their negotiations for 2011 and 2012 and agreed to the 2.5%, almost one point below the arbitrated amount.

“We felt we did better than a state arbitrator would have done in the future,” said Alex Gromack, Clarkstown Town Supervisor.  “I’m glad that the PBA and the town were able to come to an agreement which calls for a 2.5 raise.”

Gromack said that both sides agreed that to go to another arbitration  would drag out the contract process for years, and that was  tnot in the best interests of the police, the town or its residents.

“I certainly want to commend Clarkstown PBA because they recognized, in these difficult economic times, that a lower number than what the arbitrator did for 2009 and 2010 would be more suited to the times,”  Gromack said.