Wages for Springdale police officers will rise by just over 3% in each of the next two years.
Council approved a new two-year contract that gives its seven officers a $1-per-hour increase in each of the next two years.
The hourly wage for the department’s six patrolmen is $30.50 per hour and will rise to $31.50 in January. That amounts to a 3.3% increase.
It will go up by 3.2% the following year when it rises to $32.50 an hour.
Police Capt. Derek Dayoub will receive the same $1-per-hour salary boost in both years. But it works out to slightly less in terms of percentage because his hourly wage is higher in accordance with his rank.
Dayoub earns $32.50 per hour, which will increase to $33.50 in January, a 3.1% boost. In 2023 his salary will rise 3% to $34.50 per hour.
Police Chief George Polnar is not a member of the bargaining unit and works under a separate contract. His salary will not be increased in conjunction with the patrolmen’s contract.
Council President Mitch Karaica said a tax increase will not be needed to cover the new contract.
“It’s pretty much the same, with a little more for the clothing allowance,” he said.
The current three-year contract expires Dec. 31.
Dayoub, a member of the bargaining unit’s negotiating team, said the contract took only about four months to negotiate.
“It was give and take on both sides,” Dayoub said. “It was an amicable bargaining.
“I think both the bargaining unit and the borough (officials) are satisfied with the agreement.”
