Greenfield's police and fire unions aid budget

Greenfield - The city's budget makers are breathing a sigh of relief now that both the city's police and firefighter unions have reached accords with the city.

The memberships of both police and firefighter unions approved the contracts for 2012 and 2013. Technically, the deals still need to be finalized, as of press deadline. But knowing what costs will be for these two large departments is critical to budget making and a huge help, said Milt Vandermeuse, finance director.

That's because police and fire will make up 59 percent of the proposed 2012 budget, he said, with pay and benefits accounting for the majority of that spending.

Testy moments

The agreements, however, didn't come easily.

A disagreement between the city and its firefighters about the health care plan actually wound up in court with the firefighters asking for a temporary injunction. But the judge gave the sides two weeks to try again to figure things out. They came up with a solution last week.

That enabled city officials to send the proposed 2012 budget off to a public hearing Nov. 15 without making the draconian changes in health care that would have been needed if the agreement with the firefighers were slower in coming, or didn't come at all, Vandermeuse said.

Union cooperation, too

Unions also made it easier for the city to work through a tight budget, officials said.

To try to help budgeting along for 2012, both unions previously agreed to the wage freeze that will affect all Greenfield workers next year. They also agreed to pay 5.9 percent toward pensions next year, and police agreed to the health plan with a 12.6 percent contribution like other Greenfield employees will make. That is what firefighters eventually did too last week.

Police and firefighters are the only municipal employees who still have the right to negotiate those contributions. A new state that strictly limits collective bargaining for other public employees.

"Credit goes to the Common Council and the memberships of the fire and police unions and all other unions," said Ben Granberg, human resources director.

Adjustments in 2013

Both unions ratified two-year contracts that do include raises in 2013, Granberg said. In 2013, they will receive raises of 1.5 percent Jan. 1, July 1 and Dec. 31, he said. The actual cost to the city will be 2.25 percent higher, he added.

Both police and firefighters also agreed to continue to make the same pension and health insurance contributions that other employees do.

City officials are pleased with the agreements on the health plan, which will save a lot of money, Granberg said.

"Those are some heavy expenses," he said.

Residency requirement change

Firefighters are pleased to have chink in the city's 15-mile residency requirement.

Beginning Jan. 1, firefighers will be allowed to live farther than 15 miles away. But as a disincentive, they will not be on the routine callback list if more manpower is needed. Others will be called up instead.

Police didn't ask for residency requirement changes, Granberg said.