Buffalo Grove, police officers agree to new, two-year contract
Buffalo Grove has reached agreement with its police officers' union on a new two-year contract awarding members of the rank-and-file 1.5 percent annual pay hikes.
The contract, authorized by village trustees Monday, is retroactive to Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31, 2016, officials said. Under the deal, the starting annual salary for an officer would be $63,000, and the top salary would be $94,000, up from $59,000 and $88,000, respectively.
Officials said the financial terms were determined after comparing the salaries and raises of departments in surrounding communities, including Elk Grove Village, Wheeling, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Park Ridge and Gurnee.
The agreement awards additional raises in "specialty pay" for field training officers and those that work night shifts, and gives officers a uniform allowance of $1,000 a year.
The contract also calls for both sides to discuss a "pay for performance" plan, without committing either party to such a plan.
This is the second contract between the village and Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Police Patrol Officer Chapter #672, which was formed in 2012. Compared to the first negotiation, this was one wrapped up fairly quickly.
"I think it went very well," Deputy Police Chief Michael Szos said. "I think that we were prepared and that the union was prepared. This was the second time through, so there were no hang-ups that I can recall."