Gurnee police get raises in one-year deal

Gurnee police will receive raises through a one-year contract approved by the village board Monday night.

By a 6-0 vote, the village trustees approved the deal that’ll provide a 2 percent cost-of-living boost to the police retroactive to May 1. The contract runs through April 30, 2012.

Village Administrator James Hayner said the 2 percent granted to the Fraternal Order of Police union members is the same amount agreed to in other collective-bargaining agreements struck with Gurnee firefighters and public works employees. Nonunion workers also are getting 2 percent raises, he said.

Police union members ratified the contract by a 21-0 vote before the deal went before the village board Monday evening. Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the unanimous vote by the police was significant.

“It shows everybody wants to work together,” Kovarik said.

Gurnee police officers received a 5 percent raise in a one-year contract May 2010.

In neighboring Grayslake, village board members recently approved a five-year contract with the police union that provides officers annual raises.

Under the contract retroactive to May 1, Grayslake’s 23 full-time officers — excluding sergeants — will receive 2 percent raises this year and in 2012, followed by a 2.5 percent hike in 2013 and 3 percent salary increases in 2014 and 2015.

Kovarik said a short-term contract is proper for Gurnee.

“You don’t want to obligate yourselves to too much (money) and have the economy turn on you,” she said.