During a recent council meeting, significant updates regarding the collective bargaining agreements with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Longmont Professional Firefighters Association were discussed. The council emphasized that the revisions to the agreements primarily involved streamlining processes rather than substantial changes to the existing framework.

One of the key highlights was the introduction of a retiree health plan aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by police officers, particularly concerning their physical demands and the gap before they qualify for Medicare. The new plan includes ongoing contributions based on years of service, ranging from 0.5% to 1%, along with provisions for milestone payments for long-serving members who may not have previously utilized these benefits.

Additionally, the council announced that the average pay increase for 2025 will be approximately 11.1%, with sworn officers seeing increases between 9.66% and 14.28%, while civilian employees will receive raises ranging from 3% to 10.93%. For the following year, a 4% increase for sworn employees and a 3.25% increase for civilian staff have also been agreed upon.

The total financial impact of the 2025 wage and benefits package is estimated at $4.44 million, which includes a one-time expense of approximately $1.11 million related to the retirement health savings accounts. This two-year contract aims to enhance predictability for both applicants and management while addressing the needs of the workforce effectively.