City Manager recommends updates to police officer pay and benefits structure

The El Mirage City Council convened on April 15, 2025, to discuss significant updates to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) affecting police officers and sergeants. The meeting, led by the city manager, outlined several key revisions aimed at aligning the MOU with existing policy manuals and enhancing compensation structures.

The first major change involved the revision of the disciplinary letter section to ensure consistency with the police department's policy manual. Additionally, the language regarding tuition reimbursement was updated to reflect these policies. Changes were also made to vacation leave language to match the policy manual, and the process for association dues was shifted from payroll deductions to direct deposits.

Legal developments prompted the removal of the release time language from the MOU. The step pay plans for police officers and sergeants were revised to align with the sixtieth percentile of the market, with a reduction in the number of steps in the officer plan to remain competitive with neighboring cities. A cost of living adjustment will be implemented for both officers and sergeants during the second year of the agreement, aligning with adjustments for other city employees.

Further enhancements included an increase in employer contributions to deferred compensation from $35 to $100 per pay period, specialty assignment pay for specific units, and an increase in on-call pay rates for officers and sergeants. The guaranteed callback hours for officers called back to work were also increased from two to four hours at an overtime rate.

The council introduced an association donation program, allowing employees to donate vacation leave for association-related business. The uniform allowance was raised significantly from $13.50 to $1,400 annually, and modifications were made to sick leave conversion upon retirement eligibility.

Lastly, the MOU now includes voluntary decision-making language regarding vaccinations, ensuring that employees will not be required to undergo vaccinations as a condition of employment. The hours of work language was revised to include paid vacation in overtime calculations for employees working additional hours during their scheduled vacation.

The meeting concluded with a presentation of the tentative step pay plans for police officers and sergeants, marking a significant step towards improving compensation and working conditions for law enforcement personnel in El Mirage.