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Palatka approves police union contract with new stipends after heated debate on cost and caps
Summary
The commission approved a new contract with the police union that adds certification stipends and other pay changes; staff estimated a maximum annual cost increase of about $168,000 over current amounts, and commissioners debated stipend caps and affordability before approving the agreement.
The Palatka City Commission on Sept. 10 approved a negotiated contract with the Police Benevolent Association that adds paid stipends for officers who hold certifications for specialized duties.
The contract’s stipend structure drew extensive discussion. Commissioners asked whether a single officer could receive multiple stipends and how the program would affect the city’s payroll. Chief of Police Jason Shaw said the stipends are paid only while an officer is assigned to or acting in the certified role and that the department currently has no officer holding all possible stipends. Shaw said the stipend program both builds in‑house training capacity and avoids higher costs the city would face if it contracted those services externally.
City staff provided fiscal estimates during the meeting. Finance and human‑resources briefings put the additional budget impact range between roughly $108,000 (if existing arrangements were unchanged) and about $168,000 at maximum payout, with a mid‑range incremental cost reported by staff of about $60,000 over a baseline scenario.
Commissioner debate focused on two questions: (1) affordability given city revenue limits and competing priorities, and (2) whether the contract should include a clear policy limit on how many simultaneous stipends an individual officer may receive. Chief Shaw and staff said policy language capping number of stipends is being drafted and would be brought to commissioners for review.
After public comment in support of retaining officers (citizens and staff highlighted turnover to neighboring agencies that pay more), the commission voted to adopt the contract.
What’s next: staff said it will finalize implementing policy language that specifies eligibility and maximum concurrent stipends and will provide the commission the detailed policy for final review.
Sources: Comments from Chief Jason Shaw and staff presentations during the Sept. 10 meeting.
