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Santa Fe OKs FY26 police contract with $1.05 million in raises; deputy chief says pay boosts aimed at recruitment and retention
Summary
The City of Santa Fe governing body approved a fiscal-year 2026 collective bargaining agreement with the Santa Fe Police Officers Association that provides $1,047,623.15 in salary increases and includes a clerical correction raising the detective minimum to $43.39 per hour.
The City of Santa Fe governing body approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Santa Fe Police Officers Association on July 9 that provides $1,047,623.15 in salary increases for sworn and civilian bargaining-unit employees for fiscal year 2026.
Deputy Chief Ben Valdez, presenting the item after it was pulled from the consent agenda, asked the governing body to correct a clerical error in the posted packet and reported a minor pay-rate change: “on page 22 of the packet ... it says $43.30, and it's supposed to be $43.39,” referring to the detective minimum pay rate. The governing body approved the amendment and then the contract.
Valdez described the contract as part of a multi-year effort to make local public safety pay more competitive. “As of today ... we have 11 police officer vacancies,” Valdez said, adding the department had faced much higher vacancy rates in prior years. He told the governing body the pay changes are intended both to attract new hires and to keep officers in Santa Fe: “We feel it's important that folks that serve our community can live in our community.”
Councilor Castro, who led questions after the presentation, emphasized the link between staffing and funding: “If our community continues to ask for more policing and more officers ... then we're gonna have to invest financially.” City Manager Scott (identified in the meeting as city manager) and staff said the contract reflects funds that were included in the adopted budget; staff also noted other bargaining groups remain in negotiation.
The governing body voted by roll call to approve the contract after the packet correction was noted; the motion passed with all members present voting yes. City staff said they will incorporate the $43.39 detective minimum into the final signed agreement prior to execution.
Why it matters: Councilors and department leaders said the increases are meant to address persistent vacancies and to enable the department to recruit and retain officers and civilian staff who can live in and serve Santa Fe. The contract applies only to compensation changes; other contract terms were not altered as part of this vote.
What happens next: Staff said they will finalize the clerical correction in the agreement text and proceed with signature. The governing body and staff discussed, separately, next steps for bargaining with other city unions and whether similar increases can be negotiated for other employee groups.
Votes and formal actions tied to this item are listed in the meeting’s action log.
