La Marque police union seeks market adjustment, changes to pay plan and shift-notice rules in contract talks

La Marque officials and representatives of the La Marque Police Officers Association met May 28 to begin negotiations on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement that would raise base pay and change several pay-plan features, a union negotiator said.

The association’s lead negotiator, John Kerr of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, told city officials the department’s base pay sits below the regional market median and recommended a market adjustment timed to a projected Oct. 1, 2025, 3% across-the-board increase many neighboring cities expect to grant. "We've fallen behind a little bit about the police market," Kerr said.

The discussion matters because pay and benefit design affect recruitment and retention, union negotiators and city staff said. City Manager J.B. Pritchett and Chief Randall Lerigot were present for the city; both said they want to resolve remaining language and budget questions before finalizing terms.

Kerr summarized the union’s market survey findings, saying patrol officers and corporals were roughly 6% below the market median and sergeants and lieutenants about 7.9% below. He recommended a market-adjustment in the contract’s first year to narrow that gap and suggested keeping a three-year contract structure to spread costs.

Negotiators discussed several specific pay and benefit changes: - Market adjustment: The association proposed a first-year market…