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City outlines $1.5 million police pay enhancements in tentative AFSCME contract; formal signing to come
Summary
City staff presented a tentative agreement with AFSCME Local 3373 covering pay-scale increases, a possible switch to biweekly payroll, healthcare premium adjustments, and a limit on sick-to-vacation payout for new hires; the mayor and council will consider final approval and signing at a later regular session.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — City staff reported a tentative agreement with the police union AFSCME Local 3373 at the Feb. 11 work session that would raise pay scales, allow limited increases in employee healthcare premiums, offer recruiting and lateral-pay enhancements and impose a cap on sick-to-vacation payout for future hires.
Donald Francis presented the agreement and described its fiscal impact. He said the fiscal-year 2026 pay enhancements for sworn officers will cost the general fund “a little less than $1,500,000” and cover roughly 100 sworn officers. About $556,000 of that amount relates directly to nine additional officers the mayor and council approved late last year. Francis said the agreement would limit the amount eligible for conversion from sick leave to vacation payout at retirement to $12,000 for employees hired after July 1, 2025; employees currently in the system would still be paid the full amounts already earned but would be ineligible for conversions once the $12,000 threshold is exceeded.
Why it matters: The contract represents a sizable municipal investment in police compensation intended to boost recruitment and retention. Francis said starting pay will have increased substantially between fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2028 under the city’s pay changes; he noted “between FY21 and the end of this contract … starting pay will have increased 62 and a half percent.”
Next steps: Francis answered council questions and said he would return at a formal session for final presentation and signing of the contract. The work session did not include a formal approval or signature; councilmembers expressed support for market-competitive pay to retain officers.
Ending: The tentative agreement will be presented at a future regular session for final council action and signature; until then it remains an administratively negotiated tentative agreement.
