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Palm Beach Gardens ratifies three-year police contract covering officers, sergeants and communications staff
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved Resolution 74-2025 to ratify a three-year agreement with the Police Benevolent Association covering fiscal years 2026–2028. The contract includes market-based salary adjustments, new assignment pays and an estimated cost of about $7.25 million over three years.
The Palm Beach Gardens City Council on Sept. 18 approved Resolution 74-2025, ratifying a three-year contract with the Police Benevolent Association that covers police officers, sergeants and communications operators for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. The measure passed 5-0.
Cheryl Stewart, the city’s human resources administrator, summarized the contract negotiations and the agreement’s principal elements. Negotiations began in June and a tentative three-year agreement was reached on Aug. 14; the union ratified the contract on Aug. 28. Stewart told the council the salary adjustments are market-based and are intended to keep the city competitive in a tight local recruiting market.
Stewart described specific assignment pays and staffing counts included in the agreement: a 2.5% assignment pay for motorcycle riders in traffic (four officers currently in that classification), a 5% assignment pay for a K-9 unit trainer (one trainer; five K-9 unit positions), and a new 5% assignment pay for CNT (cited to align with SWAT medic pay; Stewart said there are eight CNT members). Stewart said the salary plan combines a market-rate realignment and cost-of-living adjustments; the presentation noted that over the three-year agreement officers would receive an approximate total increase of 30% and sergeants about 31%. Stewart said the total cost of the salary adjustments over three years is approximately $7,250,000, roughly $2.4 million per year, and that those costs have been included in the budget.
A member of the police department, identified in the record as Sergeant Hayashi, addressed the council during public comment to express gratitude for the agreement and to thank the council and staff for their work on the contract.
Multiple council members voiced support for the agreement during discussion, citing recruitment and retention pressures and the value of maintaining health standards for officers. Council members asked about the union ratification vote; Stewart said, “It’s my understanding that there was 118 that voted and 115 were in favor,” which she provided as the union ratification tally.
The council approved Resolution 74-2025 unanimously. The resolution approves and ratifies the contract and authorizes the mayor and city manager to execute the agreement.
