Oro Valley council delays police pay decision after wide public support for higher wages; asks staff for side‑by‑side cost comparisons

The Oro Valley Town Council on May 7 delayed a decision on a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering police salaries and benefits after lengthy public comment and competing presentations from town negotiators and representatives of the Oro Valley Police Officers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.

The council voted 6–0 to table the item to a date certain two weeks after the meeting and directed staff to return with a direct, side‑by‑side comparison of the competing proposals so council members could review costs and pension impacts before taking final action.

Why it matters: Council members and town staff said they want to preserve the town’s high level of public safety while ensuring any agreement is fiscally sustainable. Speakers from labor groups, local business leaders and dozens of Oro Valley residents urged the council to approve a competitive pay package, saying recruitment and retention of experienced officers is a critical local issue.

During public comment more than two dozen residents, many with family ties to Oro Valley officers or with previous careers in law enforcement, described the department as the town’s primary asset and urged the council to approve the unions’ proposals or a comparable plan. "Give the cops what they want," said realtor and resident Lisa Bayless, summarizing a common theme from speakers who tied public safety to property values and local quality of life. Several union leaders and…