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Council hears proposal to boost police pay, ease recruitment; finance staff say city can absorb costs
Summary
A public hearing covered a mayoral plan and a proposed amendment to the Omaha Police Officers Association collective-bargaining agreement to raise officer pay, speed up hiring and create multiple academy start dates; proponents said the changes respond to a staffing crisis while opponents urged investments in training and equipment.
The Omaha City Council held a public hearing on a mayoral plan and a proposed amendment to the Omaha Police Officers Association (OPOA) collective-bargaining agreement aimed at addressing a staffing shortfall in the Omaha Police Department.
Deputy city attorneys and city finance staff outlined three negotiated elements of the draft amendment: (1) a 2.7% increase for top-officer pay in 2025 intended to ensure Omaha is roughly 5% above comparable agencies for the remainder of 2025; (2) an automatic step to keep Omaha 5% above other agencies by taking a March 31 snapshot of competing pay plans for 2026 (the city projected this would translate into a roughly 5.58% increase at the start of the 2026 payroll year, based on known changes); and (3) a lateral-hire provision that would place officers with eight or more years of qualifying law-enforcement experience at the top step rather than a mid-range step.
The presentation also described administrative changes the mayor plans to implement alongside the contract amendment: continuous applicant testing, multiple eligibility lists, and two police academy start dates each year. The combined approach is intended to improve recruitment and retention.
Justin Smith, treasurer of the OPOA, said the department is roughly 14% below authorized strength and that the negotiated package is aimed at improving recruitment and retention. "This proposal further establishes that our city is willing to invest in public safety and is committed to fixing the staffing crisis," Smith said.
City Finance Director Steve Curtis told the council the immediate cost for 2025 is estimated at about $2.5 million and the anticipated cost in 2026 about $9 million; he said the administration expects to absorb the amounts in the 2025 and 2026 budgets without requiring an immediate tax-rate increase.
Public testimony was mixed. Supporters, including the OPOA and representatives of law-enforcement partners, said the changes are necessary to keep Omaha competitive with nearby agencies and to attract experienced lateral hires. Opponents argued the proposal focuses narrowly on pay and does not address training, equipment or working conditions. Several speakers called for continued emphasis on improving officer working conditions and training alongside pay increases.
Council members questioned the ordinance language and the finance projections and sought technical fixes. The public hearing closed with no final vote; councilmembers said they would consider the measure at an upcoming meeting after reviewing final language and any needed clarifications.
