The Nampa City Council directed negotiators and approved a negotiating offer to the Nampa Police Protective Association (NPPA) on a 1-year basis after extended debate about recruitment, retention and tight city budgets.

City staff told the council the NPPA had rejected the city's prior proposal and returned a counterproposal that included a 2.75% base wage increase, a 5% increase in insurance premiums and a 1% match to deferred compensation (401(k) plan), plus a request for a one-time increase to the uniform allowance. Staff and Chief Financial Officer Doug Racine presented estimated costs. The package including the 1% match was presented to the council as a total ongoing cost near $823,673 (city estimate lines noted $809,000 in earlier projections), and the one-time uniform increase was projected at about $81,001.25.

Council members repeatedly referenced a recently passed Meridian levy that could place Nampa at a disadvantage for recruiting and retention because Meridian's proposed increases approach 9 percent. City officials and the police argued that deferred compensation and the health-insurance adjustment are critical retention tools for officers who may retire earlier than other employees and face a gap before Medicare eligibility. Captain Daniels and an NPPA representative described deferred compensation as a benefit most officers use and said it helps bridge retirement insurance gaps.

Council debated whether to move to a two-year contract for stability or keep a one-year term because of uncertainty in next year's budget. CFO Doug Racine warned that new-construction property-tax revenues — a key source for incremental budget capacity — have declined and that the city's contingency reserves had drawn down to roughly $700,000, which constrains ability to add ongoing expenditures for FY 2027.

A first motion to approve the NPPA's requested package resulted in a 3-3 tie and did not carry. The council then voted to appoint Councilman Bills and Councilman Griffin as the council representatives to sit on the negotiating team. That motion carried. The council reconsidered and approved a one-year offer with a 2.75% wage increase, 5% health-insurance increase, a 1% 401(k) match and a one-time uniform allowance to be funded in part by salary savings, by roll-call vote 4 yes, 2 no.

Council members stated the vote authorizes the negotiation team to return the city's updated offer to the NPPA; the agreement is effective Oct. 1 and will be subject to final union acceptance and any further council approvals required by the city's contracting process.

No final signed collective-bargaining agreement was in the record at the meeting; council action authorized an offer for bargaining and appointed two council liaisons to the negotiating team.