South Kingstown council approves tentative police contract with $1.4M three-year impact
November 10, 2025 | South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island
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The South Kingstown Town Council voted Nov. 10 to authorize the town manager to sign a tentative three‑year agreement with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 489, officials said. Town staff described the deal as a mix of wage increases, a new retention-pay schedule and changes to health‑plan components intended to make the department more competitive with neighboring police agencies.
Town staff told the council that the SKPD budget for sworn officers is roughly $10.5 million and that the three‑year fiscal impact of the tentative agreement is about $1,400,000. Staff said the largest budgetary effect occurs in year one because the town is rolling in a new retention schedule and initial increases; the town had already budgeted a 2% increase for the department this year, and officials said that reduces the net first‑year gap to about $318,954. "We have money in the budget to cover this first year," staff said during the presentation.
The presentation said South Kingstown officers historically were paid below comparable departments on an hourly basis and that year‑one wages were aligned to North Kingstown PD’s schedule. The agreement also moves some longevity payments into retention pay to increase early‑career pay, adjusts stipends (including splitting field‑training pay into four‑hour increments), reduces some retirement buyback exposure and modifies wellness incentives and certain payout rules to reduce long‑term liabilities.
Union ratification was reported by staff: "The IBPO membership passed on Halloween 52 to 1," the record shows. Council discussion emphasized recruitment and retention as the chief goals behind the negotiations. Council members thanked staff and the union for a collaborative process and then moved and approved the authorization for the manager to execute the tentative agreement.
The action was taken by a voice vote; the presentation indicated staff will monitor attrition and that the negotiated structure is intended to make SKPD competitive in future bargaining cycles.
Next steps: staff will finalize the written agreement and proceed with execution and budget-year implementation steps; council members said they will monitor attrition, staffing and fiscal impacts in upcoming budget reviews.
Town staff told the council that the SKPD budget for sworn officers is roughly $10.5 million and that the three‑year fiscal impact of the tentative agreement is about $1,400,000. Staff said the largest budgetary effect occurs in year one because the town is rolling in a new retention schedule and initial increases; the town had already budgeted a 2% increase for the department this year, and officials said that reduces the net first‑year gap to about $318,954. "We have money in the budget to cover this first year," staff said during the presentation.
The presentation said South Kingstown officers historically were paid below comparable departments on an hourly basis and that year‑one wages were aligned to North Kingstown PD’s schedule. The agreement also moves some longevity payments into retention pay to increase early‑career pay, adjusts stipends (including splitting field‑training pay into four‑hour increments), reduces some retirement buyback exposure and modifies wellness incentives and certain payout rules to reduce long‑term liabilities.
Union ratification was reported by staff: "The IBPO membership passed on Halloween 52 to 1," the record shows. Council discussion emphasized recruitment and retention as the chief goals behind the negotiations. Council members thanked staff and the union for a collaborative process and then moved and approved the authorization for the manager to execute the tentative agreement.
The action was taken by a voice vote; the presentation indicated staff will monitor attrition and that the negotiated structure is intended to make SKPD competitive in future bargaining cycles.
Next steps: staff will finalize the written agreement and proceed with execution and budget-year implementation steps; council members said they will monitor attrition, staffing and fiscal impacts in upcoming budget reviews.
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