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South Kingstown Approves Three-Year Contract With Municipal Employees Association
Summary
The Town Council approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the South Kingstown Municipal Employees Association that includes a 2% raise in year one, 3% in years two and three, reclassified positions, retention-pay changes, and estimated general-fund impact of roughly $263,000 in the first year.
The South Kingstown Town Council on Dec. 9 approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the South Kingstown Municipal Employees Association (SKMEA), effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
Luke Murray, deputy town manager, summarized the tentative agreement, saying it includes a 2% general increase in year one and 3% increases in years two and three, along with reclassifications based on a compensation survey, an adjusted retention-pay (previously longevity) structure, vacation increases, expanded dependent dental coverage to age 26, sick-time donation language, and wellness incentives tied to participation. "We came out of COVID, we had high inflation," Murray said, describing why unions asked for larger increases and why the town negotiated structured, phased increases.
Murray reported the total three-year fiscal impact is approximately $603,732, with about $467,000 assigned to the general fund over the life of the contract and a projected general-fund first-year impact of roughly $263,000. Finance staff said the town set aside $400,000 in the general fund to absorb contract increases across multiple bargaining units and will reassess the budget in January or February to rebalance for settled agreements.
Council members praised staff negotiations and noted retention and recruitment challenges across town departments as drivers of the agreement. The council moved to authorize the town manager to sign the agreement; the motion passed by voice vote.
The contract affects 48 full-time employees represented by SKMEA and 43 union positions; other costs will be covered partly by enterprise funds (recreation, solid waste, wastewater, water) where applicable, officials said. The town will present a budget rebalance to the council early in the calendar year to address the combined first-year impacts from multiple settled contracts.
