Hilliard council advances first reading of police union contract, schedules Feb. 9 public hearing

An ordinance to authorize a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge No. 9, received its first reading at the Hilliard City Council meeting on Feb. 2, 2026, and the council scheduled a public hearing and second reading for Feb. 9.

City staff presented the contract’s key terms, saying the three-year term would run beginning in January 2026 and through Dec. 31, 2028. Staff described an initial $1,000 market adjustment to base pay and an annual 4% wage increase. The staff presentation also highlighted a change allowing employees to convert up to 40 hours of unused sick leave to vacation at year-end if they maintain at least an 80-hour sick-leave balance. The staff asked council to appropriate $328,709 to fund the personnel cost increases in 2026.

Council members asked operational and fiscal questions. When asked whether there is a maximum vacation carryover, staff said vacation may roll year to year but that an employee’s vacation balance cannot exceed 400 hours. Staff explained retirement payouts would differ by leave type: vacation is paid out at 100% while sick leave is paid at one hour for every two hours (effectively half) for retirement payout calculations. Staff described the sick-to-vacation conversion as intended to improve work–life balance for safety-service employees.

No formal council vote was taken on the ordinance at the first reading. The council set the second reading and public hearing for Feb. 9, 2026. If adopted, the ordinance would authorize the contract and the associated appropriation described by staff.

The council’s next formal action on the ordinance will be the Feb. 9 hearing and any subsequent votes.