Obetz council accepts factfinder report on police contract; officials warn of budget impact
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Summary
Obetz City Council voted unanimously to accept a factfinder's decision on the expired police contract, approving a market adjustment and multi-year raises that City staff say will require budget cuts after a safety levy failed.
Obetz City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 2 to accept a factfinder's decision resolving part of its contract dispute with the Fraternal Order of Police, a move city officials said will increase labor costs and likely require spending cuts after a failed safety levy.
City Administrator Rod Davisson, Esq., told council the FOP had asked for a 15% raise in the first year followed by 7% increases in years two and three — a three-year cost impact the transcript records at $1,168,093.14. The City’s last offer totaled $480,121.97 over three years. The factfinder’s decision reduced the gap: the City estimates the three-year cost impact of the factfinder’s recommendation at $638,443.38.
Davisson summarized the factfinder’s recommendation: an immediate $2,000-per-year market adjustment to base salary for patrol officers, then salary increases of 3% in 2026, 4% in 2027 and 3.5% in 2028 for patrol officers, corporals and sergeants. He warned that the additional funds must come from the City’s budget because the public did not pass a safety levy.
Councilmember Guiles Richardson moved to accept the factfinder’s report; Councilmember Michael Flaherty seconded. The motion carried on a recorded unanimous vote: Richardson, Kimbler, Flaherty, Kramer, Varney and Gibbs voted yes.
Davisson emphasized that accepting the factfinder’s report does not bind the FOP to the settlement: the union could reject the decision and move to conciliation, where negotiation is no longer permitted. Council members did not record further conditions; Davisson said staff recommends accepting the factfinder’s decision to avoid an uncertain conciliation process.
The vote commits the City to the factfinder’s recommended pay adjustments pending the union’s agreement or further labor procedures. Council did not at the meeting identify specific budget line items to cut; Davisson said the City will need to identify funding sources now that the safety levy failed.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: the City may await the FOP’s response or proceed to conciliation if the union rejects the factfinder’s outcome. The Council’s acceptance was procedural and does not, by itself, finalize a signed contract should the union decline the recommendation.