Laguna police agency workers get raises

Laguna Beach Police Department employees will receive pay increases, though some will contribute more to their retirement, following the City Council’s unanimous vote Tuesday.

The council ratified an agreement between the city and the Laguna Beach Police Employees’ Assn. that runs through Dec. 31, 2019. The current agreement, which covers 75 employees, will expire Dec. 31. There was no discussion during the council meeting, and no one from the public commented.

Under the contract, employees who currently pay 9% into the California Public Employees’ Retirement System will increase their contributions by 1% in stages — retroactive to Nov. 7, another 1% in January 2018 and 1% in January 2019, bringing the total to 12%, according to a city staff report.

Nov. 7 marks the start of the most recent pay period, City Manager John Pietig said.

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Employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013, when the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act became effective, will continue paying 11.5% toward retirement, the report said.

The city and association agreed on a 4.5% monthly salary raise for sworn officers, retroactive to Nov. 7, and 4% raises in January 2018 and January 2019. Employees other than officers, such as records managers and dispatchers, agreed to a 3.5% increase effective Nov. 7 and 3% raises in January 2018 and January 2019.

The council allotted $400,000 toward labor negotiations and salary changes as part of Laguna’s 2016-17 budget. The city must earmark additional money from revenues to cover costs in future budgets, Pietig added.

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FOR THE RECORD

A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the city must earmark additional money from reserves to cover costs in future budgets. The city must earmark added money from revenues, not reserves.

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Bryce Alderton, bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce