TPPA, city agree on concessions that will avert 125 officer layoffs
3/23/2010The Bell administration and union leaders representing Toledo's police patrolmen reached a tentative agreement Monday night that includes concessions sought after by the city to help balance a $48 million deficit.
Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, confirmed the agreement Tuesday morning but declined to offer any details.
"We still have to put it before our membership for a vote," Mr. Wagner said. "The city would not agree to something unless it included concessions."
Mr. Wagner said the agreement would "insulate" officers from layoff.
The mayor sent 125 police officers 30-day layoff notices on March 15 but agreed two days later to at least temporarily rescind the notices.
The police layoffs would have saved $4.08 million toward the $48 million general fund deficit.
There are currently 590 sworn officers on the force, but that number is expected to drop to 584 by April 15 because of retirements.
Layoff notices sent also on March 15 to 125 firefighters were recalled that same day after a last-minute negotiation that Mr. Bell called "positive" but refused to discuss.
Mr. Bell wants $6.27 million from ceasing payments into the employee pension program and $2.6 million from having employees paying 20 percent of their health care costs.