Mayor Bob Donchez and city officials proudly announced Monday the completion of negotiations on a new five-year police union contract. In the next breath Donchez scolded the fire department for holding out.

Both contracts expired in December, and Donchez praised the Fraternal Order of Police for negotiating with professionalism. "While the police union was of course interested in the welfare of its members, as it should be, the public interest was never lost in these discussions. This is a very fair contract for all sides." FOP Star Lodge #20 members voted 88-14 in favor of the new contract.

It includes a 3 percent annual wage increase – retroactive to December – some prescription drug plan changes, such as increased co-pays, the introduction of deductibles for single and family plans, and increased healthcare contributions.

Business Administrator Dave Brong said the healthcare contributions were key to getting ahead of a Cadillac tax surcharge in the Affordable Care Act that would have cost the city in 2018.Under current legislation, he said, this contract will avoid those surcharges.

Wade Haubert, a former FOP president who began this round of bargaining, agreed with Donchez on the fairness of the deal and said the negotiators never forgot their salaries are paid for by taxpayers, and made an extra effort to accommodate the city. He said the FOP spent nearly $20,000 on specialists, including a forensic accountant, to research what the city could afford.

The fire department's contract negotiation has not gone as smoothly, suffering two rejections. The contract will go to arbitration May 18-19.

Non-uniformed employees' contracts expire at the end of the year.