Washougal police officers to receive retroactive pay raises

The Washougal City Council has approved a new contract with the Washougal Police Officers Association, that will result in pay increases of 8 percent.

The agreement is for Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2016.

“It is retroactive, which is typical in arbitration,” City Administrator David Scott said after the council meeting.

The Washougal Police Department has 19 sworn officers, including Chief Ron Mitchell and Commander Allen Cook. Mitchell and Cook are not affected by the pay increase.

Under the agreement, the wage scale is increased by 3 percent in 2014, and 2.5 percent each year for 2015 and 2016.

For 2014 and 2015, the city will pay for 100 percent of the premium cost for the Association of Washington Cities HealthFirst Zero Deductible Medical plan.

Next year, the city will pay 95 percent of the premium cost for medical coverage for employees and 90 percent for their dependents under the terms of the policy provided by the AWC Benefits Trust HealthFirst $250 deductible medical plan or the Kaiser Permanente $250 deductible plan.

“It’s the same coverage that non-represented employees have now,” Scott said.

In December 2010, council members ratified a contract with the Washougal Police Officers Association that did not include a pay increase for 2011. It was expected to save the city more than $32,000.

There were cost of living adjustments of one percent each in 2012 and 2013.