Las Vegas police union backs contract with cuts

Members of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association approved a new labor contract with the Metropolitan Police Department that maintains pay raises for current officers but will do away with "longevity increases" for future hires.

The state's largest police union voted 1,108-250 in favor of the deal. The electronic voting began Sunday and concluded Friday morning.

The pact still needs approval from the Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs, a board made up of representatives from the city of Las Vegas and Clark County that authorizes police spending.

The committee meets Monday to consider the agreement.

"I think it is a gigantic deal," said Chris Collins, executive director of the union. "It is a huge dollar savings to the city and the county."

Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, who is on the Fiscal Affairs Committee, said the demise of longevity increases will save the governments tens of millions of dollars in the long term.

"Hopefully, once we get one labor group to recognize it is such an enormous cost, we can get it out of future contracts," Sisolak said. "For the (Las Vegas Police Protective Association) to be the first major group that would potentially do that is an enormous benefit to the county."

Las Vegas city officials have expressed concerns the new contract doesn't have enough savings for the government.

"The city's budget is decreasing and has decreased, and we are responsible for 40 percent of Metro's budget," said Las Vegas Ward 5 Councilman Ricki Barlow, also a member of the Fiscal Affairs Committee. "In order to balance Metro's budget moving forward it will throw the city of Las Vegas' budget completely out of whack."

The Police Department's overall budget is about $501 million, with 61.6 percent from Clark County and 38.4 percent from the city, according to the amended final budget document dated April 25 on the department website.

The budget document states more than 88 percent of the spending is for salaries and benefits.

Under the two-year labor contract, longevity increases for current union members would be 0.25 percent, down from 0.5 percent in the previous contract.

Merit increases would be 1 percent in the first year and 3 percent in the second year, down from 4 percent.

Clothing and equipment allowance pay would be $925 in the first year and $1,000 in the second year, down from $1,675, according to a summary of the contract.

Collins said the pay scale for a Las Vegas police officer ranges from $24.60 to $38.05 per hour, plus overtime, shift and assignment differential pay and benefits.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at
bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.