MORE GOOD NEWS – MEA HAS SECURED AN ADDITIONAL 7.5% SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT PAY FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT PAYROLL – TO BE ADDED TO THE 9.5% GENERAL SALARY INCREASE IN NEW 3-YEAR CONTRACT

As a follow up to MEA’s E-blast regarding contract negotiations, MEA’s Tentative Agreement (TA) with the City includes an additional 7.5% special assignment pay for Payroll Specialists and Payroll Supervisors in the Police Department beginning in July 2027.

Accordingly, and assuming this TA is ratified by MEA’s membership, employees in these job classifications in the Police Department will receive the following general salary increases and special assignment pay over the 3-year term of this agreement:

Year 1 (FY 2027) – 2%

July 1, 2026: 2% (general salary increase)

Year 2 (FY 2028) – 11%

July 1, 2027: 3.5% (general salary increase)

July 1, 2027: 7.5% (special assignment pay begins)

Year 3 (FY 2029) – 4%

July 1, 2028: 2% (general salary increase)

January 1, 2029: 2% (general salary increase)

Each general salary increase and the special assignment pay compounds when implemented, which means that over the next two and a half years your pay will steadily grow to be 18.1% higher than today, with the bulk of that increase coming in the first “one year plus one day” of the new contract.

MEA would like to thank Chief Scott Wahl for his support of this special assignment pay.  In a VERY challenging budget and contract negotiation year, the Chief’s support was integral to making this change happen.  The next time you run into the Chief, please feel free to let him know that you very much appreciate his support as well!

Congratulations on this well-earned additional pay increase.  If you have any feedback or questions, please contact MEA at info@sdmea.org or 619-264-6632.