By John Pacenti
After months of contentious negotiations, the Delray Beach City Commission has reached a tentative agreement with the Police Benevolent Association, addressing key issues of wages, pensions and working conditions for the city’s police officers.
The City Commission gave its tacit approval at an Aug. 21 special meeting, bowing to a special magistrate’s recommendation.
Mayor Tom Carney had pushed back on the issue of extending the DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program) from five to eight years, saying it would just put money in negotiators’ pockets, but in the end, the city relented.
Carney and Commissioner Juli Casale both voted no on the eight-year drop. The commissioners were unanimous in approving other areas of the contract — psychological testing, post-accident drug and alcohol testing, and wages.
Casale said under the contract, some police officers will end up making more than directors of departments at City Hall. She specifically asked about the impact on the city’s budget, noting concerns about how the contract might require salary adjustments across other city departments.
Commissioner Tom Markert, always seen as the swing vote on the DROP issue, said extending the retirement program to eight years made the city competitive with other agencies. He said he felt the city had “met the lion’s share” of the union’s requests.
When it came to wages, the city’s initial proposal was $15.2 million compared to the nearly $16.7 million requested by the union. Commissioners approved a wage package of $15.9 million for officers and sergeants after the union came down in its ask.
The tentative agreement will cover three years — retroactive to last Oct. 1 and extending to Sept. 30, 2027. It still requires ratification by the union membership.
John Kazanjian, president of the Palm Beach County chapter of the PBA, said on the union’s Instagram page, “This is the best deal you’re going to get out of the Commission right here. I’m not going to call it a win or a loss. I’m just going to say it’s a happy medium so far.”
The union used all sorts of in-your-face public tactics. It had moving billboards denouncing Carney and Casale. The PBA is now banned from participating in next year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade because it slammed commissioners on a moving billboard that was in this year’s parade.
The PBA also, on more than one occasion, packed commission chambers with members and had various people in the community speak on its behalf — including Vice Mayor Rob Long.
The city adopted a modified pay scale closely resembling Boynton Beach’s plan, with increases that city officials hope will help attract and retain officers. The new plan provides slightly higher top-end salaries for officers and sergeants, with lieutenants receiving a modified pay structure.
The union certainly had its supporters lined up to speak at the Aug. 21 hearing in case there was any wavering by the commission.
Chuck Halberg, president of Delray Citizens for Delray Police, said during public comment that the city had already lost 22 officers, with 15 more potentially leaving.
Delray Beach resident Melissa Morales Milkman highlighted the department’s crime reduction efforts, stating the city had reduced overall crime by nearly 50% citywide. She warned that continued officer losses would jeopardize public safety.
Long criticized the negotiation process as “idiotic.”
“We have been tied to a process now for months that has made this so much harder than it should be,” he said.
Carney noted the city’s commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with fair compensation. “We’re not going to try to compete with entities that have unlimited funds,” Carney said, referencing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to offer higher wages.
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