Members of the Hollywood Police Department at the Feb. 6 commission meeting were pleased the Hollywood Commission agreed to restore many benefits lost because of Financial Urgency declared in 2011.
At the time, Hollywood was facing a $38 million budget shortfall. All city employees took a pay cut. The police took a 12.5 percent pay cut.
The Commission agreed to restore pension benefits at a cost of $4.5 million a year. On February 20, the Commission is expected to sign a three-year police contract.
Hollywood has paid $18 million toward this year’s contribution to the pension plan. Under the new play, the city will pay $13.5 million to the police pension over the next three years.
Police officers will pay more toward their pension and toward their healthcare. They will receive a two percent cost of living increase instead of a four percent increase.
Jeff Marano, a police union leader who spoke at the meeting said he was glad that benefits were being restored. But he was disappointed that the benefits had been cut during Financial Urgency. A large group of police officers attended the meeting and were in good spirits following the decision.
