Suffolk County lawmakers to pore over PBA’s 5-year contract that’ll boost pay by 18%

Suffolk lawmakers will begin to pore over details of the proposed contract between the county and the police department’s largest labor union at a committee meeting Wednesday.

The Government Operations, Personnel, Information Tech Committee will discuss the contract between the county and Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association publicly for the first time since the two sides reached an agreement. It’s the last step before it heads to the full legislature for a vote. 

The terms of the contract, slated to give police officers an 18% pay increase over five years, run from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2029, according to an analysis of the memorandum of agreement by the Suffolk Legislature’s Budget Review Office. The agreement also shortens the time it takes officers to reach the top step to nine years, according to the report.

The last PBA contract, from 2019 to 2024, provided compounded pay increases of more than 13% by the end of the contract, Newsday previously reported.

The first eight steps remain the same, starting at $52,558, but the salary jumps by an additional $49,086 from step eight to nine compared to the current schedule. The salary increases at that point go from $134,034 to $189,801, according to the report. A review of payroll records from 2023 by Newsday shows Suffolk County police officers are paid the most when compared other municipal employees.

While the legislators have no say in contract negotiations, and some had only received a memorandum that summarizes the changes as opposed to the full contract, they do ultimately approve the agreement if they determine it is fiscally sound, legislators said.

Legis. Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), who chairs the committee, described the committee’s role as “very integral part of the process.”

He told Newsday rising costs tied to inflation, pension and health care all “need to be factored in to make sure that we’re able to take care of the workforce.”

Salary costs, including longevity pay, stipends and additional costs, are estimated to cost taxpayers an additional $229 million over the length of the contract, according to the Budget Review Office’s report, which concluded the contract’s fiscal impact was “reasonable.” 

Piccirillo said he believes the county is in better position financially to pay for the increases than in years past, adding that they’re spread out to allow the county to absorb them “in a more fiscally responsible way.”

“I don’t think we’re going to see the explosion of cost to the taxpayer,” he said.

Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Solonga), a retired Suffolk County detective and frequent critic of the PBA, was less optimistic about the long-term impact, given that all the major union contracts ended in December.

“What magic are you doing to pay for this?” Trotta said of the PBA agreement.

Legis. Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), who’s also a member of the committee, said Tuesday she still had not seen the full contract — only the proposed changes. She said she doesn’t disagree with any elements of the new contract she’s seen, but would like to review the entire document.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader and committee member, said his priority with public safety is maintaining changes outlined in a 2021 reform plan and ensuring officers “have mental health support.”

The full legislature can vote to approve the contact at its April 8 meeting if the committee votes in favor of the resolution Wednesday.

The PBA declined to comment on when members would ratify the contract.