Police union contract approved by Longboat

All parties have now agreed on a new contract for Longboat Key police that will maintain an annual raise while increasing other benefits.

The three-year contract between the town of Longboat Key and the Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association was approved by the Town Commission at the June 29 meeting. The collective bargaining agreement specifies a 3% cost of living adjustment in Fiscal Year 2027, a 2% increase in 2028 and another 2% increase in 2029. Police Chief Russ Mager said June 29 the contract will help the department compete with other municipalities.

“I think it’s a very good contract. It happened very quickly. The negotiations were essentially done within 48 hours. It was amazing,” Mager said. “We collaborated together. It wasn’t adversarial by any stretch of the imagination. I only include that because it makes me feel as though they’re getting what they want when you’re not involved in that constant back and forth mediation. I find it very competitive and compatible with other agencies our size.”

The contract keeps cost of living adjustments at 2% in 2028 and 2029, but gives the department the ability to place newly-hired but experienced officers in “step 3” of the six-to-nine-tier wage ladder that increases 4% per step. Employees will not move up a step in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, but will move up one step Oct. 1, 2027, and another Oct. 1, 2028.

The contract also increases employer contributions for retirement pensions from 13% currently to 16%, then 18% and 21% in Fiscal Year 2029. Extra duty pay has also been increased from $50 per hour to $75 per hour.

The new agreement means the town’s personnel-driven costs for the police department will increase from $2.5 million in 2026 to $3 million in 2029.

The contract has a unique-to-2026 clause that allows the town and union to re-enter into negotiations if a constitutional amendment is approved modifying ad valorem property tax provisions in the state.