JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Negotiations between the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office over salary packages are already churning. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 5-30's President Steve Zona after eight years of no raises, he's hopeful that will finally change.
The police union organization finds it appalling that Jacksonville first responders sit at the bottom of a pay comparison list to other major Florida cities.
According to chart created by FOP, the starting pay for JSO officers ($36,240) is $12,489 less than the average for ten other departments including Tampa Police Department ($50.211), Jacksonville International Airport Police Department ($47,258), and Pinellas Sheriff's Office ($45,500). FOP's calculation for "top end" officers shows JSO at $15,548 below the lists' average.
"These agencies are so far ahead of us and are still getting raises and we're still falling behind," said Zona. "We've been trying to ask the city that for years and we keep ending up in the same spot."
Zona said in 2012, officers received a 3% pay cut and no increases since 2009. Since October 2014, he said JSO has been operating "out of contract."
Marsha Oliver, public affairs director for the City of Jacksonville said the only way to see an increase in salary for first responders is with pension reform.
"[Mayor Lenny Curry] believes the salaries on that chart are too low. He does believe our men and women in blue should be paid more," Oliver said. "That's why pension reform is so important."
Oliver said the administration cannot speak to negotiations that happened from 2009 to 2014 because Mayor Curry was not in office.
"We can't speak to union leadership that agreed to pay cuts and pay freezes, we can only speak to today," said Oliver. "Today, there is a proposal on the table with significant raises for our first responders, through our collective bargain agreement, that shows the mayor's commitment to safety."
The FOP disagrees that pension reform is blocking higher wages for officers, and opposes more "shared sacrifice" on the backs of public safety, again."
Zona said failing to stay competitive could affect recruitment of qualified public servants and the force's reputation.
"At one time we were the agency that every one wanted to come to work. for, now it's the opposite...now we're a fear agency, because we're falling behind in benefits and pay and the uncertainty for our retirement," said Zona. "If this continues, I don't think this is the type of applicant [officer], the citizens of Jacksonville wants to see come to their home."
Comparisons
Cost of living statistics put Jacksonville behind five of the ten agencies listed on the FOP's salary comparison chart.
Duval County ranks 7 in population size after Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange and Pinellas.
Smaller counties with law enforcement starting salaries comparable to JSO's included Brevard County, Osceola County, St. Johns and Clay which are all within the $36,000 to $37,000 range.
First Coast News verified starting salaries listed on the chart created by FOP, however, "top end" salaries, monthly insurance, and retirement contribution information was not readily available.