Vallejo Hires Officers, Seeks New Police Pension Plan

Vallejo leaders unanimously agreed Tuesday night to accelerate a plan approved in June to hire five new police officers.

The Vallejo City Council's vote comes before city labor negotiators have hammered out a city-forged plan to reduce new police hires' pension packages. State-enacted legislation, which becomes active Jan. 1, establishes a lower pension benefit rate that kicks in at a later age than what Vallejo now has in place.

In June, the council approved using $1 million of projected tax revenue from the city's "Measure B" 1 percent sales tax increase, contingent on negotiating a new pension plan. City contract negotiations with the Vallejo Police Officers Association are an estimated 14 months to 18 months off on the horizon, according to a report by Mayor Osby Davis, who proposed the earlier officer hiring.

Read the full Times-Herald story.

Related:

Municipal Bankruptcies: Running On Empty

Bankrupt Calif. City Becomes Prostitution Magnet