Nassau County to vote on one-year, 4.5% pay hike for law enforcement unions

A one-year agreement that would provide 4.5% raises to Nassau County's police, detectives and correction officers at a cumulative cost of $43 million gained preliminary legislative approval on Monday.

Lawmakers on the Rules and Finance committees voted on the request from County Executive Bruce Blakeman without discussion, setting it up for final approval when the 19-member legislature convenes on Oct. 26.   

The memorandum of understanding between the county and its five law enforcement unions — Police Benevolent Association, Superior Officers Association, Detectives Association, Investigators Police Benevolent Association and Correction Officers Benevolent Association — provides a one-year contract extension from when their contract expired on June 30 through June 30, 2027. 

The measure appears to have the support of both majority Republicans and minority Democrats on the county legislature and comes as they are considering Blakeman's $4.4 billion budget. Blakeman, a Republican, is also in the last month of his campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a race that partly depends on turning out Nassau and downstate independent voters.

In a statement, Blakeman said the contract extension was "negotiated through collective bargaining and unanimously approved by the Nassau County Legislature Rules Committee and overwhelmingly approved by the law enforcement professionals who have made our county the safest county in America."

PBA president Tommy Shevlin, who represents the largest of the law enforcement unions, told Newsday the police officers appreciate the county's recognition for their commitment to their careers. 

"This extension provides fair recognition for that commitment while giving both sides stability as we continue working toward a long-term agreement," Shevlin said in a statement.

Ken Girardin of the Manhattan Institute, a fiscally conservative think tank, questioned the timing of the contract extension ahead of November's election and cautioned the amendment was a way to raise wages without going through the full contract negotiation process. 

"We are constantly told that the only time Nassau County's personnel cost problem can be address is in contract negotiations. It's not just an extension, they are giving above-inflation raises without getting anything substantive in return," Girardin said.

Nassau County police officers earn an average salary of $141,108 after 11 years of service. Overtime, holiday pay, longevity increments and shift differentials can add $100,000 or more to total compensation, according to county payroll records.

If approved by the Republican-controlled legislature, the agreement then goes to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county's state-appointed fiscal watchdog for approval. NIFA officials said Monday they hadn't yet seen the details.

"NIFA has had no advance notice or information regarding the contract extension. We look forward to receiving and reviewing the full memorandum of understanding from the county," NIFA spokesman David Chauvin told Newsday.

When asked if the timing raised questions, Presiding Officer  Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), chairman of the Rules Committee, noted Democrats were in agreement. 

"First of all, the Democrats are on board, so I don't know what that would accomplish. And second of all, people will come up with all kinds of conspiracies," Kopel said.   

Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove), committee ranking member, said the caucus was "proud to support contracts that give Nassau County's police officers the pay, benefits and resources they deserve." She said the vote "show's Democrats are serious about supporting law enforcement." 

All 19 county legislative races are on the ballot this year, in addition to state, federal and local elections.

Blakeman, who took office in January 2022, negotiated three of the largest union contracts. By January 2023, Nassau's PBA, for example, had a $159 million contract that raised wages by a total of 15% over 8 1/2 years, requiring officers to contribute to the cost of their health plan. 

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.