This fiscal year, the Legislature stopped paying its share of the education benefit, which can add thousands of dollars to a police officer’s annual salary. But some cities and towns agreed to cover the state’s portion, often in exchange for wage concessions in contract negotiations. Some have even extended the incentive to new hires.
In communities across the region, including Concord, Framingham, Lexington, and Newton, education benefits worth thousands of dollars for police officers are continuing strong.
“My administration is committed to the Quinn Bill,’’ Newton Mayor Setti Warren said in an e-mail. “Public safety is a priority, and it is essential that we have a highly trained and educated police force to keep our community safe.’’
Newton negotiated contracts with its police unions last year specifying that the city would cover the program’s total cost for both existing and new officers.
For this fiscal year, Newton budgeted $1.3 million for Quinn Bill benefits, city officials said. The city has also expanded education incentive pay for firefighters.
The high court’s decision frees localities from paying the state portion of the educational incentive, unless they have agreed to do so in their union contracts, said Philip Collins, a Norwood lawyer who works with dozens of communities in Greater Boston on labor issues. The court said communities must continue to fulfill their local obligations.
Many communities moved quickly to cement their full contributions in union contracts, Collins said.
Some feared that the court would rule in favor of the police employees, and towns would be forced to pay significant damages. Other communities did not want their officers to lose a large portion of their pay, and negotiated other concessions, Collins said. “I don’t think there are that many communities that have taken the money away from officers,’’ he said.
Michael Widmer, the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said he is surprised that, given the fiscal pressures facing many communities, they would choose to cover the state’s portion, and offer newer employees the education incentive.