Gilroy and the police department agree on a new labor deal.
According to the Gilroy Dispatch, the Gilroy Police Officer's Association has accepted a two-year labor contract with the city. Under the contract, all police staff will receive a 2 percent raise. Union leaders say the deal is fair given with what the city can afford. And city leaders say the deal will help retain and recruit its' police force.
Gilroy spent about 40 percent of its general fund on the police department, or roughly $19 million, each year between 2007 and 2009. Council members say the labor contract is a compromise between ensuring public safety while balancing the budget. There are more than 90 police officers working for Gilroy.
