SPRINGFIELD — The City Council on Monday granted a transfer of $350,000 for retroactive education pay for police officers and supervisors, as ruled by an arbitrator who said the pay was triggered by new contracts and negotiated pay increases.
The funds were approved by unanimous vote of the council, from the city’s surplus funds from fiscal 2018, known as the “free cash” account.
The city annually provides education incentive pay, known as the Quinn Bill, to qualified police officers based on college degrees in law enforcement-related fields. The increase in the base salary is 10% for an associate degree, 20% for a bachelor’s degree, and 25% for a master’s degree.
The city pays approximately $3.6 million annually in Quinn Bill payments. The city was assisted by 50% state funding years ago, but the state funds were stopped, leaving the city to foot the entire cost.
The city made its annual Quinn Bill payments in November, but the amount was based on lower, precontract salaries, prior to multiyear retroactive raises taking effect. The arbitrator ruled the adjustment needs to be made.