The raises, which already were reflected in the city’s 2019-20 budget, were to go into effect Aug. 1

By Brian Whitehead | bwhitehead@scng.com | San Bernardino Sun
Published: August 26, 2019 at 2:12 pm | Updated: August 27, 2019 at 12:32 am

San Bernardino leaders have approved 3.5% pay raises for police personnel as required by agreements entered into earlier this decade with the city’s police officers and police management associations.

In a corresponding move, the City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 21, approved a 3.5% pay bump for the city’s police chief.

Councilman Fred Shorett voted against the increases.

The council also awarded City Manager Teri Ledoux a 3.5% raise, as her new contract stipulates she earn at least 5% more than the city’s top cop.

Last month, Ledoux received a $50,000 raise from her previous role as assistant city manager to take over as San Bernardino’s top administrator for the next 18 months.

With the pay raise approved last week, she now is expected to earn about $270,000 per year in salary.

The raises, which already were reflected in the city’s 2019-20 budget, were to go into effect Aug. 1.

Even after slashing $7.1 million in costs as part of a citywide plan to erase an $11.2 million deficit in the fiscal year that began July 1, San Bernardino’s $80 million police budget will account for close to 65% of the city’s finances in 2019-20.