The city of Burlington and unionized police officers have reached a tentative agreement on a new, four-year contract.
Newly recruited officers will be subject to more restrictive pension eligibility requirements than current officers.
But they will be rewarded if they extend their employment beyond the 20-year minimum needed to qualify for pension payments.
New officers will be unable to receive pensions until they’ve worked 20 years for the department and are at least 50-years-old.
Current officers will continue to be eligible for pension with no age restriction as soon as they’ve worked 20 years.
The Burlington Free Press reports the contract includes pay raises of 1.75 percent in its first year, 2 percent in the second, and 2 to 4 percent in the last two years.