Huntington Beach City Council voted to postpone a decision on proposed pay increases for police officers, opting instead to send the matter to the city's finance commission for further study. The split 4-3 decision, made at a recent council meeting, defers a final vote on the contract until September. The proposed deal outlined an 18% wage hike over three years, replacing a memorandum of understanding that expired at the end of June.
The proposed agreement included an 8% raise for the current year, followed by 4% in the second year, and 5% in the third. This comes as the Huntington Beach Police Department already accounts for approximately 30% of the city’s general fund expenses. Additionally, other city unions, including the firefighters' and general employees' unions, have not yet finalized contracts with city leadership.
Council members Don Kennedy, Pat Burns, Mayor Casey McKeon, and Butch Twining voted to refer the proposal. Concerns over the city's financial capacity to absorb the increases were central to the decision. Councilman Kennedy highlighted his "fiduciary responsibility" to taxpayers, stating that "respect doesn’t have to be paid for." He also flagged substantial overtime, noting that some managers' earnings, including overtime, surpassed the city manager's income for over 20 police department employees last year. City Treasurer Jason Schmitt, appointed in 2025, indicated that without changes, the city could face bankruptcy by 2030, warning this "would require us to declare a fiscal emergency."
However, Councilmen Chad Williams and Andrew Gruel, along with Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark, opposed the delay. Councilman Williams labeled the review "procedural sabotage," asserting that "the opportunity to kick this back was many months ago." He also questioned the validity of budget concerns, contending, "We do have the money," and arguing the issue was allocation, not availability. Both Williams and Gruel argued that the raises were necessary to fill vacant police officer positions and could, in turn, reduce overtime costs. Gruel emphasized the competitive landscape, saying, "We’re competing for qualified officers."
The council also debated the severity of the city's financial position, with Gruel and Williams questioning projections that assumed no cuts to nearly 100 vacant, fully funded positions. Councilman Burns raised concerns about the "cost that is immeasurable" in officers continually working excessive overtime. Mayor McKeon, supporting the delay, stated, "We have time. That's just sound, prudent financial planning."
With the finance commission now tasked with reviewing the proposal, police officers in Huntington Beach will continue operating without a new union contract for at least another month. Following the meeting, Councilman Gruel, whose campaign received a $5,900 donation from the police officers association the day after the meeting, questioned the majority's spending concerns. He suggested that "budget concerns" might not be genuine, noting the same council members supported other spending initiatives. Gruel affirmed his priorities as "public safety, parks and infrastructure."
