EDITORIAL

There’s a battle raging in Surf City that never seems to end: The

Huntington Beach police say they are underpaid, and city officials say

they need to hold the line on salaries.

Every so often, the two sides come together and agree to go forward,

but the underlying current of resentment and frustration continues.

And this year is no different.

For nearly two months, salary negotiations between the Huntington

Beach Police Officers Assn. and the city have been at a standstill, with

no immediate end in sight. The police, who are asking for a 13.25% salary

increase with a 3.5% raise the following year, have been working without

a contract since Sept. 30.

But it’s not that the city hasn’t been trying to reach an accord with

the union.

On the table is a 10.47% pay increase, with 3% inflationary increases

the following three years. Of 22 Orange County cities, Huntington Beach

police rank 21st in wages, 14th if benefits are factored in. The city’s

proposal would make the department the fifth highest in salaries and

third in total compensation packages.

That’s not a bad offer, and it’s something we think the police union

should seriously consider. Time is running out.

A statewide bill set to take effect Jan. 1 will change the process of

arbitration between all cities and public safety agencies, putting the

final decision in the hands of state officials. Currently, city and

police officials have called in a state mediator to help settle roughly

four months of salary talks.

Huntington Beach is still a desirable place to live and work.

Residents and businesses feel safe here because of its police force.

But the union has to be reasonable too. What it is asking for is not

realistic. People working in private industries do not receive 13% raises

-- even 10% is unusual.

We want the Huntington Beach Police Department to attract top cops,

and we think the offer on the table is one the union should accept.

Last month, preliminary agreements were reached with the city’s marine

safety officers, firefighters and police management organizations. If the

city was able to reach accords with these groups, we believe the same

should be done with the police union.

Then maybe we can put the bickering and bad blood between the police

and the city to rest for good.