San Francisco Police Officers Approve Contract Plan

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco police officers have overwhelmingly approved a plan that would have them contributing three percent more to their pensions.

The deal, which was forged by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and the police officers union, means while officers will be contributing more to their retirement funds, they will also receive a four percent raise and avoid layoffs for a year.

"We both win here because we get our raises and you get our retirement contributions earlier than you would normally have," said San Francisco Police Officers Association President Gary Delagnes. "That's our way of giving back to the city for this year and next to balance the budget."

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

But San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi said he's outraged at the raise. He said the city is paying for the pension contributions until reform measures can kick in in 2013, when the current contract ends.

Adachi said that his pension reform measure would save about $100 million a year, double what the mayor's plan would save. He already has the 50,000 or so signatures needed to make the November ballot.

"We're still collecting signatures this weekend. We're trying to get another 5,000 signatures to meet our deadline," Adachi said.

The deadline for signatures is Monday.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on putting Mayor Lee's pension reform measure on the ballot within the next few weeks.

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