Average pay for California’s police officers and firefighters was over 100-thousand dollars a year, for the first time, in 2014. Many cities have been able to grant raises, following years of tight budgets, including Grass Valley. Finance Director Mette Richardson says there had been no salary hikes for six years for public safety employees until the 2013-2014 fiscal year. She says firefighters are getting 3 and a half percent raises for each of the next two years, although they have also agreed to a higher PERS contribution of 1 and a half percent. Police officers get 3-percent increases over the next three years, but have also agreed to a higher PERS contribution for the third year…

click to listen to Mette Richardson

Richardson says economic conditions have improved significantly for Grass Valley…

click to listen to Mette Richardson

According to data from the State Controller’s Office, average annual pay for Grass Valley police officers was 69-thousand-169 dollars in 2014. It was just 48 dollars less for firefighters, at 69-thousand-121 dollars.