ANSONIA – The city and its police union agreed to a contract extension Sept. 17 which includes pay raises for officers over the next two years.
The contract extension will give most officers a 2.75 percent yearly wage increase in 2027 and 2028.
A sergeant who is currently paid at a rate of $51.53 per hour will be paid $52.95 in 2027 and $54.41 per hour in 2028 under the contract.
Javier Varas, chief of staff for Mayor Frank Tyszka, said the move will save the city money by avoiding a longer contract renegotiation.
“This allows for stronger financial planning and the police union was willing to agree to a 2.75 percent increase, understanding the city’s financial situation,” Varas wrote in an email.
Dana Haigh, chairman of the Ansonia Republican Town Committee, said he approves of the pay raises.
“I don’t know the specifics of what the union’s ask was, versus what they eventually landed on for terms, but it goes without saying this contract extension is well deserved,” Haigh wrote in a message.
Haigh noted that the police department has multiple vacancies and said officers are “doing an amazing job of serving the city” while down staff.
The Valley Indy reached out to police union president Jonathan Edwards for reaction Sept. 22 but was unable to reach him due to a departmental training.
The table below shows the pay increases for officers over the next two years. The contract will last until June 30, 2029 under the new terms.
| Step | Years of Service | Pay (2026) | Pay (2027) | Pay (2028) |
| Step 1 | 0 to 2 years | $40.53 | $41.64 | $42.79 |
| Step 2 | over 2 to 3 years | $42.98 | $44.16 | $45.37 |
| Step 3 | over 3 to 5 years | $43.73 | $44.93 | $46.17 |
| Step 4 | over 5 years (top step) | $44.60-$45.60* | $46.85 | $48.14 |
| Detective | $50.16 | $51.54 | $52.96 | |
| Sergeant | $51.53 | $52.95 | $54.41 | |
| Detective Sergeant | $52.44 | $53.88 | $55.36 |
* – Under the original 2022 – 2026 contract, “Step 4” employees had 5 – 10 years of experience, and there was an additional group of “Step 5” employees with 10 or more years’ experience. The contract amendments got rid of the “Step 5” grouping for 2027 and 2028. The table shows the pay for both Step 4 and Step 5 employees in 2026.