MONROE - The Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to ratify the 2013-2014 contract negotiated earlier this month with the Monroe police association, WPPA.

Changes made from the current contract involve retirement and health care contributions, scheduled salary increases and clothing allowance.

Beginning January 2013, officers will pay an amount equal to 1 percent of their earnings toward their employee required retirement contribution. The city will pay the remaining employee contribution as well as its employer required contribution. In 2014, the officers' percentage rises to 2 percent.

Officers hired after July 1, 2011, however, will be required to pay the full employee share to their retirement.

Police officers will join the rest of the city employees in changing over from the city's self-insured program to the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program, with the city paying 88 percent of the premiums for full-time workers. The city pays 50 percent for employees working less than full time and 25 percent for employees working less than 1,044 hours per year. The city will also pay any surcharges for the group program in 2013 and 2014. The surcharge is to bring new groups up to a fully vested interest in the state program.

Salaries are scheduled to increase across the board every six months. After Jan. 1, 2013, the increase shall be 2 percent; after July 1, the increase is 1 percent. In 2014, the increase is 2 percent after Jan. 1 and 1 percent after

July 1.

Officers' clothing allowance is also going up to $650 for 2013 and to $700 for 2014.