By David Kilby, Staff Writer
MONROE — The township has entered into a contract that will grant up to a 2 percent raise for the next three years to its township employees.
From 2011 to 2014, full-time township union employees will receive a 2 percent increase, and nonunion full-time employees will receive a 1 percent increase each of the four years under the contract.
Part time nonunion employees will receive no raise.
The salary increases have no effect on the tax levy since they are in the appropriations portion of the budget, said Wayne Hamilton, township business administrator.
He explained Monroe has an appropriation cap of 2.5 to 3.5 percent and a tax levy cap of 2 percent. The 2011 proposed budget is $1.2 million under the tax levy cap.
The former employee contract, which has expired, was a three-year contract with a 4.25 percent increase each of the three years.
The new contract is part of a collective bargaining agreement with township employees that also changes the health insurance plan while saving the township $1.2 million per year in health insurance.
”As a result, instead of having the choice of Horizon and Aetna, basically everyone is going in to the Aetna Choice Point of Service Plan,” Mr. Hamilton said.

