LANCASTER, Pa. --
Firefighters in Lancaster will be getting salary increases under a new contract, but they will have to kick in more money for their health insurance.
At a news conference Friday morning, city officials and firefighters said good back and forth discussions enabled negotiators to reach a settlement ahead of schedule.
The current contract expires at the end of the year.
The new three-year deal calls for a 3 percent increase the first year and a 3.25 percent increase the second and third years.
Firefighters will have to pay a percentage of their salary for health insurance.
For a firefighter with a family, it amounts to $543.69 instead of the current annual flat rate of $195.
"Health insurance cost increases have been hurting the city for years," said financial administrator Patrick Hopkins. "In this contract the firefighters union realized that fact and agreed to make increases in contribution."
"We feel we've done what's best for our personnel, the city administration and the citizens of Lancaster," said Captain Kenneth Barton, president of the firefighters union.
The city currently has 85 firefighters.
Mayor Rick Gray said officials hope to maintain that number.
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