Highlights of Police contract

The following tidbits of the new 1-year police contract didn't make it into the Friday's paper, so here they are.

--Wage increases of 2 percent retroactive to July 1; a second 2 percent hike on Jan. 1. Longevity bonuses, based on years served, will increase by 1 percent on Jan. 1. This gives police officers 3.5 percent more money over the course of the year, though their salary level will rise 5 percent in six months.
--City's contribution to health care goes from $1,303 a month for each officer to $1,165 per officer, saving $13.4 million annually without affecting benefits. Police say they have cut costs by properly managing their plan. City contributions cover 8,057 employees and retirees.
--City pays a $2 million lump sum to police Legal Services Plan, which hasn't been increased since 1996.
--Officers killed in the line of duty since 2006 will have pension benefits calculated at the next-higher rank.
Widows of officers hired after 1986 — 80 percent of the force — will be eligible for 50 percent of their spouses' benefit. Previously only officers hired in 1986 or earlier enjoyed this benefit.
--Combined uniform and "clothing-maintenance" allowance increases from $775 annually to $1,000, the first hike in 10 years.
--Officers are now eligible for tuition reimbursement for college courses.
--Sheriff's deputies will be used to bring prisoners to court, freeing up about 40 officers for street patrol.
--Officers who do not use all of their sick days can now bank them indefinitely.
--City contributes $4 million to a trust fund that gives retirees no longer eligible for city prescription benefits up to $500 a year toward prescription and other health-related costs.
--Commanders, including the ranks of captain and above, who were formerly required to work the Mummers' Parade, Fourth of July, Greek Picnic and the Philadelphia International Championship Bike Race without getting paid will now receive be paid a straight hourly wage for these events.

--City pays FOP $500,000 for legal costs, reflecting the price of having to renotiate a contract in 12 months.