RAYMOND - After four months of negotiations, town officials and the police union, Teamsters Local 633 of New Hampshire, have reached a three-year agreement that offers $136,746 toward improving police benefits over the next few years.

Among the major changes to the contract are health insurance, workers’ compensation, overtime, detail rate, mileage rates and education stipend.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the contract on Monday and sent it on to the Budget Committee for review. If approved by the Budget Committee, the contract would appear on the ballot as a warrant article. The additional tax impact in 2005 would be 10 cents per $1,000 of valuation. The warrant articles asks voters for increases of $49,320 for 2005, $45,208 for 2006, and $42,218 for 2007. That is a total increase of $136,746.

"It was a very positive negotiation," Town Manager Rick Bates said. "I think the union was very conscious of the local economy and the pressures on the local taxpayers and worked to try to come up with solutions that would allow union employees to grow in benefits."

In terms of health insurance, police employees are subject to a new policy for all town employees. The policy states that current employees will receive 100 percent coverage for health insurance, while new employees starting after Jan. 1, 2005, are responsible for 15 percent of the cost, which would be deducted from their paychecks.

Another change also includes paying police employees their full paycheck while on workers’ compensation. Currently the town pays two-thirds of the pay.

Bates said he doesn’t foresee the workers’ compensation change as a substantial cost because the town has had few employees out on workers’ compensation and for short periods of time.

The contract continues to offer employees a 4 percent increase on their anniversary date of hire each year. Police will receive an increase in payment for detail work such as $33 per hour in 2005, $34 an hour in 2006, and $35 an hour in 2007. Detail is when police officers are hired by businesses or individuals to direct traffic or chaperon a school dance, for example.

The contract also requires there be two officers on per shift. Overtime will be given if there is a personal, vacation, holiday or court time used during the work week. Police employees will now receive 37.5 cents per mile instead of 35 cents.

An education stipend will be given to employees annually who have or will obtain an associate’s, $250; a bachelor’s degree, $500; master’s, $1,000; and a Ph.D., $2,000.

"This contract will continue to maintain the high quality Police Department we have and bring in and retain good police officers," Bates said.