Seattle Police Union president Mike Loux is demanding the city resolve two years of payroll inaccuracies before officers repay accidental overpayments. the error, which impacted over 900 employees, occurred when the city used outdated 2020 rates for retroactive raises.
The 2020 Rate Error Affecting 900 Officers
The City of Seattle distributed incorrect payments on June 12, according to the report, after using 2020 base rates instead of 2024 rates to calculate retroactive raises. This clerical failure resulted in payments that exceeded the 6% increase negotiated in the police union contract. The city has explicitly stated that the error was not caused by Workday, its current payroll system.
This specific mistake has left more than 900 police employees in a precarious financial position... While the city seeks to recover the excess funds, the Seattle Police Officers Guild argues that the overpayments cannot be viewed in isolation from a broader pattern of financial mismanagement.
Mike Loux's Demand to 'Show the Math' on Underpayments
Seattle Police Union president Mike Loux asserts that the city must first address a two-year history of payroll inaccuracies, including various underpayments, before a repayment plan is established. Loux has emphasized that union members currently lack visibility into the calculations behind their paychecks, making it nearly impossible for officers to verify if they are being paid correctly.
As reported in the source, Loux is not suggesting that officers keep money they are not owed, but he is insisting on total transparency. The Seattle Police Officers Guild is now calling for the city to "show its math" and resolve all outstanding payroll discrepancies as a prerequisite for negotiating the recovery of the overpaid funds.
Tax Complications and the $20,000 Repayment Burden
The financial fallout varies wildly across the department, with one Seattle Police Department officer facing a repayment bill approaching $20,000. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some employees moved their overpayments into investment accounts, meaning the cash is no longer readily available for the city to claw back.
The City of Seattle is currently consulting with federal tax experts and deferred compensation specialists to determine how to correct funds already contributed to deferred compensation accounts. this creates a significant open question regarding the tax liabilities officers may face when these corrections are processed, a point of concern raised by Mike Loux.
The Field-Training Bottleneck and Chief Turnover
Beyond payroll, the Seattle Police Officers Guild is highlighting a systemic crisis in leadership and staffing. mike Loux noted that officers have become frustrated by a cycle of leadership turnover, where new chiefs often last only a year or two, creating a lack of stability within the department.
The department is also facing a specific operational hurdle known as the field-training bottleneck. While recruits may complete the state academy, they often stall at the stage where they work with field training officers to become independent. loux indicated he is working with interim Chief Andre Sayles to resolve this pipeline issue and get more officers onto the street.
Aurora Avenue and the Divide with Mayor Katie Wilson
The friction between the union and city leadership extends to public safety strategy, specifically regarding the violence and sex trafficking prevalent along Aurora Avenue. Mike Loux has clashed with Mayor Katie Wilson, arguing that the city should use existing laws to intervene and rescue victims of trafficking,even if those interventions do not always lead to prosecution.
Loux's vision for Aurora Avenue involves a justice system that balances arrests and accountability with active community intervention. this disagreement reflects a broader tension over how the Seattle Police Department should balance strict law enforcement with social rescue operations in high-crime corridors.
Comments 0