(The Center Square) – Pay raises for city employees are a sticking point as the Shreveport City Council nears a deadline to finalize next year’s budget .

The council met Friday to review Mayor Tom Arceneaux’s proposed 3% increase for police and firefighters in addition to their annual 2% increase. Salaries for all other city employees would get a 3% bump, effective April 1.

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The Shreveport Police Officers Association has requested a 10% annual increase. Officers’ salaries start at just over $41,000 after they finish training, and the department is 158 officers short, according to the association.

Councilman Grayson Boucher said he s

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