After lengthy discussion and concern over fair compensation for officers at the Lake Wales Police Department, an agreement has been achieved between the agency and its union representatives.
Recently, the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, the local chapter of the Florida PBA that represents a multitude of local law enforcement agencies, shared its reaction to the approval of City of Lake Wales’ annual budget. The budget was approved on Sept. 3, 2025.
In a previous article, published on Sept. 6, 2025, Lake Wales Daily published a summary of the budget approval and detailed some of the categories targeted for funding. The budget appears to maintain a focus on further implementing the Lake Wales Connected plan. A link to that article is available here:
An excerpt from the Sept. 6 article reads, “At their regular meeting on Wed., Sept. 3, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the budget and millage rate for the next fiscal year.
“The budget has an estimated total of $123,558,276, with a general fund estimated at $37,890,370 and operating expenditures that are ‘14.6% more than last year’s total operating expenditures.’”
This article garnered the attention of the president of the West Central Florida PBA, Nick Marolda, who represents law enforcement personnel at LWPD and other agencies. Marolda’s focus as a top representative of the union is to engage in collective bargaining for wages and working conditions, as well as legal defense and advocacy for the members and families they serve.
Marolda, himself a retired Lakeland police officer, says the impasse was declared by the West Central Florida PBA on Sept. 4, according to an email received by Lake Wales Daily. The article under discussion involves wages for officers, an item noticed to the City in May 2025, according to Marolda.
While the current 3-year collective bargaining agreement between the City and the union runs through September 30, 2026, certain articles are permitted to be negotiated during this timeframe.
An email sent Sept. 9 by Marolda to Lake Wales Daily included a copy of an open letter published by Florida PBA this week, detailing his disappointment that the newly-passed budget did not include items with regard to public safety, specifically pay-increase potential for officers.
The email arrived with an explanation of why the statement was provided: “I am trying to garner support for our brave men and women at the Lake Wales Police Department.”
Union leadership raised concerns that officers at the Lake Wales Police Department face challenges with competitive compensation compared to other agencies in the region.
While Marolda credited the City for its plan for “resurfaced city streets, restored alleyways, and refurbished city parks,” which he called, “wonderful line items,” his letter also put forth concerns over the lack of dollars tagged for law enforcement, given the other improvements detailed in this year’s budget.
“The officers who patrol the streets of the city is spending big money onto resurface, and the officers that patrol the alleyways at 3 AM that the city is looking to restore, and the officers to patrol the neighborhoods, playgrounds and pavilions each day, so that law abiding citizens can feel safe while walking the trails and playing with their children,” Marolda said.
Following those remarks and public discussion, the West Central Florida PBA issued a formal update confirming that a deal was ultimately reached with the City of Lake Wales.
In a statement released by PBA President Nick Marolda, the union announced that the sworn men and women of the Lake Wales Police Department ratified a new collective bargaining agreement through September 30, 2027. The contract provides:
• A 10.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) within the next 12 months
• Memberships at the Lake Wales Recreation Center for all bargaining unit members
• Expanded retirement benefits, including DROP participation up to 96 months, with new access for members already enrolled
Marolda noted that recent public awareness of the negotiations helped bring attention to the issue and encouraged both sides to reach an agreement. The West Central PBA also expressed appreciation for the community’s recognition of the importance of supporting law enforcement officers.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the sacrifices officers make daily to protect the city and reaffirming the PBA’s mission to ensure every officer returns home safely from duty.
