Moco Council panel approves pay hikes for county unions A Montgomery County Council committee voted unanimously Thursday morning to recommend approval of $31.6 million in pay raises for members of its police, fire and general employee unions for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The council's Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee endorsed a plan by County Executive Isiah Leggett to give members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994/Municipal and County Government Employees Organization a 3.25 percent cost-of-living adjustment. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35 would receive a 2.1 percent cost-of-living increase, while those in the International Association of Firefighters Local 1664 would get a 2.75 percent hike. Eligible employees would receive step increases of 3.5 percent on their anniversary date. Leggett's plan also calls for eligible police and fire personnel to receive retroactive step increases of 1.75 percent and 3.5 percent respectively in 2014. The pay package represents the first raises for county workers in several years after the recession forced deep cuts in county spending. The plan goes to the full council for final approval.