Police getting big pay boost

Police are in short supply these days, so Cloquet city councilors voted Tuesday to spend the money to keep its department competitive, approving raises of 6, 5 and 4 percent in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Then they voted again after a closed session to make the pay even more competitive: adding a "market adjustment" to police hourly pay, a move that will likely increase taxes, city officials say.

"We value our police department and we want to keep them working in Cloquet," said Ward 4 councilor Kerry Kolodge, who retired from the Duluth Police Department. "It's a tough market. Everybody's looking for...