DeKalb and its firefighters reached a finalized labor agreement after months of negotiations.

The firefighters had been working without a contract since July while union representatives negotiated new terms with the city.

The contract gives firefighters a 3 1/2 to 5 percent raise in annual salary for the next four years, but will require an additional 1 percent of salary paid for insurance premiums.

Firefighters with family insurance coverage will pay 4 percent of their salary in premiums.

A first-year city firefighter made $35,703.92 under the old contract. A fifth-year firefighter made $50,719.63.

The contract is retroactive to July 1, so firefighters will receive any back pay and also be required to pay the increased insurance premium for that period.

Negotiations were made without the formality of some past negotiations, Fire Chief Lanson Russell said.

“It’s a credit to the city and our guys that we were able to get it taken care of without going through formal negotiations with lawyers and all that,” Russell said. “I’m extremely pleased.”

Firefighters approved the contract several weeks ago and are happy with the terms, said Mike Thomas, representative of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) local No. 236.

“We made some concessions to the city,” Thomas said. “I think [union members] saw that they needed to meet the city halfway.”

The contract will change the firefighter training policy and vacation scheduling, Thomas said. The union had little trouble approving the modest insurance increase, he said.

“We’re happy to be done,” he said. “The way we approached the contract more cooperatively worked well. Traditionally we’d bring in an attorney and a formal process. We’re hoping to build on our cooperative effort,” he said.

Linda Wiggins, director of administrative services, also said the negotiations went well.

“I think we’ve come to a good accord with IAFF,” Wiggins said. “The union has found some common ground with management. We’re looking forward to not doing it again for another four years.”