The Sweet Home City Council on Sept. 10 ratified a new three-year contract with its general employees, granting 2-percent raises the first two years and two 1.5-percent raises the third year.

The employees, which includes all union employees except Police Department employees, will begin using high-deductible insurance plans with the creation of health savings accounts to help offset the higher deductibles.

The contract is retroactive to July 1, and grants a 2-percent increase to the salary schedule for 2013-14; a 2-percent increase on July 1, 2014; a 1.5-percent increase on July 1, 2015...