Membership of the local American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees has ratified a three-year contract that, if approved by City Council, will save taxpayers about $1.3 million annually, or nearly $4 million total.

With the union's approval, legislation for City Council to vote on the contract will be introduced before the contract becomes official.

About 2,000 city employees are AFSCME members who serve in clerical, technical and administrative positions citywide.

In its current agreement with the city of Jacksonville, AFSCME had agreed to a 2 percent pay reduction and a 5 percent health care contribution. However, the current contract would have restored the 2 percent pay reduction prior to its expiration on Sept. 30.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, AFSCME employees will maintain their current pay and health care contribution from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2015, rather than see the pay reduction restored.

The tentative agreement does not specifically address retirement benefits, but would require that the city and AFSCME hold a series of structured meetings over the balance of 2012 to reopen and discuss that subject to see if agreement is possible.

The contract will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, pending formal approval from City Council.