The city of Jacksonville has reached a tentative agreement with the Jacksonville Supervisors Association on a new contract that will save taxpayers more than $1 million total -- about $513,000 annually -- over the next three years if ratified by the union membership and City Council.

About 460 city employees are JSA members who serve in supervisory positions citywide. The new agreement covers the period from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2015.

"I congratulate the JSA for coming to the table and working with the city to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of both taxpayers and employees," Mayor Alvin Brown said in a news release. "This is yet another example of what we can accomplish when we work together."

In its current agreement with the city of Jacksonville, JSA had agreed to a 2-percent pay reduction and 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, JSA employees will maintain their current pay and health care contribution rather than see the pay reduction restored, according to the news release. While the agreement allows the parties to reopen the subject of wages for the third year of the contract (Oct. 1, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2015), wage rates will remain stable if no agreement is reached by July 1, 2014, according to the release.

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

The tentative agreement now goes to the local JSA membership for ratification. A ratification vote has been scheduled for Sept. 25. If ratified, it will then go to City Council for approval. If the City Council approves the new contract, it will take effect as of Oct. 1.