WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) Wausau city leaders and the local firefighters union have reached a three-year contract agreement.

Police and firefighters are exempt from the union changes that impacted other public employees earlier this year. Still, the city says firefighters are willing to contribute to their retirement accounts under the new agreement. They'll pay 3-percent next year, or an average of $60 per paycheck. That rises to 5-percent in 2013 and up to 7-percent in 2014.

The change will save the city about $100,000.

The firefighters union approved the new contract on Wednesday. The same agreement had been ok'ed by the city's personnel committee earlier in the day.