The new Evans City Seven Fields Regional Police Department has a tentative contract with police officers.

If finally approved, that would allow the new force to take effect on Jan. 1 as planned

Lee Dyer, Evans City council president, announced the preliminary deal at Monday night’s borough meeting. The contract comes after several meetings between a panel of three council members from each borough, and the Evans City Police bargaining unit.

“After numerous negotiating sessions between the Evans City/Seven Fields bargaining committee and the Evans City Police Bargaining Unit, I’m pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement,” Dyer said.

Seven Fields’ cost in 2015 for the new police force would be about $305,000, and Evans City’s would be about $285,000.

In the three-year contract, existing police would see a 4 percent pay increase in the first year, 4 percent in the second year, and 3.75 percent in the third year.