The union representing 15 Havre firefighters reached a tentative contract agreement with the city Tuesday night, including a 3 percent pay raise.

The firefighters had requested a 6 percent pay raise for six months beginning Jan. 1. But the three members of the Havre City Council's Labor Relations Committee who were present Tuesday repeatedly rejected that proposal during the four-hour session.

The 6 percent raise would have cost the same amount as a 3 percent raise for the full year. But, committee members said, it would end up costing the city more because firefighters would be at a higher...