The union that represents Lawrence police officers has unanimously rejected the city’s contract offer for 2004.

In an unsigned announcement, the Lawrence Police Officers’ Assn. said Monday the city had failed “to offer solid commitments regarding the members’ compensation, benefits and working conditions.”

City Manager Mike Wildgen confirmed the rejection and said the next step might be to call in a federal mediator.

“We’ll continue to strive to achieve” a contract, Wildgen said. “It’ll take a little extra work this time.”

The offer was similar to one approved last week by the city’s firefighters union. It hinged pay increases for police officers to raises granted general city employees — who are unlikely to receive a pay increase in 2004. And instead of the usual three-year length, the city asked officers for a one-year commitment.

Officer Darren Othick, president of the police union, was unavailable for comment.

In the announcement, the union cited other reasons for the contract rejection:

l A potential 49 percent increase in family health insurance premiums and 100 percent increase in deductibles, all to be paid out of the officers’ wallets.

l Revelations in a recent study that Lawrence police officers suffer a “deficit” of pay, vacation time, manpower and health care.

The city allocated $9.4 million of its $11.2 million budget this year on employees’ salaries and wages.

The union said it “looks forward to working with the city to ratify a document that is fair and fiscally responsible.”

Wildgen said the city’s financial squeeze was making negotiations with police and the other city unions especially difficult this year.

“It is a lot different,” he said. “It’s a bigger factor when you have tighter times.”

The Lawrence City Commission is scheduled to discuss the police contract at today’s meeting, 6:35 p.m. at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.