During a recent government meeting, discussions centered around the financial management of funds related to police payments and sewer services. A key point raised was the ongoing $39,000 budget item, which was originally established under the previous finance director. It was revealed that this amount stemmed from a misallocation of funds, where over $330,000 was reportedly used to pay police from the sugar fund, a practice deemed inappropriate.

The conversation highlighted a sewer fund study conducted in 2021, which recommended increasing the budget for police payments to $95,000 in the first year, with potential increases to $105,000 or $120,000 in subsequent years. One official emphasized the need to correct the previous mismanagement of funds and expressed support for a proposed increase to around $100,000, acknowledging the positive impact it would have on staffing.

However, there was disagreement regarding a further proposed increase to $260,000, with concerns raised about the justification for such a significant jump. The meeting underscored the importance of transparent financial practices and the need for careful consideration of budget allocations to ensure appropriate use of public funds.