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Hooksett Police Budget Seeks Two Patrol Vehicles; Chief Warns of Staffing Pressures
Summary
The Hooksett Police Department presented a budget increase of about 1.45% ($87,673), requested $150,000 for two patrol vehicles, and described recruiting and retention challenges that leave the force several officers short.
The Hooksett Police Department told the Town Council it has proposed a 1.45% operating-budget increase — roughly $87,673 — driven mainly by contractual and inflationary costs, and is requesting $150,000 this year to buy and upfit two patrol vehicles.
“Overall, the budget increased 1.45% from the previous year's default budget. It's an increase in $87,673,” the chief said, adding that most of the increase reflects contractual and inflation-driven cost growth rather than new programs.
The chief said the department had to remove one vehicle from last year’s capital plan because of default-budget constraints and that new vehicles currently cost more: the department’s per-vehicle purchase and upfit was described as “around $75,000.” The department is buying mostly hybrid patrol vehicles to save fuel but cautioned that long-term maintenance costs and downtime for hybrid models…
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