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Hooksett police propose 1.45% budget increase as staffing and vehicle costs mount
Summary
The Hooksett Police Department requested a 1.45% increase in its operating budget, citing contractual and inflationary costs plus fleet replacement needs. The chief warned about staffing shortfalls and rising vehicle maintenance and replacement expenses, and explained tradeoffs around hybrid vehicles and software systems.
Hooksett's police chief told town budget reviewers the department's proposed budget would increase by 1.45% — about $87,673 — mostly to cover contractual inflation and vehicle-replacement costs, while department leaders stressed retention and training as top priorities.
"Overall, the budget increased 1.45% from the previous year's default budget. It's an increase in $87,673," the chief said. "Almost all of it was due to contractual and inflation caused risk. I've added almost nothing new to this. We've made some cuts. We've moved some things around. It's pretty lean."
Why this matters: the department said it is down several officers while demand and vehicle costs rise. The chief said Hooksett's authorized force target is 30 officers; the department currently reported 28 on the roster, with two recent hires (one in the academy, one in field training) and…
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