Council members at Shelton's Sept. 23 study session repeatedly identified public safety as a priority as staff outlined recurring costs and potential staffing additions for 2026. "Public safety remains a priority," several members said during the discussion; Council member Lindsay and others said they would support adding patrol positions if funding is identified.

The nut graf: City staff presented personnel requests for the police department (including a patrol lieutenant and a patrol officer) and ongoing vehicle and equipment costs; the council directed staff to pursue a public-safety grant and to prepare materials on a 0.1% public-safety sales tax and other revenue options for further study and public engagement.

City Manager Mark Ziegler and the police leadership described tangible recurring costs: vehicle leases for five police cars, taser payments on a five-year plan, and training and CJTC (Criminal Justice Training Commission) costs for new hires. Ziegler warned that adding ongoing positions would change multiyear budget requirements and urged the council to consider sustainability before authorizing new, ongoing hires.

Council members discussed two main revenue pathways the staff highlighted: a competitive grant program that would cover up to 75% of an employee's salary (with a three-year maintenance requirement) and a state-authorized public-safety sales tax (a 0.1% sales-tax option approved by the Legislature in 2015) designed to fund police, municipal court, co-responder programs, or related services. The staff will prepare details about grant requirements, the public-safety sales tax, and the transportation-benefit-district sales-tax option so council can evaluate whether to place a question before voters or hold public hearings.

The police chief and captain described operational staffing needs and succession planning: the proposed patrol lieutenant position would supervise patrol sergeants and help administrative load; the requested patrol officer would restore a vacancy not included in the 2026 baseline. Council member comments ranged from supporting immediate hiring to cautioning that new positions require secure funding.

Ending: The council gave direction for staff to refine spending scenarios that prioritize public safety, pursue applicable grants, and return with clear options (including public-engagement materials) on possible sales-tax measures. No ordinance or levy was adopted at the session.

Speakers cited in this article

- Mark Ziegler, City Manager (City of Shelton)
- Unnamed Police Chief (identified in transcript as "chief")
- Police Captain (identified in transcript as "captain")
- Council member Lindsay (Shelton City Council)
- Council member Gilmore (Shelton City Council)

Authorities

[{"type":"grant","name":"Public safety grant (described; pays up to 75% of employee salary up to a cap with a 3-year maintenance commitment)","referenced_by":["public-safety-staffing-and-funding-options"]},{"type":"statute","name":"Public-safety sales tax (2015 legislative authorization, 0.1% option)","referenced_by":["public-safety-staffing-and-funding-options"]},{"type":"statute","name":"Transportation Benefit District sales-tax authorities (RCW referenced by staff)","referenced_by":["public-safety-staffing-and-funding-options"]}]

Actions

[]

Discussion vs. decision

{"discussion_points":["Addition of a patrol lieutenant and patrol officer; recurring costs associated with hiring and training; vehicle lease and equipment costs","Eligibility and implications of pursuing the public-safety grant (75% salary support with three-year maintenance requirement)","Possible use of a 0.1% public-safety sales tax and other local revenue options"],"directions":["Staff to prepare grant application details, public-safety sales-tax scenarios, and community-engagement materials; return with options for council consideration"],"decisions":[]}

Clarifying details

[{"category":"staffing","detail":"proposed police positions","value":"1 patrol lieutenant (new), 1 patrol officer (to fill vacancy not included in the 2026 baseline)","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Mark Ziegler"},{"category":"costs","detail":"vehicle leases and taser payments","value":"vehicle leases for five police cars; taser purchase on a five-year payment plan (annual allocation presented)","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Mark Ziegler"}]

Proper names

[{"name":"Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC)","type":"agency"},{"name":"MaceCom","type":"organization"},{"name":"Department of Justice","type":"agency"}]

Community relevance

Geographies: ["City of Shelton","Mason County"] Funding sources: ["public-safety grant (DOJ or state grant described)","public-safety sales tax (0.1% option)"] Impact groups: ["residents (safety)","city police officers and recruits","taxpayers"]

Meeting context

Engagement level: speakers_count 8; discussion heavily focused on staff retention, recruiting, and service-level tradeoffs. Implementation risk: medium (grant applications uncertain; sales-tax measures require public process). History: council previously reduced FTEs in 2023 and has discussed public-safety staffing in earlier retreats.

Searchable Tags: ["public safety","police staffing","sales tax","grant","CJTC"]

Provenance

[{"block_id":"1441.5499","local_start":0,"local_end":64,"evidence_excerpt":"Some known increases in Mace Com's contract, vehicle leases that were purchased through enterprise this year and adding those in next year. We know those are costs ongoing.","global_start":1441,"global_end":1506,"reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"3999.9001","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"I I guess, to to my point, I wouldn't have a problem spending an extra $225,000 on police officers. It's what we hear all the time that we need more public safety, right? But, and we do have the public safety sales tax that's available to us that's a 0.1% that would pay for that.","global_start":3999,"global_end":4120,"reason_code":"topicfinish"}]