Council adopts police base‑pay ordinance amid broader payroll plan; officers warn staffing is dire

The Helena‑West Helena City Council adopted an ordinance establishing base pay for police positions and received an extensive presentation from city administration proposing a series of payroll changes intended to reduce overtime costs and improve long‑term staff retention.

At the meeting the council voted to adopt the base‑pay ordinance (order no. recorded as item on the agenda). The clerk called the roll for final adoption and recorded a unanimous affirmative roll call (six yes votes); the presiding officer declared the motion carried. Earlier in the meeting the council also voted to suspend rules and place the ordinance on third and final reading.

Administration presented a financial plan that recommended broader personnel and operational changes. The staff presentation reported that the city spent nearly $650,000 on overtime last year and that overtime made up about 7.8% of total payroll expenditures. Administration proposed using compensatory time ("comp time") consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act so non‑police employees could accumulate up to 240 hours and police and firefighters up to 480 hours of comp time, rather than being paid overtime immediately. The packet also included a proposal to reduce payroll by up to 15% through a combination of staffing adjustments and other measures; administration estimated potential annual savings in the range of $1.0–1.6 million depending on measures adopted. The plan discussed health‑insurance contribution changes, adjustments to sanitation and street staffing, and changes to trash‑collection routes as cost‑saving options.

The ordinance approved by the council set new base pay figures for police positions discussed in the packet; the document in the council packet indicated $40,000 as a target starting salary for fully certified patrol officers and $35,000 for newly hired officers who are not yet certified. Council members and administration emphasized that adopting an ordinance to set pay does not itself create the appropriation; the council directed staff to return with a budget amendment or funding mechanism at a subsequent meeting.

Police leadership and officers urged quick action. Police Detective Sanders told the council, "we're in dire straits. We're in trouble," describing extended shifts, lost vacations and officers pursuing jobs elsewhere. Interim Police Chief Bell said the department had candidates in the pipeline but some potential hires remained at other agencies because competing cities had increased pay. Staff and council discussed the federal COPS grant: administration noted the police department must submit required performance and financial reports before the city can draw down some federal reimbursements that would support hiring.

Councilmembers agreed to meet within two weeks to finalize funding decisions and to consider portions of the mayor's plan; the mayor's chief of staff said elements of the payroll proposal could be phased and that the administration would return with suggested budget amendments and implementation details. The council also discussed a possible bank loan to repair inoperable sanitation and public‑works vehicles (estimated around $150,000) so equipment would be available to support proposed service changes and staffing plans.

No immediate funding appropriation was made at the meeting; the council adopted the base‑pay ordinance and set a timeline for follow‑up action to identify specific budget cuts and revenue adjustments to support the pay changes and other proposals.