Millis police urge staffing additions and budget planning as marijuana impact funds phase down

Millis police officials told the Millis Finance Committee on Wednesday that rising call volume and chronic understaffing have increased pressure on the department and that some positions now funded by marijuana impact (HCA) money will need long-term budget solutions once those funds phase out.

The police presentation laid out grants and outside revenue received in recent years (bulletproof vest grant $15,000; technology/equipment grants about $34,000; a traffic enforcement grant of $20,560; a K‑9 grant near $7,000; a medication‑disposal program about $1,500 annually) and listed modest fee income — about $31,000 in administrative detail fees and roughly $3,000 from license‑to‑carry processing last year. Police officials said mobile data terminals (MDTs) cost about $7,000 per cruiser and are on a replacement schedule, and that officers’ bulletproof vests are on a five‑year replacement schedule funded by grants.

The department asked for three new officers in this budget cycle, saying the town’s comparable municipalities average about 21 officers while Millis currently staffs 18. The chief described four midnight shifts that operate with two officers each but said they should have three, citing officer safety, time‑off needs and a recent uptick in calls tied to several new housing developments.

“Right now it seems like a huge number but the fact of the matter is, we have multiple, multiple calls a day,” the chief said, describing nearly 20,000 total calls for last year. He recommended a multi‑year hiring plan rather than a single sudden increase, for example “one police officer every three years for the next 10 years.”

Committee members and Town Administrator Mike Kaczynski discussed HCA funding, which currently supports one school resource officer (SRO), marijuana stipends in the police contract (the presentation referenced a remaining HCA request of $164,713.36) and training lines. Kaczynski said the stipends were negotiated into police contracts roughly six years ago and are contractual obligations unless later renegotiated. He and committee members described planning to phase HCA funding into the operating budget over multiple years rather than an abrupt stop.

Committee members pushed for earlier planning: several Finance Committee members urged departments receiving HCA dollars to present transition plans now so that Town Hall can assess how much will need to be absorbed into operations after FY27. The town administrator said staff and selectboard discussions are underway to propose phased approaches and prioritize requests across departments.

The police presentation also listed specialized positions and equipment: one K‑9 officer (dog Nitro supported by a gift fund), court and motor officers, SWAT and crisis negotiator roles, firearms instructors, four field training officers, two drone pilots and a detective sergeant. Department training requirements cited included 40 hours of annual in‑service training required for state POST certification and recurring less‑lethal and firearms qualifications.

No formal motions or votes were taken on staffing at the meeting; town leaders and the committee said the request will be considered alongside other personnel and revenue reviews in the upcoming budget process.

The presentation and questions emphasized continuing accreditation requirements, officer safety concerns on understaffed night shifts, and the need to plan now for the sunset of HCA funding to avoid sudden gaps in school coverage and training support.