Budget committee reviews police budget cuts, fleet needs and a three‑year union contract ratified by selectmen

The Wolfeboro Budget Committee on Jan. 9 accepted a police department offer to reduce budgeted salary and benefits lines and discussed vehicle‑maintenance funding and a recently ratified three‑year union contract.

Lede facts and motion - The committee approved a motion to reduce two police budget lines (line 114 and line 230 in the packet) by $30,047 after the department identified unused salary/benefit amounts, and members voted the motion carried.

Contract ratification and pay matrix - Staff briefed the committee that the Board of Selectmen ratified a three‑year police union contract at its meeting the night before. Staff said the contract raises starting pay and phases in cost increases over three years at approximately 5% per year. Staff presented line‑by‑line totals the committee requested: the packet included a Year‑1 total compensation number of $51,943 per starting patrol officer (wages $40,086 plus benefits $11,857); staff provided adjusted totals for Years 2 and 3 as well. Town staff explained that, at current staffing assumptions, the town tax-rate effect of the Year‑1 package is roughly 2¢ per $1,000 of assessed valuation (town staff noted the 2¢ figure is an estimate tied to the overall wage package and revenue assumptions).

Fleet and vehicle maintenance funding - The committee pressed on vehicle maintenance and “outside services” budget lines. Department staff said 2023 actual spending for outside services was about $1.1 million across related lines and proposed 2025 estimates reflect ongoing fleet needs. The department noted fleet age and higher mileage, and staff told the committee that replacing two cruisers depends on warrant approval; if vehicles are not replaced the town will rely on older cruisers for part of the year.

Staffing and hiring - Staff said the department currently had several conditional offers and several applicants in process; the department reported nine active vehicles and nine officers on duty at one point and noted planned hiring and background checks underway. Committee members asked staff to return unused salary funds if an officer position remains unfilled through January.

What the committee acted on - Motion approved: reduce police budget lines 421-0113 and 421-0114 by $30,047 (motion carried). The committee asked the police department to provide any unused salary amounts later for budget adjustments.

Ending: Committee members thanked department leadership and requested updated fleet and hiring data before final budget approval.