Swanzey reviews police 2026 budget and proposed hiring, retention incentives
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Summary
The Selectboard discussed the police department's 2026 budget and a multi-part retention and recruitment package. Board members asked staff for tighter cost caps and approved a higher overtime placeholder pending final figures.
Swanzey Selectboard members spent a substantial portion of the meeting on the police department's proposed 2026 budget and a retention-and-recruitment package presented by Chief Joe. The department said payroll numbers are currently placeholders and that overtime has exceeded the status-quo line this year.
The board and Chief reviewed year-to-date overtime and staffing levels, and members recommended increasing the overtime budget from $80,000 to a recommended $95,000 in the draft budget so the department is covered if hiring lags. Chief Joe said current overtime overrun is tied to being short-staffed and that more hires would shift costs from overtime into regular salaries.
The chief also proposed a multi-part retention package intended to recruit and keep officers, including: an education bonus paid annually (associates degree $1,000; bachelor's $1,500; master's $2,000); tuition-reimbursement options; sign-on/recruitment funding; a longevity/retention ladder beginning earlier than the town's prior schedule; a potential year-end bonus tied to workload; and workplace supports such as gym memberships. The board asked staff to return with firm dollar caps and per-officer limits before any final adoption.
Members discussed sick- and vacation-time accruals and possible cash-out or buy-back mechanisms to reduce large year-end liabilities. The chief said several officers have accrued large balances because staffing shortfalls have prevented them from taking leave; the board asked human resources and finance to propose specific policies and costs.
On recruitment costs, the chief said sign-on bonuses and contract buyouts can be expensive; the board requested clearer scenarios showing expected hires, worst-case overtime, and the net budget impact if staffing fills during the year.
The board did not adopt any final policy changes during the meeting. That work will return to a future agenda after staff provide detailed cost estimates and suggested policy language.